City Council Minutes 02/19/2026

1 February 19, 2026 COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS 6:00 p.m. Mayor Richard Champeny called the regular monthly meeting of the Common Council of the City of Alma to order. Pledge of Allegiance was said. Clerk Sharaya Reed took roll call with the following members present: Mayor Richard Champeny, Davie Meier, Larry Grisen, Perry Iberg, Loren Mueller, Gary Jepsen, and David Earney. Absent: Randy Brommer. Citizens present: Jerri Schreiber, Orlyn Hoksch, Karla Hoksch, Laura Pettersen, and Kathy Jepsen. Motion by Mueller seconded by Iberg to approve the Public Hearing minutes of January 15, 2026. All members voting yes. Motion by Earney seconded by Meier to approve the Council Proceeding minutes of January 15, 2026 as presented. All members voting yes. Motion by Jepsen seconded by Mueller to approve the January 2026 Financial Report as presented. All members voting yes by roll call vote. Motion by Grisen seconded by Jepsen to approve the January 2026 Treasurer’s Report as presented. All members voting yes. Citizen comments: Jerri Schreiber notified the Council that the street lights are out from County Rd E to the Bank of Alma. The people that built the house right above the dip are using the driveway behind the wall. This should not be used as a driveway to pull up into because of interfering with the integrity of the retaining wall. Should be accessing from 2nd St.. Maybe someone should send them a letter stating they should stay off the retaining wall. Foreman Wick informed Schreiber that there is a wire burnt off underground and as soon as the ground thaws out it will be looked at by Dan Elsenpeter with Twin Bluffs Electric. CITY OF ALMA MUNICIPAL BUILDING COMMITTEE Chairperson Larry Grisen went over the details of the meeting. There were seven bids received and recorded on a bid tab sheet for the bid opening. The lowest bid came in from R.J. Jurowski Construction, Inc. in the amount of $597,737 and the highest bid came in from Hoeft Builders in the amount of $764,000. There was discussion over the differences between the sq. ft. prices. 2 Motion by Iberg seconded by Mueller to approve R.J. Jurowski Construction, Inc. for the bid for the municipal building repairs. All members voting yes by roll call vote. Motion by Mueller seconded by Iberg to approve the minutes. All members voting yes. UTILITIES COMMITTEE Chairperson Larry Grisen went over the minutes of the February 9, 2026 meeting. Grisen talked about Eric Davidson’s presentation from Bauman & Associates. There was discussion over passing along the fire protection service charge to taxpayers. Discussion over the Phosphorus Multi-discharger Variance payments to be made to Eau Claire and Jackson County. Motion by Earney seconded by Grisen that the amount of $33,613.79 be paid to honor the charge from the DNR. All members voting yes by roll call vote. Motion by Jepsen seconded by Mueller to approve the February 9, 2026 Utilities Committee report as presented. All members voting yes. FINANCE/TAX & LICENSE/ZONING COMMITTEE Chairperson Gary Jepsen went over the committee minutes of February 9, 2026. Motion by Jepsen seconded by Iberg to approve Payment Request #5 for the new library in the amount of $175,607.99 to Market & Johnson contractor. All members voting yes by roll call vote. Laura Petersen gave a presentation to discuss the bids received for furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the new library. Motion by Jepsen seconded by Earney to approve the bid from Eau Claire Business Interiors in the amount of $86,277 for library shelving. All members voting yes by roll call vote. Motion by Jepsen seconded by Meier to award the bid for library furniture to C & J Associates in the amount of $96,752.04. All members voting yes by roll call vote. Petersen talked about bird safe glass as an option. Some grants were awarded towards the glass and some donations were given with an anonymous donation coming in for $500 in the name of Wings Over Alma. Motion by Mueller seconded by Meier to approve change order #2 and #3 from Market & Johnson in the amount of $126,360 surplus to not have to drill as many wells. All members voting yes by roll call vote. 3 Motion by Iberg seconded by Earney to approve the Finance Committee minutes of February 9, 2026 as presented. All members voting yes. WUTA Motion by Earney seconded by Meier to approve the minutes from January 28, 2026. All members voting yes. HISTORICAL PRESERV ATION ADVISORY COMMISSION Request from Mary Roiland at 109 S 2nd St to install windows in the bell tower was discussed. Motion by Meier seconded by Jepsen to approve the January 20, 2026 minutes. All members voting yes. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Motion by Mueller seconded by Iberg to approve the minutes from January 26, 2026. All members voting yes. SERVICES COMMITTEE Chairperson Loren Mueller went over the minutes of February 3, 2026. Motion by Iberg seconded by Meier to approve the February 3, 2026 Services Committee report as presented. All members voting yes. TOURISM COMMISION Motion by Earney seconded by Iberg to approve the minutes of February 10, 2026. All members voting yes. PARKS & REC Motion by Jepsen seconded by Mueller to approve the minutes of February 10, 2026. All members voting yes. Motion by Mueller seconded by Earney to approve the World Migratory Bird Day Resolution #26-02. All members voting yes. Mayor comments: Champeny shared a thank you letter from former Clerk-Treasurer Linda Torgerson thanking everyone for the open house put together for her. 4 Next Council meeting will be March 19, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Upcoming meetings: Services - March 3, 2026 at 9am Utilities – March 9, 2026 at 8:30am Finance – March 9, 2026 at 11am Tourism- March 17, 2026 at 9am Parks & Rec – March 17, 2026 at 9:30am Motion by Mueller seconded by Iberg to adjourn. All members voting yes.