She reminded the Council that the Warming Center, while a tool to help serve the unhoused residents of Wausau, has limited room. She also pointed to the severe shortage of beds for people who need them, especially during harsh weather events. The whole purpose of the program is to leverage city assets for developers to make long term improvements. During last months ferocious snowstorm and bitter cold, Marathon County health officials were forced to scramble to coordinate shelter, working with area nonprofit agencies and advocates to ensure safety. District 11:Chad Henke defeated incumbent Debra Ryan who received52% of the vote. Editor's note: This weekly feature of Wausau Pilot & Review is being published in response to reader concerns about crime and safety in the Wausau area and to keep readers informed about their. Search CareerBuilder for Council Member Jobs in Wausau, WI and browse our platform. A description of committee structure precedes the membership roster. To send an email to a Member, please click here. McElhaney also shamed the Council for what she called finger-pointing in recent weeks. It is unsafe and does nothing for the dignity of those in need or to mitigate prolonged suffering.. Wausau continually faces a paradox when it comes to retention and growth where its population is concerned. District 2: Ann Lemmer defeated Destiny Goretski with 61% of the vote forthe seat vacated by Jenifer Bizzotto. It simply states that we still see an uneven playing field with barriers that disproportionately affect certain marginalized segments of our community.. In District 4, incumbent Tom Nealbeat out Judith Miller, with 63% of the vote. 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. 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. Minutes & Agendas, Home | Search | Page List | Announcements | Calendar | Departments | Services | Contact | Customer Feedback | Privacy Statement. 7 Alder Lisa Rasmussen pointed to efforts by the city to address homelessness and said the city should not consider the bridge a solution. The womans death was one of the reasons Gisselman called for the meeting. Depending on who you ask, Wausau either has plenty of affordable housing or is lacking affordable housing. I wouldnt. Calendar 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. In District 9, incumbent Dawn Herbst ran unopposed for the seat. Dist. But in 2022 when the council approved the liaison position Kilian asked that, should a more appropriate department be created in the future, that employee could be transitioned from the Wausau Police Department roster to that department. I am a strong advocate in providing affordable housing opportunities to young professionals-new nurses, teachers, police officers, etc. Tony Evers issued an executive order April 6 that would have movedthe spring election to June 9 in an effort to prevent more illness and deaths from COVID-19. 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. In August, the body of a 74-year-old war veteran was discovered in a Rib Mountain field and in December, a woman who had an encampment beneath a downtown Wausau bridge also died. The loss of those units amounts to a nearly 11% drop in the number of affordable housing units (at least those that are affordable because of the HUD program.). In District 8, Sarah Watsonreceived 59% of the vote, while incumbent Linda Lawrencegot 39.9%. Section 42 is a viable long-term solution; I wont squander those opportunities in the future with short-term solutions that enrich developers and short sheet residents. For republication information email editor@wausaupilotandreview.com.. the body of a 74-year-old war veteran was discovered in a Rib Mountain field, 72 unique clients who sought shelter there in November alone, Privacy and Conflict of Interest Policies, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Even with that plan, gaps remain and daytime shelter is a significant issue especially in extreme weather. To be clear, this hasnt happened overnight, its a trend; I think the mayor campaigned on fixing this, and I can help. The top candidates will move on to face off in the spring election this April. Second: as a Wisconsin native, I believe strongly in the values and attributes that make our state special. 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. The 32-bed prison's price tag is now $78.4 million . All rights reserved. I spent a year working on a research project at UW Madison where my biases were challenged continuously. 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. District 4:Doug Diny defeated Jesse Kearns by 20 votes. The meeting had been called at the request of two Alders. The previous bid was out of date and to consider moving this forward in 2023 we needed to rebid the project, he said. I mean, really? Tagged: afternoon update , city of Wausau , public safety U.N.