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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Altoona City Council Meeting September 24, 2026: Fire Apparatus Purchase, Pay Reclassification, and Proclamation

Meeting Portal — Thursday, September 24, 2026

BodyAltoona, Wisconsin

SessionMeeting Portal

DateThursday, September 24, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 51:00

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Unassigned speaker

0:01

All

Speaker 1

0:02

right, are we ready, Cindy?

Speaker 2

0:03

Up just a second here.

Speaker 3

0:20

Okay.

Speaker 2

0:20

This was a no one.

Unassigned speaker

0:22

Yep.

Speaker 2

0:23

Yep, we're good.

Speaker 1

0:24

All right, let's go ahead and call the order of the regular council meeting of Thursday, September 24th, 206.

0:30

We have the Pledge Allegiance.

Speaker 4

0:40

One

Speaker 1

0:41

of the

Speaker 5

0:42

independent

Speaker 1

0:42

rolls

Speaker 5

0:43

for

Speaker 1

0:44

the roll call for councilpersons, roll call for department.

Speaker 2

0:51

Mayor Brendan Pratt.

Speaker 1

0:52

Here.

Speaker 2

0:53

Councilperson Dale Stewart.

0:55

Councilperson Timothy Lima.

Speaker 1

0:56

Here.

Speaker 2

0:57

Councilperson Bruce Thielen.

0:59

Councilperson Matthew Buren.

1:00

Here.

1:01

Councilperson Susie Zilmer.

1:03

We have absent councilperson Susan Rowell.

1:06

We also have present attorney Sam Bach Hansen.

1:09

City Administrator Michael Golott, Assistant City Administrator Roy Atkinson, Fire Chief Mark Renderman, and Cindy Bauer, City Clerk.

1:18

We have a quorum.

Unassigned speaker

1:19

All

Speaker 1

1:19

right.

1:19

Citizen participation period, no more than 20 minutes unless extended by two-thirds vote for section 2.04.051B, time limited to three minutes per person.

1:30

So if anybody would like to speak on something that's not on the agenda, this is your

Unassigned speaker

1:33

time.

Speaker 5

1:42

I'm here today as a resident of Altoona and a member of Groh, which is grassroots organizing in Western Wisconsin.

1:48

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak.

1:51

Wisconsin State Statute charges municipal clerks with supervision of elections, making our election system one of the most decentralized in the nation.

1:59

Our clerks take an oath of office to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin.

2:06

They swear to faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of their office.

2:15

Western Wisconsin voters are politically independent, and our elections are some of the most contested in the country.

2:21

Voters here will help determine control of the Wisconsin State Legislature and the United States House of Representatives.

2:29

Because our votes carry real weight, outside interests have already begun to use misinformation, legal challenges, and other attempts to undermine confidence in the results of our voters' decisions.

2:40

Some elements of the federal government are spreading lies to sow fear and confusion, threatening to withhold disaster preparedness funds, and openly considering using armed federal agents to intimidate voters and usurp Wisconsin's right to continue to administer free and fair elections.

2:56

Decisions made in communities like River Falls, La Crosse, Eau Claire, and Eltoona have global consequences.

3:03

We are organizing to uphold fair rules and respect lawful results, keep unlawful interference out of Wisconsin elections, and protect voters' freedom to choose our own destinies.

3:15

Our clerks and poll workers administer our elections.

3:18

Trained observers support transparency and public confidence.

3:22

Organized voters, make sure the people we elect answer to us.

3:26

What I want is for each of you to consider what you

Unassigned speaker

3:30

do.

Speaker 5

3:30

What is your role in all of this?

Unassigned speaker

3:33

How will you respond if troops are stationed outside Wisconsin pollen places or federal powers try to declare martial law to take over our elections?

Speaker 5

3:42

How will you behave if representatives we elect, regardless of party, are not seated and certified on January 3rd?

3:51

Hopefully none of us will have to face these scenarios.

3:54

Calmly considering them now, though, will save us from having to decide in a charge situation later.

Unassigned speaker

4:01

Grow

Speaker 5

4:01

has a pledge for elected officials that I have brought here so that each of you can consider signing

Unassigned speaker

4:06

it.

Speaker 5

4:06

It asks nothing more than for you to uphold your oath of office, and there is nothing about it that should be considered controversial.

4:14

I'm also requesting that you consider passing a resolution affirming those same principles and expressing support for and faith in our clerks and poll workers.

4:23

Our clerk is especially wonderful.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Safety████████████████████████████28%

Arts And Culture████████████████16%

Personnel Matters██████████████14%

Budget Equity Analysis████████████12%

Public Engagement█████████9%

Procedural████████8%

Parks and Recreation███████7%

Economic Development██████6%

Summary of Proceedings

Altoona City Council Meeting - September 24, 2026

The Altoona Common Council met Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 5:00 P.M. in Council Chambers at Altoona City Hall. Mayor Brendan Pratt presided, with City Clerk Cindy Bauer recording. All council members except Susan Rowell were present, along with City Attorney Sam Bach Hansen, City Administrator Michael Golott, Assistant City Administrator Roy Atkinson, and Fire Chief Mark Renderman. The council approved the consent agenda and several new business items, the largest being a $1,190,021 purchase of a 2026 Pierce Rescue/Engine.

Consent Calendar

September 10, 2026 Regular Council Minutes: Approved by voice vote.
2027 Special Charge for Recycling: Approved.
Resolution 9B-26: Approved, authorizing the City Engineer/Public Works Director or their designee to apply for the Wisconsin DNR Urban Forestry Grant and/or Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grant programs. A council member spoke in support, calling the urban forestry grant important to the city.

