Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
The Common Council of Menasha met on Monday, August 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting was heavily focused on the community's recovery from a recent tornado and the implementation of new e-bike and e-scooter regulations. Key actions included the passage of several traffic and safety ordinances, the approval of a major contract for tennis court reconstruction, and the appointment of Evan Janet as City Clerk.
Good evening. I'd like to call the City of Manasha Common Council meeting to order. If you'd please rise and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Deputy Clerk Janet, if we could please have the role. Alderman Hale, Alderman Perkins, Alderman Lewis, Alderman Marshall, Alderman Growdy, Alderman School, Alderman Rand, Alderman Eisnock, all are present. Thank you very much. Uh next item on the agenda this evening is E. This is public comment on any matter of concern to the city. Uh would just like to start off that if you wish to address the common council that you step up to the podium and please state your first and last name and address. You will have five minutes to speak, but that will be the extent of the speaking opportunity per individual. Uh this portion of the agenda's public comment is on any matter of concern to the city. There is one ladder in this meeting that is just solely on items on this agenda. And I would just as a friendly reminder let folks know that this is not a QA. Uh we will not be responding to questions that might come about uh if there's things that are pertinent to an item on the agenda later uh later on this agenda, we can work in the answer then. Uh so I will now open the public comment to anybody who wishes to speak before the common council. My name's Alex Miller of the H eight seventeen Green Street. I just have a quick uh couple of paragraphs. It's no question that a recent tomato uh tomato. Tornado that hit uh Fox Valley, Wisconsin has created a lot of confusion and heartache as well as many other obstacles to overcome the community. It is also understood that everyone is making their best efforts to recover a community with the skill sets and resources. Short-term short term has uh short term has been focused on food, water, medical care, insurance claims, patches to prevent further damage. Clean up of trees, waste and debris. These are all important steps. The long term fall out, however, is a immeasurable if actions are not taken soon. Those who live in the valley most affected will be our most motivated motivated workforce to repair what has occurred. There also will be first the there also will be a a first to lose morale. People have never thought it never have thought of using uh people who have never thought of using drugs or stealing violence will now be pushed to the limits of our community has not experienced in regarding crime. This will be compounded when insurance companies take too long to pay out their municipal reserves draw thin and repeat repealed repeat repealed taxes uh tax years draws deficits with no ability to pay because of increasing uh pandemic. This means infrastructure collapse and widening of despair. And raise again the the criminal element that is directed result of natural disasters, not moral feeling of our community. We can take m we can excuse me, we can make this statement if if we act now. We can say that we have not failed our community. If we do something to protect the most affected and replenish our morale and energy for strength through the long-term rebuild. The bandages are on. Now we need to another foot forward. We need shelter faster than anything else at this juncture. Winnebago County is Winnebago County is in possession of old UW extension on Midway Road, the facility within reachable distance to our displaced. There are incident command plans and binders for multiple housing living conversions of large facilities like extensions, binders that have plans of resources built into it. Excuse me, where to purchase them and where to purchase them and budget for it. Converting these plans for tornado relief will remove the quarantine element and segregation of external population. This is the quickest way to prevent a long-term vacuum fallout in the community. Shelters needed to be filled, and we can do it.