5/12/2026

COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS May 12, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting Mayor Hauser, Presiding Present: Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Andrew Dannehy, Trempealeau County Times; Gareth Shambeau, Ayres Associates, Inc.; Isaac Steinmeyer, Jeff Nussbaum and Brea Grace, SEH, Inc.; Dave Pientok, Bell Committee; Police Chief Hernandez; Assistant Public Works Director, Mark Dehnke; Administrator Morelan; and Clerk-Treasurer Witte The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Public Comment Period There were no members of the public who wished to comment. Minutes of Previous Meetings Council Member Solsrud moved to approve the minutes from the Regular Common Council Meeting of April 14th, 2026, and the Reorganizational/Special Council Meeting of April 21st, 2026. Council Member Mathson seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 Agenda Items Dave Pientok and Council Member Johnson presented information on the bell that was in the old city hall on Main Street and has been in storage since the building was demolished. Council Member Morris made a motion for the bell to be placed on the property that houses the Whitehall Fire Department with donations being accepted and invoices paid by the City Clerk’s Office. Council Member Sendelbach seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 Gareth Shambeau of Ayres Associates, Inc. presented bid results for the 2026 Street Projects. There were four bids ranging from a low of $269,760.85 to a high of $308,178.68. Council Member Solsrud made a motion to accept the low bid of $269,760.85 from Stout Construction LLC, as recommended by Ayres. Council Member Morris seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 Isaac Steinmeyer presented a Supplemental Agreement with SEH, Inc. for the Construction Administration and Startup of the Water Treatment Plant Project in the amount of $183,000.00. A brief update on the status of the project was also given. Council Member Solsrud made a motion to approve the Supplemental Agreement. Council Member Mathson seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 Brea Grace presented a Supplemental Agreement with SEH, Inc. for a Clean Water Fund (CWF) Application and Administration for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project in the amount of $43,500.00. Council Member Johnson made a motion to approve the Supplemental Agreement. Council Member Morris seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 Council Member Sendelbach made a motion to approve Repealing and Recreating Chapter 11.20.060 of the City of Whitehall Code of Ordinances – “City Cemetery, Care of Lots”. Council Member Mathson seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 Council Member Sendelbach made a motion to approve the placement of signage on City Property located along Highway 121 (towards Independence) in conjunction with Tri-County Foundation for their Field of Dreams Project. Council Member Morris seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 Council Member Sendelbach made a motion to approve a formal agreement for the City of Whitehall to provide fire protection services to a portion of the Town of Lincoln with the fee based upon equalized value. Council Member Morris seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Sunday Nays – 0 Abstain – Solsrud Council Member Solsrud made a motion to approve a formal policy with the Whitehall School District to use City of Whitehall parks and park facilities at no cost to the school. Council Member Morris seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 Council Member Sendelbach made a motion to approve an agreement with Tri-R Recycling for recycling services in the City of Whitehall. Council Member Morris seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 Council Member Morris made a motion to approve an Original Class “B” License to Sell Intoxicating Liquor and Malt Beverages for Whitehall Nine LLC, d/b/a Whitehall Nine, Rudolph Hesch Agent at 36536 West Street for the period of May 13th, 2026, through June 30th, 2026. Council Member Mathson seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 Council Member Morris made a motion to approve a Temporary Class “B” Retailer’s License for the Whitehall Fire Department for their dance on May 16th, 2026, and May 17th, 2026, at the Whitehall Fire Department, 36260 Tower Drive. Jeremiah Pientok, Agent. Council Member Sendelbach seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Sunday Nays – 0 Abstain – Solsrud Council Member Sendelbach made a motion to approve a formal policy allowing for City of Whitehall employees to respond to file calls during working hours. Council Member Mathson seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 An update on the status of the property located at 18529 Blair Street with a parcel number of 291-00206-0000 was emailed to Clerk Witte. The owner noted that work on the roof has begun. The Council would like the property placed on the Agenda of June 9th, 2026, for the property owner to provide another update thus avoiding the property being considered a public nuisance. Police Chief Hernandez gave a Police Report including statistical information and thanked the owners of the Guerrero Mexican Restaurant and Global Finishing for donations to update their office space and upgrades to the computer equipment in the police car. Chief Hernandez and K-9 Luke were at the 6th Grade Campout to make a presentation. Administrator Morelan gave his Administrator’s Report noting items that he has been working on during the last month. Council Member Morris made a motion at 7:15 p.m. to go into Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1) (c), “Considering employment, promotion, compensation and performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility…”, specifically for the purpose of reviewing applicants for the position of Police Officer. Council Member Solsrud seconded, and the motion carried on a roll call vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 Mayor Hauser brought the meeting back into open session at 7:45 p.m. by unanimous consent. Council Member Solsrud made a motion to extend an employment offer to an applicant pending the successful completion of a background check, psychological evaluation, physical and drug testing. The offer includes the following: $30.00 per hour at hire; $31.00 per hour at end of field training; and $32.00 per hour at end of probationary period; two short sleeve uniform shirts, two long sleeve uniform shirts and two pairs of uniform pants; a $650.00 uniform allowance per calendar year; a one-year probationary period and vacation accrual per the City of Whitehall Employee Handbook. The City of Whitehall to issue employee a firearm, which remains the property of the City upon termination of employment. Council Member Mathson seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 Council Member Sendelbach made a motion at 7:47 p.m. to go into Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1) (c), “Considering employment, promotion, compensation and performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility…”, specifically for the purpose of reviewing applicants for the position of lifeguards. Council Member Morris seconded, and the motion carried on a roll call vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 Mayor Hauser brought the meeting back into open session at 7:52 p.m. by unanimous consent. Council Member Solsrud made a motion to hire additional lifeguards for the Whitehall Aquatic Center as follows: Andy Flores, Kennedy Gran, Addison Herman, Ernest Peterson and any other staff as deemed necessary by Mayor Hauser for the 2026 season in terms of lifeguards or concession stand/slide attendants. Council Member Morris seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 Approval of Vouchers and Treasurer’s Report May vouchers for the following amounts have been reviewed by the Finance Committee and were presented to the Council for their consideration: General City $136,495.56; Electric Utility $236,488.75; Water Utility $291,142.81; Sewer Utility $292,270.00; TID #2 and TID #3 $2,730.00; and Library $4,263.13. Council Member Morris moved to approve the vouchers and Treasurer’s Report. Council Member Mathson seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Morris, Sendelbach, Solsrud, Sunday Nays – 0 Council Comment Period and Schedule Committee Meetings Upon motion by Council Member Mathson and seconded by Council Member Morris, the meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m. The foregoing reports, resolutions, motions, ordinances, etc. contained in this are These minutes are the true and correct herewith approved by the undersigned. original and consist of four pages. ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Jeff Hauser, Mayor Karen Witte, City Clerk-Treasurer