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Record of Proceedings

Menasha Common Council Meeting - October 5, 2026

Common Council — Monday, October 5, 2026
BodyMenasha, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council
DateMonday, October 5, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 49:42

Original source
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.

Speaker 1

0:38

Would you please rise and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance?

Unassigned speaker

0:55

Clerk

Speaker 1

0:56

Janet, can we please have the role?

Speaker 2

0:59

Alderman School.

1:01

Alderman Rand, Alderman Eisenach, Alderman Hale, Alderman Perkins, Alderman Lewis, Alderman Marshall, Alderman Grotty, all are present.

Speaker 1

1:13

Thank you very much, Clerk Janet.

1:15

Next on the council agenda this evening is item D, and this is public hearing.

1:19

We do have two public hearings this evening.

1:21

The first is a special use permit.

1:22

So uh Director Dane, do you want to just give us a little bit of background on this particular item before I open it up for a public hearing?

Unassigned speaker

1:42

Kind

Speaker 3

1:42

of helpful.

1:44

Uh public hearing on the data center.

1:47

Um

Speaker 1

1:48

it's a special use permit for

Speaker 3

1:49

the I'm sorry,

Speaker 1

1:49

I was still getting number two.

Speaker 3

1:50

Okay.

1:51

Um I have to jog back.

1:53

Yep, we received an application for a special use permit um to allow high density residential use at twelve eighty-four Midway Road, um, which was formerly uh an apartment building that was used for student uh housing associated with uh UW Fox Cities.

2:16

Um the owner uh of that is um come forward and uh requesting a special use permit um to uh convert the existing apartment building into um

Unassigned speaker

2:32

uh

Speaker 3

2:32

uh residential um this would be providing how uh housing accommodations for seniors requiring supervisory care um creating an option that addresses a growing community need while uh utili uh reutilizing the existing building um and I can I guess go into more depth when we get to this on the uh later in the agenda.

Speaker 1

2:56

Thank you very much, Director Dane.

2:58

Uh so that was a little background on the first public hearing item.

3:01

So if anybody in the gallery this evening wishes to participate in the public comment, you may do so.

3:05

Just ask that you please step up to the podium, state your first and last name and address.

3:10

You have as much time as you'd like to address the council, mayor, and staff.

3:14

Uh, would just ask that if you do have a question incorporated into your discussion point and we can address the question later in the evening when we get to that specific item.

Unassigned speaker

3:22

So

Speaker 1

3:23

with that, I will open the public hearing for item D one, special use permit, multifamily residential use, 1284 Midway Road, parcel number six zero one two six two-one five.

4:21

Okay.

4:31

And then the next is D two, and this is O eighteen twenty-six.

4:34

Uh Director Dane, do you just want to give us a little bit of background on this item, please?

4:38

Sure.

Speaker 3

4:39

Um, I think as everyone knows, um there's been a lot of discussion around data centers happening across Wisconsin and across the country.

4:49

Um lot of communities I think have been uh not really prepared um for some of the impacts that they've created.

Unassigned speaker

5:00

And so the purpose of this moratorium is really just to give the city um 12 months to put together some regulations that would help us address you know potential impacts of a of a data center within the city of Manasha Thank you very much Director Dane.

Speaker 1

5:19

So this is item D2 and I will open the public hearing for item D2, 01826 and ordinance enacting Title 13, Chapter 1 Article A, Section 13-1-9A of the Code of Ordinances effectively establishing a temporary moratorium on the issuance of zoning and building permit approvals for data centers with greater than 10,000 square feet of floor area.

5:42

This public hearing is now open if anybody wishes to speak does anybody want

Unassigned speaker

6:18

to

Speaker 1

6:19

participate in this public hearing.

6:23

All right seeing none then that will conclude the item D2 public hearing and it is now closed and that uh concludes the public hearing portion of tonight's common council agenda and we'll move to E and this is public comment on any matter of concern to the city

Unassigned speaker

6:43

if

Speaker 1

6:44

anybody in the gallery wishes to speak before the common council you may do so again just please step up to the podium see your first and last name and address and you have five minutes to speak.

Unassigned speaker

6:54

Hi

Amy Rappert · Speaker 4Inferred

6:54

good evening my name is Amy Rappert and I am here speaking on behalf of my mom Krista Ball.

7:01

She lives at 848 3rd Street in Manasha and um

Unassigned speaker

7:06

part

Amy Rappert · Speaker 4Inferred

7:07

of the with a tornado um her house was severely damaged she was displaced immediately and it's a um unique situation where there is a house in the front and a house in the back and that's where she lived in was in the house in the back and we've had an engineer over twice letting saying that there was no racking on the home but also we've had we've tried to hire refers to come and tarp it and they said that it's too dangerous and um have asked us that that they were concerned that they were saving this house and I said well we are to the point until we hear otherwise but so I am here wondering about um the raise orders if there's anything if that has been um as far as those being sent out is there a time frame um she's 70 and she is in physical and her mental health has significantly altered just from um the stress of the situation and being displaced right now and not knowing whether her house is being taken down you know where her next steps are from here.

8:30

So I'm asking um if those letters have been sent out if there is if there's been a decision made and if so if there hasn't is there a time frame for that

Speaker 1

8:42

yeah uh that process is actively being discussed and should be brought forward to the common council in a couple weeks if you want I would be happy to check in with you after the council meeting and director Dane could too and we could just check in if that would work.

