Altoona City Council Meeting – January 22, 2026

The Altoona City Council met on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The meeting covered department reports, a proclamation, several land-use approvals for a townhome-to-condo conversion, and a resolution for emergency roof repairs at the fire station. A pending state bill on extraterritorial jurisdiction led to postponement of three related agenda items. The council also held a closed session to evaluate the city administrator and discuss a grant opportunity.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of January 8, 2026: Approved unanimously.
• Reports from City Officers and Department Heads: Included a new written report format. Director of Public Works reported that this winter has required nearly 300 tons of salt and 4,000 gallons of brine (up from 250 tons and 3,500 gallons last year) on 42 lane miles of roads, and that salt supplies are limited. The council praised snow-plowing efforts.
• Proclamation Recognizing National Human Trafficking Awareness Month (January 2026): Adopted unanimously, acknowledging the work of Fierce Freedom in combating trafficking in the region.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public Hearing on Certified Survey Map (CSM) for Phase II River Prairie Townhomes (Tom Toy): No public speakers; the hearing was closed by motion.

Discussion Items

• Phase II River Prairie Townhomes (Tom Toy) – CSM Approval: The developer proposes converting the originally planned 12 townhomes into 10 condominium units on a single 1.87-acre lot. The Planning Commission recommended approval subject to conditions (e.g., adequate parking solution). The council approved the CSM as conditioned.
• Phase II River Prairie Townhomes – Preliminary Condominium Plat: This step allows the single lot to be subdivided into condominium units. The developer noted challenges with insurance and parking from Phase I, and stated they would add 8–10 extra parking spaces. The council approved the preliminary plat as conditioned.
• Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) Agreement and CSM for Sandra Strobush (Items 4, 5, 6): City Administrator reported that pending state legislation (Assembly Bill on ETJ) could nullify existing agreements that condition land division approval on future annexation. After testifying against the bill, the city decided to postpone action on the Strobush items to allow legal review. A motion to postpone decisions on items 4, 5, and 6 passed unanimously.
• Resolution 1A-26 – State of Emergency for Fire Department Roof Repairs: Heavy snow and melting caused water intrusion at the fire station. The resolution bypasses normal bidding (estimated over $25,000) to expedite repairs. Full roof replacement is planned for summer. Approved unanimously.
• Closed Session (Wis. Stats 19.85(1)(c) and (e)): The council convened closed session to evaluate City Administrator Mike Golott and discuss a grant opportunity for Fire/EMS operations. Upon reconvening, the mayor reported that the annual evaluation was completed with no further action.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Minutes of Jan 8, 2026; Proclamation for Human Trafficking Awareness Month; CSM and Preliminary Plat for Phase II River Prairie Townhomes (Tom Toy); Resolution 1A-26 declaring emergency for fire station roof repairs.
• Postponed: Items 4, 5, and 6 (Strobush ETJ agreement and CSM) pending legal review of state legislation.
• Closed Session Completed: City administrator evaluation conducted; no further action reported.
• Next Steps: Site plan review for townhome condos to address parking; roof repair bid; monitor ETJ bill.