City Council — Minutes

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 17, 2026 The Common Council Meeting was called to order by Mayor Zach Bender on Monday, August 17, 2026, at 7:00PM. All present stood and recited the Pledge of Alliance. Mayor Bender asked for affirmation of proper public notice to which Administrator Isaacs confirmed the meeting did receive proper public notice. Roll call was taken with Alderpersons Julie Erickson, Leanne Beyer, Mark Lankey, Darrow Novy, Liz Parish, and Randy Seeley present. Tom Hotek and Pat Moen were absent. Randy Seeley left in person at 7:31 P.M. and rejoined via phone. Others in attendance were: City Administrator Cory Isaacs, City Treasurer Lisa Johnson, City Clerk Sara McDonald, Hillsboro Police Chief Pat Clark, Hillsboro Water/Sewer Employee Tom Stowell, Mike Burch from the Hillsboro Street Department, Rob Uphoff and Andy Zimmer from MSA Professional Services, and Nicolette Nauman from the Hillsboro Sentry-Enterprise. Residents in attendance were Kurt and Linda Bisarek, Shawn Kuester, Michelle Rice, Chris Spencer, Bill Frail, Dee Pohl, Ken Tucholke, Paul and Sharyn Richardson, Nolan Hammer, Greg Kubarski, and Lane Hammer. Motion by Beyer, seconded by Erickson to approve July 20, 2026, City Council Minutes as presented. Motion carried by voice vote. Motion by Beyer, seconded by Novy to approve July 27, 2026, Special City Council Minutes as presented. Motion carried by voice vote. Registered Public Comment Michelle Rice, Shawn Kuester, Chris Spencer, Paul Richardson, and Linda Bisarek expressed serious concerns about the housing development in Tinker’s Bluff. Mayor Bender stated he will take all concerns into consideration and will give updates when available. Committee Reports and Business Mayor Bender notified that items 14 and 16 on the agenda will move up due to a council member needing to leave in person. Administrator Isaacs provided an update on current grants he is working on for the City. These grants include the Vernon County Community Development grant that—if awarded—will be utilized for a swimming pool pump motor and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Urban Forestry Grant that—if awarded—will be utilized for future tree needs. The urban forestry grant requires a resolution from Council agreeing to adhere to the terms of the grant. There is a third grant option Isaacs is looking into that would be able to be used for updates to Albert Field Memorial Park. Motion by Seeley, seconded by Beyer to approve Combined Authorizing Resolution #3-2026. Roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried. _____________________________________________________________________________ Clerk McDonald spoke on the Vernon County Cemetery Care Reimbursement that covers the care and maintenance of veteran and spousal graves within Mount Vernon Cemetery. This reimbursement needs approval from the governing body to process for the cemetery association through Vernon County. Motion by Beyer, seconded by Lankey to approve Vernon County Cemetery Care Reimbursement. Motion carried by voice vote. Randy Seeley left in person from the meeting and rejoined via telephone at 7:31PM. Andy Zimmer and Rob Uphoff of MSA provided a presentation on the City plans during the State Highway Project. The DOT is allowing utility repair along Water Ave and Lake Street in conjunction with the road replacement. Novy questioned the need for replacement in these sections as they are more newly repaired sections. He would like to see older sections replaced and repaired. Tom Stowell spoke about needing larger water mains along these sections as well as valves and curb stops. Zimmer spoke on concerns the City had with bump outs and turning radius for truck traffic with the proposed replacement and construction. The DOT has declined the City’s request to reconsider the bump outs because the bump outs are necessary to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Novy questioned the funding options that are available and if Zimmer knew what options the City had. Isaacs questioned the rise in cost estimates. Zimmer explained the costs are changing because clearer, set price updates are coming in. Johnson questioned loans available and term-life of said loans. Uphoff explained the differences in funding options. Novy questioned inflation rates on the current amounts with the Highway Project set to be started in two years. Isaacs explained that the City currently has a $500,000 EPA Grant that would be put towards this project. Isaacs also spoke on the competitiveness of the low-interest loan programs available and the alternative of borrowing on the open market. The DOT