Four candidates are seeking a seat on the Wausau City Council to represent Dist. Among those who played a key role in the adoption of the measure was Mayor Rosenberg. Those who defended the resolution called it necessary; its opponents branded it as divisive, ideological and biased against the white community. I also bring broad insights and fresh perspective from years spent in larger Wisconsin cities, out of state, and abroad. It simply states that we still see an uneven playing field with barriers that disproportionately affect certain marginalized segments of our community.. Someone died under a Wausau bridge, Gisselman told Wausau Pilot & Review. Candidates vying for the Wausau City Council District 1 seat will face off in a primary race on Feb. 15. While Marathon County has a social services department and a health department, Wausau has neither. I bought my home in this area because I believe it will give my family the kind of community not found in many other cities across the state. Neal further said that those who opposed the proposal represent a very small fraction of our population, really. He added that the resolution envisaged equal treatment and opportunity and not equal outcomes. Im not sure if the council will agree to it, but I think we need to have an opportunity to engage in the conversation. Shoring up staffing is a leadership issue, not a big budget issue, as most departments are budgeted for full agency, we need to aggressively recruit, retain, and train our workforce. Everybody cares. The number of unhoused, he said, is likely in the realm of 300 people including people living in parking ramps, parks, cars, shelters and other non-permanent homes. Election website or Facebook page: Doug Diny for Wausau City Council https://www.facebook.com/wausaudistrict4/. I spent a good portion of my childhood in District 4 and attended Hawthorn Hills Elementary. Wausau City Council meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of Wausau City Hall, 407 Grant Street. The Ethics, Damakant Jayshi The Wausau Ethics Board will further discuss an ethics complaint filed by Marathon County Supervisor William Harris against City Council Member Debra Ryan, in which he accused her of making false statements against, Damakant Jayshi A Marathon County Hmong resident told Board members Thursday that harassment at his workplace and prevailing racism led to the loss of his job at a local credit union. McElhaney, who is City Council President, said she was taken aback by the vehemence of the opposition to the proposal and was called racist and bigot for supporting it. Nineteen races were contested Tuesday for the Marathon County Board out of 38 seats a high number of contested seats in the country's largest county board. Advocates are asking Wausau to create a new department of social development and action to ensure the needs posed by the unhoused members of the community are addressed at both the city and county level. Rent prices increase steadily year over year, while wages seem to have stagnated in the area. 7 Alder Lisa Rasmussen pointed to efforts by the city to address homelessness and said the city should not consider the bridge a solution. Alders Sarah Watson, Dawn Herbst, and Rasmussen all voted no. A date for the meeting has not yet been set. Between the two organizations, space exists for just 53 residents on any given night during the winter. You can also view all available items in the Archive. Dist. During the September meeting, Sandi Kelch, of the Community Outreach Task Force, spoke to the consequences of blocking off access to the citys bridges. Gary Gisselman, who represents Wausaus Dist. And the topic of how the County and City can work together jointly and more effectively on this important issue rarely, if ever, comes up in city council meetings to date, Kilian said. Kilian said he received significant contacts from citizens concerned about the lack of an emergency preparedness plan to address homeless residents during Decembers bitter cold and blizzard conditions, prompting him to speak with Marathon County officials about putting emergency plans and shelter options in place that could be activated when predefined thresholds of risk are reached. Now, the Granite House will be replacing the organization that once helped adults struggling with mental illness and drug abuse. Hours later, the conservative majority of the state Supreme Court put the election back on track. Lets offer incentives to city employees for cutting costs. The results come nearly a week after Election Day, which saw voters turn out at the polls despite fears of the coronavirus. Wausau cannot guarantee that the county will attend that meeting, she said. In April 2016, the last time that local races were held alongside a presidential primary, 64% of registered voters in the city made their way to the polls. UW-Madison, J.D. That amended motion passed. ?The approved We are Wausau resolution can be viewed here. Ill call for a TID scoring team of business experts to provide Pro forma projections of best andworst case outcomes for citizens to see before we ink development agreements. Meetings may change due to any situation covered in the standing rules of the Common Council. The 32-bed prison's price tag is now $78.4 million . Pat. These spaces not only serve as a way for the community to come together, but they help generate tourism and event dollars for local business. I also once referred to an imaginary jasper who might confront me regarding my stance on the CFA issue and how Id respond. Neither Mayor Katie Rosenberg nor City Council President Becky McElhaney responded to an email sent Wednesday requesting information for this story. I spent a year working on a research project at UW Madison where my biases were challenged continuously. The city has a severe affordable housing shortage and advocates have called for building more units for low income people. District 33:Ron Covelli defeatedincumbent Tim Buttke with 52% of the vote. Kilian on Thursday told Wausau Pilot & Review his position is unlikely to change. We cannot assume that Wausaus economy is keeping pace with other similarly sized cities in Wisconsin, such as Brookfield, when the average annual income of our residents is less than half of what we see in that area. I dont even know what that will be, but we need to start by