The Janesville City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers, 18 North Jackson Street. The meeting focused on the recognition of a former council member, public comments on the proposed data center and a referendum ordinance, and the first reading of an ordinance that would require voter approval for development projects exceeding $450 million at the GM/JATCO site. The council voted on motions to expedite the ordinance to the April ballot, but both motions failed.
And to the Republicans with liberty on justice for all right, thank you. In case of an emergency, use the stairs and not the elevator to exit. Walk to the north side of the police department and wait for further instructions. President Burdick? Here. Vice President Squire? Here. Councilmember Miller? Here. Councilmember Nino? Here. Councilmember Williams? Here. Councilmember Cass. Here. Councilmember Erdman. Here. All are present. We do have a quorum. All right. Thank you. Item three recognition. We're going to recognize former president and council member Doug Markline. The City of Janesville mourns the passing of former council member Doug Markline, who's also council president, whose dedicated service to the community began with his election to the city council in 2013. Throughout his tenure, Doug served on numerous boards and committees and was a respected leader, serving multiple terms as council president, plan commission chair, and MPO policy board chair. Known for his vision, pragmatism, and commitment to listening to all perspectives. Doug helped advance housing development, community health initiatives, and downtown revitalization. His thoughtful stewardship and passion for the Janesville leave a lasting legacy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his friends, and the many people who did business with Doug. Please join me in a moment of silence to honor his life. Thank you. Not requiring a public hearing and on matters which can be affected by council action. There are no public hearings scheduled for tonight. So clerk, um how many do we have signed up today? At this time, I have two signed up. Uh when you uh approach the podium on either side, uh, you have four minutes to speak, and you do need to state your name and address. Uh if you did not fill out a form to speak, there are forms in the back to complete and bring to me when uh you come up to speak. We will start with Ty Bullerood. Hi, Bulrood, uh, Jamesville, Wisconsin, Milton, Wisconsin. The uh the uh railroad came to town in 1854. If you look at the original uh survey, uh it tell you can go backtrack and and and and read, you know, that's everybody's backyard. And so, you know, that they made it over the the river, the GM. You know, there's a lot of history there, and um, you know, the fact that the pri the land is is valuable. If we could if we could start developing it, that would be valuable, but that has nothing to do with who who's suggesting this value. The owners are not invited into into this game from the city and the state, as far as I'm concerned, and they're blind to uh uh uh derailment that's in the process of happening right now in downtown Janesville, and I can't get a cop up on that bridge to look at that derailment and take pictures. I can't get anybody to come up there and take a look at that, and I don't know why. It doesn't make any sense because uh the railroad companies know it, and they also pointed it out, so it's all political. Why why the I mean it's it's it's a management game, it's a it's a bad deal. I can't explain it, but whoever piggybacked off GM knows about this derailment happening as in 2026, and and what and how and how we know it is we can take a whole bridge and shake it. That's right over uh um traxler.