10/14/2025

COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS October 14, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting Mayor Hauser, Presiding Present: Johnson, Mathson, Sendelbach, Solsrud SEH, Inc. – Isaac Steinmeyer, Tom Madden, Maria McCarty Whitehall Area Historical Foundation – Linda Mossman, Barb Johnson Trempealeau County Times – Andrew Dannehy Mark Johsnon, Public Works Director; Mark Dehnke, Assistant Public Works Director; Karen Witte, Clerk-Treasurer Absent: Morris, Sunday The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Public Comment Period There were no members of the public present who wished to comment. Minutes of Previous Meetings Council Member Solsrud moved to approve the minutes from the Regular Common Council Meeting of September 9th, 2025. Council Member Sendelbach seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Sendelbach, Solsrud Nays – 0 Council Member Mathson moved to approve the minutes from the Committee of the Whole Meetings on September 17th, 2025; September 23rd, 2025; October 6th, 2025: and October 9th, 2025. Council Member Solsrud seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Sendelbach, Solsrud Nays – 0 Agenda Items The Whitehall Area Historical Foundation was present and spoke about the Civil War Veteran Project they are working on in Lincoln Cemetery. They would like the City of Whitehall to consider some language changes to the Cemetery Ordinance that would allow for the cleaning and leveling of headstones as well as the resale of unused plots. The Council took the matter under advisement and will look at changes that could be made to the current ordinance. Tom Madden and Maria McCarty of SEH, Inc. spoke regarding the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project. Council Member Johnson moved to approve a Supplemental Agreement with SEH, Inc. for Wastewater Treatment Plant Design Improvements with upgrades to the existing aerated lagoon system in the amount of $248,700. Pond integrity will be a consideration moving forward. Council Member Solsrud seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Sendelbach, Solsrud Nays – 0 Isaac Steinmeyer of SEH, Inc. updated the Council on the Water Treatment Plant Project. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has approved the project with the Public Service Commission review currently underway. Isaac Steinmeyer of SEH, Inc. reviewed HVAC alternative design improvements for the Water Treatment Plant. Council Member Johnson moved to include HVAC improvements to the entire plant at an approximate cost of $425,000.00 as part of the Water Treatment Plant Project. Council member seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Sendelbach, Solsrud Nays – 0 An update on the status of the property located at 18529 Blair Street with a parcel number of 291-00206-0000 was given. The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services has given conditional approval for the roof to be replaced. Although the Council was happy to see progress being made they requested monthly updates from the property owner. Isaac Steinmeyer of SEH, Inc. reviewed HVAC alternative design improvements for the Water Treatment Plant. Council Member Johnson moved to include HVAC improvements to the entire plant at an approximate cost of $425,000.00 as part of the Water Treatment Plant Project. Council member seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Sendelbach, Solsrud Nays – 0 Consider Resolution #2025-10-14 a Final Resolution Declaring Intent to Exercise Special Assessment Taxing Powers Under Section 66.0703, Wisconsin Statutes for the 2025 Sidewalk Replacement Project. Council Member Sendelbach moved to approve the resolution allowing for five annual installments to be placed on the tax roll of the property owner for collection and bearing interest at the rate of 3.5% per annum on the unpaid balance. Council Member Solsrud seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Sendelbach, Solsrud Nays – 0 Consider Addendum #2 to the Agreement for Ambulance Services with Tri-County Hospital, Inc. to include the Town of Franklin and Town of Springfield. Council Member Sendelbach moved to approve Addendum #2. Council Member Johnson seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Sendelbach, Solsrud Nays – 0 Consider a Software Maintenance Agreement with Transcendent Technologies, LLC for property tax receipting and dog licensing. Council Member Johnson moved to approve the Agreement. Council Member Solsrud seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Sendelbach, Solsrud Nays – 0 Consider appointments by the Mayor to the Library Board. Council Member Mathson moved to approve the appointment of Laura Tomasko and Susie Zambrano as citizen members of the Library Board. Council Member Sendelbach seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Sendelbach, Solsrud Nays – 0 Council Member Sendelbach made a motion at 6:52 p.m. to go into Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statue 19.85(1) (c), “Considering employment, promotion, compensation and performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the government body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility…”, specifically for the purpose of reviewing an applicant for the City Administrator position. Council Member Solsrud seconded, and the motion carried on a roll call vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Sendelbach, Solsrud Nays – 0 Mayor Hauser brought the meeting back into an open session at 7:08 p.m. by unanimous consent. A Special Council Meeting will be held Tuesday, October 21st, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. for the purpose of interviewing a candidate for the City Administrator position. Mayor Hauser informed the Council that the City of Whitehall had received a letter of resignation from Officer Molitor effective October 21st, 2025. Mayor Hauser also informed the Council that he had received a letter from Chief of Police Paul Laursen informing him of his retirement effective December 19, 2025. Council Member Sendelbach made a motion at 7:16 p.m. to go into Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statue 19.85(1) (c), “Considering employment, promotion, compensation and performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the government body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility…”, specifically for the purpose of filling a vacancy in the Whitehall Police Department. Council Member Solsrud seconded, and the motion carried on a roll call vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Sendelbach, Solsrud Nays – 0 Mayor Hauser brought the meeting back into an open session at 7:33 p.m. by unanimous consent. Recruitment will begin to fill the Chief of Police position. Approval of Vouchers and Treasurer’s Report October vouchers for the following amounts have been reviewed by the Finance Committee and were presented to the Council for their consideration: General City $228,821.93; Electric Utility $381,030.07; Water Utility $61,697.92; Sewer Utility $102,911.97; and Library $11,451.30. Council Member Mathson moved to approve the vouchers and Treasurer’s Report. Council Member Johnson seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – Johnson, Mathson, Sendelbach, Solsrud Nays – 0 Council Comment Period and Schedule Committee Meetings Upon motion by Council Member Mathson and seconded by Council Member Solsrud, the meeting adjourned at 8:02 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 three pages. ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Jeff Hauser, Mayor Karen Witte, City Clerk-Treasurer