listening.. District 17:Incumbent Jennifer Aarrestad defeated challenger Cheryl Martino with 59% of the vote. She also pointed to the severe shortage of beds for people who need them, especially during harsh weather events. In an email, Dist. The Wausau City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 407 Grant St., Wausau. Gain sharing pools can be shared with departments that create a surplus. that this community needs. Then a U.S. Supreme Court rulingdetermined at the last minutethat absentee ballots had to be postmarked by April 7to be counted, but many voters never received their ballots and had to choose between heading to the polls or forgoing their vote. Also in September, Wausau Police Chief Ben Bliven said the bridge effort was never conceived to solve the homeless issue but a safety measure to keep residents from falling into the river. Damakant Jayshi is a reporter for Wausau Pilot & Review. Maintenance is like shaving, youve got to do a little every day. If this item will be exactly the same as what came before us before, my perspective on the matter has not changed, and my position on the item will be the same as it was at the earlier date, Kilian said. Before calling for the vote, Mayor Katie Rosenberg thanked the council for the discussion saying many alders left themselves "very. Jesse Kearns cited a variation with his concern about how we prioritize subsidies to developers versus other interests. In parallel, the city has approved and funded 24 hour shelter options, including a day center that is in the process of gathering itself to open soon, with low barriers to entry for those who need it, Rasmussen said. (see attached chart). Announcements Thursday's Committee of the Whole meeting on the issue of homelessness. (Ord. Tensions over the citys growing homeless population have risen in recent months and some officials have seen sharp criticism from advocates in the wake of two outdoor deaths. A Community for All, the grassroots community organization promoting inclusivity and diversity in Marathon County, invites you to its meeting at 6 p.m. today, March 17, at Whitewater Music Hall, 130 First St., Wausau. "The Town of Wausau is a Fair Housing Advocate. In District 10, Lou Larsenbeat out Sherry Abitz, with 53% of the vote. Tactical Emergency Medical Services (TEMS), Sustainability Energy and Environment Committee, Sustainability, Energy and Environment Committee. Here are the results for the City Council races: In District 1, incumbent PatPeckham beat out Chris Norfleet, with 77.9% of the vote. I learned to humble myself before the evidence, to abandon those ideas and preferences proven to be inaccurate or unsupported, and to embrace the process that brings us closest to the facts at hand. The 55-year-old woman's autopsy results showed she died of methamphetamine toxicity, though Police Chief Ben Bliven in January acknowledged that the death was likely complicated by living outdoors in harsh . Meetings may change due to any situation covered in the standing rules of the Common Council. WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) The Wausau City Council voted 8-3 to approve a future Committee of the Whole meeting on homelessness in the city. I dont always need to be right; likewise, I expect the same from staff, tell me even if its bad news, no surprises please! They are banned from the parking ramps and the shelters are unable to accommodate the current growing number of our unhoused. Published content is property of Wausau Pilot and Review. At the same time, thecity is responsible for maintaining cost of living (both property tax and rents) at a reasonable level that will not only retain but attract new and talented residents,further adding to our citys vibrancy. We have to start somewhere.. Published content is property of Wausau Pilot and Review. The Wausau City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 407 Grant St., Wausau. She reminded the Council that the Warming Center, while a tool to help serve the unhoused residents of Wausau, has limited room. Privacy and Conflict of Interest Policies, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Two City Council members are asking for a special meeting to discuss the way Wausau is responding to homelessness, as public attention and anger continues to bubble in the community. In September, a proposal to add an additional $18,000 to the $40,000 already budgeted failed to gain a required 2/3 majority, even with a 5-4 passing vote. District 11:Chad Henke defeated incumbent Debra Ryan who received52% of the vote. All rights reserved. District 9:Incumbent David Oberbeck held off Johnny Fortenberrywith 56% of the vote. WAUSAU - The Wausau City Council has five new members after the vote totals from the spring election were released. Any time there is a public event that directly informs us on an issue a committee is handling, the council members on that committee should attempt to obtain public comment. . You are fortunateyou do not have the experience that I have and there is a problem., Alder Pat Peckam also said the concern over the word is bogus.. Third: My family takes pride in patronizing Wausaus local businesses, from shops, entertainment and restaurants to industry and farms. The top candidates will move on to face off in the spring election this April. No person may be appointed to more than two consecutive regular terms as a member of any city board, committee or commission, unless the reappointment is specifically approved by the common council. District 3:Incumbent Tom Kilian defeated Jo Ann Egelkrout with 65% of the vote. At this critical juncture in its history, Wausau has the opportunity to reshape the heart of the city, the downtown area, and link it to the ongoing riverfront revitalization. To send an email to a Member, please click here. Members of the City Council on Tuesday declared Wausau 'a community for all,' capping three months of intense effort from several council members and Mayor Katie Rosenberg. Wausau cannot guarantee that the county will attend that meeting, she said. She said people who oppose the measure failed to understand what the marginalized and disabled people go through. Here is a list of the winners. But while a plan for high-end housing in downtown Wausau that relies on millions in taxpayer funding drew dozens of supporters from area