Marshfield Common Council Approves 2024 City Budget and More

Thursday, November 30th, 2023 -- 4:01 PM

The Marshfield Common Council approved the 2024 City Budget at their meeting on Tuesday.

The Council approved the 2024 budget with some recommended adjustments including reductions to workers comp cost, network penetration test (which will be covered by ARPA funds), moving back the start date of the Assistant City Administrator/Community Development Coordinator to February 15th, and traffic signal bulb replacement, which will also be covered by ARPA. The total for all those comes to $92,000.

The budget had also included the hiring of three firefighters, but they only approved the hiring of one for the time being and decided to hold off on hiring the other two until they know more about the proposed Marshfield Clinic merger and other issues. The budget passed 7-2. The amount raised by taxation comes to $15,678,884 with the levy coming to $7.85 per one thousand dollars of assessed valuation. That passed 8-1.

The Council also had the second reading, and approval, of Ordinance No. 1504, rezoning parcel 33-06798 from “CMU” (Community Mixed Use) to “MR-12” (Multi-Family Residential). The Council also had the first reading of Ordinance No. 1506, rezoning property located at 1710 East 29th Street (parcel 33-03549-1) from “LI” (Light Industrial to “GI” (General Industrial). It will be brought back before the December 12th meeting for possible final approval.

The Council also approved accepting the donation of the “Buffalo Building” on an 8-1 vote. The owner of the building offered to donate it to the City with a stipulation that the Council must accept it by December 1st.

The Council has discussed using it for a new Police Station, but stipulated that if it doesn’t work out for the Police Station, it could be used for other purposes or even sold. The Council heard from Marshfield Police Chief Jody Geurink on the needs of the Police Department.

The aldermen had a lengthy discussion on accepting the property. Alderman Ed Wegner stated that he “loved the building, but didn’t love the price tag” of turning it into the new Police Station.

He also was concerned that this building was “driving the conversation” on a new Police Station and they shouldn’t rush into anything just because they’re being offered this building.

However, Alderman Mike O'Reilly saying it's a deal the city needed to take. "Somebody is coming to me with a house, fixer-upper or not, just handing it to me and saying, 'I'm going to give this to you,' I am absolutely going to take that house, and if it takes me five years to fix it up, to be the perfect house that I absolutely want, why would I not take it?" he said.

The Council also approved appointing an Alderperson to the Mill Creek Business Covenant Committee. The Council also approved several items when they approved the meeting minutes from the past several weeks including:

• Approving a request to solicit proposals (RFP) for columbarium project;
• The purchase of a televising truck and related equipment (Wastewater);
• Accepting the donation of temporary easements related to the Adler Road trail project;
• Award insurance renewal to the League of Wisconsin Municipalities;
• A joint Library Agreement with the Town of McMillan;
• Resolution No. 2023-60, adopting 2024 Fee Schedule;
• And wage adjustments for 2 City staff members.

They also heard a preliminary report on the compensation market update.

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