overseesthe overall schedule and timeline of road construction. Zimmer and Uphoff left the meeting at 7:51 PM.Treasurer Johnson provided the 2025 Financial Report. Normally Johnson would present the Financial Report after the Audit Review but was unable to then because the City computers were down at the time. Johnson distributed handouts that provided financial highlights and breakdowns by account. Johnson reviewed both handouts in depth and answered questions regarding the Financial Report. Beyer went on record to thank Johnson for the thorough and good job she does preparing and presenting the City financials. Motion by Lankey, seconded by Parish to approve the monthly bills for payment. Motion carried by voice vote. Seeley left the meeting via phone. Motion by Beyer, seconded by Parish to enter in closed session at 8:12PM. Sec. 19.85(1)(g), Wis. Stats., sanctions the use of closed sessions when a governmental body is conferring with legal _____________________________________________________________________________ counsel who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved. Motion carried by voice vote.Motion by Beyer, seconded by Erickson to return to open session at 8:24 PM. Motion carried by voice vote.Administrator Isaacs provided an update on the water tower inspection. Inspection was completed on July 18, 2025, and is valid for 5 years. Administrator Isaacs provided an update on the possible need for a No Swimming sign for the lake. After consulting with the City attorney, he learned the lake is covered under Sec. 895.52, Wis. Stats., recreational immunity. There is no legal requirement for signage, but signage could be used if wanted. Administrator Isaacs provided an update on the City Pool. The main pump motor for the pool system failed. Isaacs took the motor to technicians in Wisconsin Dells to try to get the needed work completed. Unfortunately, the repairs couldn’t be made because of the motor’s obsolescence. Tom Stowell said the pool will have to remain closed for the season until a new pump can be acquired. The cost for a new pump would be between $3-5,000. The original failure was due to the pump area becoming flooded and underwater after an 8-inch pipe burst in previous years. Mayor Bender suggested a thorough evaluation of the pool and the splash pad to get both up and running. Stowell notified us that the pool main does not have enough capacity to run the pool as well as the splash pad, i.e., the pool would need a second main to run both. Stowell proposed filling the pool to create a bigger splash pad area and eliminating the need for lifeguards. Johnson questioned the ability for the current splash pad to recycle the water. Stowell stated it currently does not but can be changed to recycle. Swimming lessons were cancelled, and parents were offered a refund. Administrator Isaacs provided an update on the chip sealing that was completed on August 12, 2026. There were some concerns about wash boarding that the street department smoothed out. Mayor Bender stated that vehicles driving on the roads will help smooth them out as well. Stowellexpressed his concern about sand filling valve boxes. (Before chip sealing, sand was placed on manhole covers and valve boxes to keep them from being chip sealed over.)Administrator Isaacs provided an update on the housing project in Tinker’s Bluff. Isaacs, Bender, Seeley, and the listing realtor toured three of the homes the previous week. One of them was okay. Two were not in saleable shape. Beyer asked if the landscaping was completed. Several people reported that it is not. There are also no certificates of occupancy issued for any of the four houses. They will need final inspections prior to being sold. A consensus is that the houses are not up to the standards set forth in the development agreement that was signed prior to construction. Several residents of Tinker’s Bluff gave their opinions on the project as well. Mayor Bender stated he would continue to collect information and the council would consider what to do moving forward. _____________________________________________________________________________ Motion by Beyer, seconded by Lankey to enter closed session at 8:59PM. Sec. 19.85(1)( c), Wis. Stats., sanctions the use of closed sessions when a governmental body is considering employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation of any public employee. Motion carried by voice vote. Motion to return to open session at 9:39PM by Beyer, seconded by Lankey. Motion carried by voice vote. Motion to adjourn at 9:39PM by Beyer, seconded by Lankey. Motion carried by voice vote. Meeting adjourned at 9:39PM.Minutes prepared by Clerk McDonald