hospitals, clinics, nonprofits, businesses, Wausau School District administrators and the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce, discussions on housing proposals for lower-income residents have seen little, if any, public advocacy from those same entities. Wausau must continue to be a place where our children and grandchildren can build upon their generational legacy and the legacy of this community. No person may be appointed to more than two consecutive regular terms as a member of any city board, committee or commission, unless the reappointment is specifically approved by the common council. In 1893, Clarke became Postmaster of Somo, Wisconsin. District 5: Gary Gisselman topped incumbent Jim Wadzinski with 53% of the vote. Other public service: Mayor Appointment to Airport Committee, N2N Committee. I am eager to serve as a direct link between district 4 citizens and government. The whole purpose of the program is to leverage city assets for developers to make long term improvements. 3, made the request Tuesday to set a Committee of the Whole, which was approved by a 8-3 margin. The alderperson member shall be elected by a two-thirds vote of the common council at its regular April meeting each year. A description of committee structure precedes the membership roster. The Council Holds the Purse Strings! Alder Tom Kilian took issue with the idea that declaring Wausau an inclusive community is not an essential use of the councils time. Dist. If we wish to ensure our city is able to afford the greatest opportunity to its constituents, focusing on reducing our capital and debt services so that we can increase the effectiveness of our local police and firefighters, ensuring public safety is at the forefront of where our budgetary dollars are spent. The following is a list of Boards, Committees and Commissions. All Rights Reserved. That space, she said, provides a barrier from the wind and snow for people with nowhere to go. My legal training hasequipped me tointerpret and apply federal and state law and municipal codelaw, to find and utilize available programs and form impactful policy. Dont assume nothings happening because things are happening all the time, she said. 3, will formally ask the full council on Tuesday to set a Committee of the Whole to evaluate and consider the the needs posed by the unhoused members of the community are being addressed at both the city and county level. Email, Home | Search | Page List | Announcements | Calendar | Departments | Services | Contact | Customer Feedback | Privacy Statement. Kham T. Yang, a, Mayor and Chamber insist Wausau will welcome and help new arrivals Damakant Jayshi Some elected and business leaders in Wausau believe the community is eager to welcome new refugees, including Afghans, as part of a, Damakant Jayshi The debate over diversity resolutions in Marathon County and Wausau exposed rifts not only between elected officials but also among members of the community, mirroring a divide that, polls show, is only getting, Damakant Jayshi After more than a year of discussion and undergoing multiple revisions, a diversity resolution on Tuesday failed to pass when the Marathon County Board of Supervisors deadlocked on the proposal. District 8:Incumbent Sarah Watson defeated Thomas "Tony" Brown with 65% of the vote. Previously, Rasmussen commented that resolutions arent necessarily what local governments should be focusing on. Many more need shelter, she said. The vote was preceded by a more measured discussion than the one witnessed at the Economic Development Committee which discussed the proposal and voted to move it forward. Bliven also addressed the death of a woman in December who was staying in a tent underneath a Wausau bridge. We monetize peoples plight for federal funds and spend the moneyIs this a community for all? Two incumbents and a challenger won the three Wausau School Board seats. The move is taking some council members and advocates for the homeless population, who thought the project was rejected in September, by surprise. If you wish to address the council on a topic listed on the agenda, you must registerwith the Clerk prior to the meeting by completing a registration form. District 23:David Baker defeated incumbent Chris Voll with 56% of the vote. . Lindman said his department will be working with WPS and going over the bid received in the coming week or so. My law practice (representing employeebenefit funds)honed my negotiation skills, key for fostering cooperation, productive discussion, and balancing different parties interests. I was also sympathetic toward the concerns of the residents living near the proposed site for the day shelter, as they had legitimate concerns and questions about what services would be offered to the likely increased number of people in their area who faced mental health and addiction issues. This experience helped me understand both the need for economic stability in cities across this country, while also shedding light on what can happen if ambitions blind us to the human consequences when development is at the behest of the people and not on their behalf. Reach him atdamakant@wausaupilotandreview.com. District 7:Incumbent Becky Buch won against Alex Eichten with 58% of the vote. Though the Finance Committee in 2022 recommended approving the funding, the proposal drew pointed opposition from some members of the public and council members who saw the fence as yet another Wausau initiative to punish homeless residents. SECOND: PDF: Michael Martens 715-845-4218 City of Wausau 407 Grant Street Wausau, WI 54403: THIRD: PDF: Tom Kilian. When I knock on doors, I think street maintenance is a big complaint. Thats just cherry-picking to the extreme and does little or nothing to illuminate the discussion.. I would prioritize street maintenance and properly budget for it every year so that we dont get to the point we need to borrow just to keep up. City Council Alderpersons. Occupation: Policy executive and small business owner, Other public service:Retired from Active Duty (15 years US Army, 12 years USPHS), Education: BS-University of Maryland, MS-Johns Hopkins University, MSc, Doctoral Studies-University of Southern California, Election website or Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/district4wausau.

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