Menasha Common Council Meeting – August 3, 2026: Emergency Response and Resolutions

The Menasha Common Council met on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 6:00 PM, one week after the July 27 tornado devastated parts of the city. The meeting focused on departmental reports on the emergency response and recovery, public comments, and the unanimous passage of four resolutions to declare a state of disaster, authorize emergency operations, waive bidding for debris removal, and reallocate the budget for software tools.

Public Comments & Testimony

• KristL Laux (388 Nassau Street, Menasha), Winnebago County District 2 Supervisor, thanked neighboring communities and volunteers for their assistance.
• Kiersten Lewis (1032 Grove Street, Menasha) expressed appreciation for citizens and employees working on recovery and inquired about property tax payment extensions and details of the citywide curfew. Mayor Hammond clarified that tax extensions are governed by state statute and not within city purview. Police Chief Albrecht later explained the curfew is intended for safety with officer discretion for legitimate activity.
• Brian Borchardt (1411 Rogers Ct., Neenah), Mayor of Neenah, emphasized the Twin City relationship and expressed appreciation for the partnership and support.

Emergency Response Reports

Staff presented comprehensive updates on the response to the July 27 tornado:

• Mayor Hammond reported activation of the Emergency Operations Center, partnerships with Winnebago County and neighboring communities, visits from Governor Evers and other officials, and progress on power restoration: 90% of the Menasha utility area and 80% of homes had power restored. Over 6,000 volunteers have assisted. A town hall is planned for Thursday, August 6.
• Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue Chief Tesch noted no fatalities, credited the tornado siren system, reported 70 mutual aid apparatus, completion of primary and secondary searches, and the use of 211 as a resource connection. As of Sunday, 1,628 homes and businesses had been assessed for damage.
• Finance Director Sassman described cost tracking for potential federal/state reimbursement, including payroll, contractor costs, and equipment usage.
• Community Development Director Dane reported 600–700 building inspections completed using placard tags; assistance from other communities including Appleton; development of FAQs and a resource handout; and planning for a home repair program and a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC).
• Public Works Director Merten updated on debris removal, use of generators to prevent sewer backups, a special Sunday garbage pickup, and resumption of regular garbage and recycling service. Tree and brush removal has made a full sweep of the most affected areas.
• Parks and Recreation Director Sackett reported Hart and Smith Parks closed pending structural assessments; volunteer coordination; relocation of resource distribution to Jefferson Park School; and tree inventory for a potential DNR catastrophic grant.
• Health Department Director Hutter described checking on residents with life-saving medical equipment, managing volunteer/donation coordination at the Elks Club and HECROT site, and planning for a MARC in the Menasha area. Senior center participants were kept safe.
• Police Chief Albrecht reported assistance from partner agencies, 672 phone calls answered in the 12 hours after the tornado, increased patrols, and a curfew in effect with officer discretion. Calls for service are trending down but remain above normal.
• Library Director Kopetsky reported serving over 3,000 people since reopening Wednesday, providing internet, meals, children's activities, and a respite space. The library also distributed food and cleanup supplies.
• Human Resources Manager Cardoza thanked staff for tireless efforts, noting many were personally affected.
• City Attorney Struve updated on insurance walkthroughs, mutual aid agreements, curfew and proclamation interpretation, and budget reappropriations.

Key Outcomes

The council passed four resolutions unanimously (8-0):

• R-21-26: Resolution declaring a Local State of Disaster (Emergency) under Wis. Stats. §§ 323.11 & 323.14. Alderman Rand, whose home is uninhabitable, spoke in support, emphasizing the need for sustained community resilience.
• R-22-26: Resolution regarding City Operations during the emergency, raising the expenditure limit from $100,000 to $615,000 to cover costs such as debris removal, overtime, and contracts through the next council meeting.
• R-23-26: Resolution declaring a Public Emergency under Wis. Stat. § 62.15(1b), waiving bids for tree removal and debris removal emergency response work.
• R-24-26: Resolution amending the 2026 Operating Budget to reallocate funding for software services, including a permitting and inspection tracking system for Community Development (fast-tracked due to the disaster) and a social media archiving program (Civic Plus) to improve communication and records retention. Discussion included the pause on the previously planned payroll software and the decision to turn off comments on the new City Facebook page for public records retention.

The meeting adjourned at 7:38 PM.