-branded vehicles were once ubiquitous there, but its staff now appear to be keeping a much lower profile than . That space, she said, provides a barrier from the wind and snow for people with nowhere to go. It is, by far, future financial and economic viability and how we incentivize people to move to the city; we have to be very competitive in that regard. As for next steps, the Mayor said we have a lot of really important planning and it will be important that we infuse those plans with a multi-cultural, multi-ability, multi-experiential mindset so they address the needs of Wausau residents., She added that she was referring to the Citys strategic planning that well be kicking off shortly and the transit development plan were working on in conjunction with the Marathon County Metropolitan Planning Organization. Rosenberg said she expects heavy public engagement for both of those processes and we want to make it as easy as we can to include as many voices as possible., At the beginning of the Common Council meeting, Neal was criticized by name by Orlando Alfonso, a Wausau resident and husband of the assistant city attorney. District 1:Incumbent Michelle Van Krey defeatedchallenger Christopher Wood with 68% of the vote. If the council does not approve Gisselman and Kilians request, a COW meeting can also be called by Mayor Katie Rosenberg or City Council President Becky McElhaney. This week's crime gallery breaks a record for the number of felony arrests, with several warrants and crimes ranging from forgery to child abuse to drug offenses. . How has your experience prepared you for Council service? Gary Gisselman, who represents Wausaus Dist. A date for the meeting has not yet been set. While I was not in a position to make decisions or act decisively on the matter, I paid close attention and learned a great deal by listening to all involved parties. We like Wausau. Its important to identify what we mean by affordable housing crisis in Wausau. I will say that my offhand comment about some peoples qualifications for parenthood was dumb and unnecessary. What are three things you want people to know about you before heading to the polls? Click and go to page 119. Efforts to address the need have been ongoing, with city officials in September approving $270,000 in federal funding for Catholic Charities to expand the nightly shelter offerings year-round, rather than just in the coldest months of the year. With four candidates on the ballot, a primary will be held Feb. 15 to narrow the field to two. Dont assume nothings happening because things are happening all the time, she said. Community members prepared to speak in opposition to the Community for All resolution at the Marathon County Courthouse in Wausau, Wis., last week. To that effort, I would seek to optimize available state and federal financing so that progress can be realized without overburdening taxpayers or cash-strapping essential departments. In District 6, incumbent Becky McElhaney ran unopposed. 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. Alder Rasmussen, a steadfast opponent of the proposal, said her goal was not to stop or stifle a healthy discussion. In an email, Dist. So, property given for pennies on the dollar to a developer has just been flipped for a huge profit. During last months ferocious snowstorm and bitter cold, Marathon County health officials were forced to scramble to coordinate shelter, working with area nonprofit agencies and advocates to ensure safety. Even with these efforts, Wausaus warming center reported 72 unique clients who sought shelter there in November alone, according to city documents. Council President Becky McElhaney, who voted to hold the COW meeting, cautioned her colleagues not to promise too much as the way the city addresses the homeless issue also depends on Marathon Countys response. James Bouche and Jon Creisher were reelected, while challenger Joanna Reyes beat out incumbent Jane Rusch and challenger Kayley McColley for the third spot. Like this: Loading. Henry Coutinho-Mason, Lydia Caldana, Kelly Vaught, Max Lenderman, Emma Chiu, Clem Garritty, Ollie Jones, Richard Mathews #future Simon Pulman Entertainment Lawyer Focused on Complex Rights Deals. (see attached chart). The direct admission by the developer that opening two new, high end housing developments simultaneously would more than fulfill the needs of those able and willing to afford them means that the citys focus from a governance standpoint should be on affordable housing, such as the project by Gorman & Co. A project that is using federal and state funding, rather than municipal tax dollars, and would provide fifty affordable units for local renters of various income levels. During Tuesdays Council meeting, Wausau Police Chief Ben Bliven gave a presentation on the state of homelessness in the area and shared a Point in Time count that estimated more than 200 people in Marathon County do not have a place to live. They must immediately take inventory of each housing category in the city (affordable, workforce and luxury). WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) This week's winter storm has postponed a much-anticipated discussion by the Wausau City Council. (Ord. Reach him atdamakant@wausaupilotandreview.com. She said people who oppose the measure failed to understand what the marginalized and disabled people go through. Meetings are not officially scheduled until an agenda has been issued and posted. For republication information email editor@wausaupilotandreview.com.. 2 Wausau alders issue call for action on homelessness as anger rises, challenges continue, Privacy and Conflict of Interest Policies, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. City leaders in Wausau are renewing efforts to erect a fence beneath the Scott Street Bridge, despite the councils rejection of a prior budget amendment to fund the project. 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. 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