Public Comments & Testimony

Joanne, an Altoona resident and member of GROH (Grassroots Organizing in Western Wisconsin), said outside interests are using misinformation and legal challenges to undermine confidence in Wisconsin elections. She asked each council member to consider signing a GROH pledge for elected officials and urged the council to consider a resolution expressing support for and faith in local clerks and poll workers. No formal action was taken on the request.

Reports and Proclamation

Mayor Pratt read a proclamation recognizing the Altoona Ski Sprites as the 2026 Division II National Show Ski Tournament Champions after their first-place finish on August 2, 2026, in Love Park, Illinois. Ski Sprites President Duncan Reedy accepted, thanking the city and noting the team's partnership with Altoona since 2008/2009.
City staff reported on progress with the City of Eau Claire sewer contract and promoted upcoming events, including the River Prairie Ginormous Pumpkin Festival, a September 29 data center event, and a final Wednesday night concert.

Discussion Items

Discover Wisconsin Video Project Contribution: Dave, who presented the proposal, described a partnership between Eau Claire County, the City of Eau Claire, the Chamber, and other sponsors to produce a social-media promotional video supporting economic development and the region's expected growth. He stated Eau Claire County is projected to grow roughly 13.5% to 14.5% over the next 25 years, making it one of the fastest-growing counties in Wisconsin. The City of Eau Claire and Eau Claire County were each contributing $20,000, the Chamber $5,000, and the city was asked for a $5,000 contribution; other sponsors were also being solicited. Council approved the contribution.
Assistant City Administrator Reclassification: City Administrator Golott requested reclassification of the Assistant City Administrator position from exempt Grade P to exempt Grade Q, following a September 22, 2026 Personnel Committee discussion and a compensation study by Cottingham Butler. He described the position as difficult to hire and important to succession planning, saying he hoped Roy Atkinson would become the next city administrator. Council approved the reclassification.
2026 Pierce Rescue/Engine Purchase: Fire Chief Mark Renderman explained that the department found an available demo truck, allowing it to replace an engine and a rescue truck with one apparatus and reduce the fleet sooner than originally planned. The truck has about 12,000 miles, a 2,000-gallon-per-minute pump, additional storage, a one-year bumper-to-bumper warranty, a five-year powertrain warranty, and a $75,000 discount if purchased by the end of September. The purchase would be funded through 20-year bonding; one replaced truck was estimated to resell for $65,000 to $95,000. Council approved the purchase and authorized a budget amendment.

Key Outcomes

Approved the September 10, 2026 meeting minutes.
Approved the 2027 special charge for recycling and Resolution 9B-26.
Approved a $5,000 contribution to the Eau Claire County Discover Wisconsin video project.
Approved reclassifying the Assistant City Administrator position from exempt Grade P to exempt Grade Q.
Approved the purchase of the 2026 Pierce Rescue/Engine from Reliant Fire Apparatus for $1,190,021 and authorized staff to amend the budget. The motion passed by unanimous roll-call vote.
The tennis program records board/state championship banner item was removed from the agenda and scheduled for the October 22, 2026 Council meeting.

Meeting Transcript

All right, are we ready, Cindy? Up just a second here. Okay. This was a no one. Yep. Yep, we're good. All right, let's go ahead and call the order of the regular council meeting of Thursday, September 24th, 206. We have the Pledge Allegiance. One of the independent rolls for the roll call for councilpersons, roll call for department. Mayor Brendan Pratt. Here. Councilperson Dale Stewart. Councilperson Timothy Lima. Here. Councilperson Bruce Thielen. Councilperson Matthew Buren. Here. Councilperson Susie Zilmer. We have absent councilperson Susan Rowell. We also have present attorney Sam Bach Hansen. City Administrator Michael Golott, Assistant City Administrator Roy Atkinson, Fire Chief Mark Renderman, and Cindy Bauer, City Clerk. We have a quorum. All right. Citizen participation period, no more than 20 minutes unless extended by two-thirds vote for section 2.04.051B, time limited to three minutes per person. So if anybody would like to speak on something that's not on the agenda, this is your time. I'm here today as a resident of Altoona and a member of Groh, which is grassroots organizing in Western Wisconsin. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak. Wisconsin State Statute charges municipal clerks with supervision of elections, making our election system one of the most decentralized in the nation. Our clerks take an oath of office to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin. They swear to faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of their office. Western Wisconsin voters are politically independent, and our elections are some of the most contested in the country. Voters here will help determine control of the Wisconsin State Legislature and the United States House of Representatives. Because our votes carry real weight, outside interests have already begun to use misinformation, legal challenges, and other attempts to undermine confidence in the results of our voters' decisions. Some elements of the federal government are spreading lies to sow fear and confusion, threatening to withhold disaster preparedness funds, and openly considering using armed federal agents to intimidate voters and usurp Wisconsin's right to continue to administer free and fair elections. Decisions made in communities like River Falls, La Crosse, Eau Claire, and Eltoona have global consequences. We are organizing to uphold fair rules and respect lawful results, keep unlawful interference out of Wisconsin elections, and protect voters' freedom to choose our own destinies. Our clerks and poll workers administer our elections. Trained observers support transparency and public confidence. Organized voters, make sure the people we elect answer to us. What I want is for each of you to consider what you do. What is your role in all of this?

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