Amy Rappert · Speaker 4Inferred

8:56

I would have very much appreciate that

Speaker 1

8:58

thank you.

Unassigned speaker

8:58

Okay thank you thank you uh Tim Jacobson 732 Paris Street um here to try to speak or out of support for our our exempt employees uh specifically public works I know that uh everybody put in a lot of overtime a lot of uh other activities going on with other contractors and they certainly deserve at least the two that I'm gonna speak specifically for Travis and Thad they certainly they don't get overtime pay and they earned and deserve uh a bonus for this operation I know the mayor can do a five hundred dollar bonus without council approval I've got a couple of them myself but uh I think that the floor for this catastrophe should be a minimum of 2500 and Karen out at the public works facility was just unundated with calls I mean she has earned

Unassigned speaker

10:01

I

Speaker 5

10:01

know the mayor can do a $500 bonus without council approval.

10:06

I've got a couple of them myself.

10:09

But uh I think that the floor for this catastrophe should be a minimum of 2500.

10:21

And Karen out at the public works facility was just inundated with calls.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████37%
Water And Wastewater Management███████████11%
Public Safety██████████10%
Personnel Matters██████████10%
Public Engagement████████8%
Disaster Relief████████8%
Election Support██████6%
Data Center Regulation████4%
Affordable Housing███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Menasha Common Council Meeting - October 5, 2026

The Menasha Common Council convened on Monday, October 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM for a regular meeting, addressing a variety of items including a data center moratorium, tornado recovery updates, donations, and waterway cleanup funding. The meeting included public hearings, public comments, consent agenda approvals, action items, ordinances, resolutions, and appointments.

Public Hearings

  • Special Use Permit – Multi-Family Residential Use (1284 Midway Road): Director Dane provided background on the application to convert a former student housing building into senior residential care. No public comment was offered, and the hearing was closed.
  • O-18-26 – Data Center Moratorium: Director Dane explained the 12-month moratorium on zoning and building permits for data centers over 10,000 sq. ft., citing the need to develop regulations due to community impacts. No public comment was offered, and the hearing was closed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Amy Rappert (on behalf of Krista Ball): Requested an update on condemnation orders for properties damaged in the tornado, noting her mother’s severe stress and displacement. Mayor Hammond responded that the process is being actively discussed and will be brought to council in a few weeks, and offered to follow up.
  • Tim Jacobson (732 Paris Street): Expressed strong support for providing bonuses to exempt public works employees (Travis, Thad) and hourly employee Karen, recommending a minimum of $2,500 for the two exempt employees due to their exceptional overtime and leadership during tornado recovery. He suggested creating an ongoing program for recognition.

Consent Calendar

All items on the consent agenda were approved individually with roll-call votes unless noted:

  • G1: Common Council minutes of September 21, 2026 (voice vote, approved).
  • G2a: City of Menasha Ordinance Bond Schedule Revisions – Effective October 5, 2026 (8-0).
  • G2b: Police Department School Resource Officer MOU with MJSD (7-0-1, Alderman Lewis abstained due to school employment).
  • G2c: Police Department Crossing Guard MOU with MJSD (7-0-1, Alderman Lewis abstained).
  • G3a: Payment to Donald Hietpas & Sons Inc., $153,206.66 (8-0).
  • G4a: Special Use Permit for 1284 Midway Road (8-0).
  • G5a: Street Use Permit – Homecoming Parade, October 16, 2026 (8-0).
  • G5b: Change Order – Deduct $69,704.39 from 2026 Street Construction contract (8-0).

Action Items

  • I1 – Alcohol Operator’s License (Matthew Carlson): Motion to deny carried 7-0-1 (one abstention). No discussion was recorded.
  • I2 – Accept Donations for Tornado Relief Efforts: Council accepted a total of $10,110 ($10,000 from Hindu Temple of Northeast Wisconsin plus two small individual donations) to be placed in the Menasha Strong Neighborhood Fund. A discussion clarified that the city itself has received only $10,110 in direct tornado donations; millions raised by non-profits go directly to community members. Motion carried 8-0.
  • I3 – Accounts Payable and Payroll ($2,534,932.42): Approved 8-0.

Ordinances and Resolutions

  • K1 – O-18-26 (Data Center Moratorium): Approved 6-2. Alderman Rand opposed, arguing it was “tone-deaf” during tornado recovery, that the city itself contributes to data demand (e.g., $350,000 for cloud software), and that staff should focus on recovery. Mayor Hammond and Director Dane supported the moratorium as proactive and aligned with neighboring community efforts.
  • K2 – R-40-26 (Resolution in Support of Election Officials): Approved 8-0. Council President Grady noted the importance of showing support for election workers.
  • K3 – R-39-26 (Increase Disaster Spending Authority for Waterway Cleanup): Approved 8-0. Director Merton explained the need for an additional $100,000 (total $200,000) for barge-based debris removal in Lake Road/Willow Lane waterways, as other entities (DNR) have not stepped in. Alderman Marshall asked about a DTAC truck parked at public works; Director Merton did not have specifics.

Appointments

  • L1 – Reappointment of Issac Geffers to Redevelopment Authority: Approved on voice vote (term: 10/6/2026 – 9/1/2031).
  • L2 – Reappointment of Frank Haffner to Housing Authority: Approved on voice vote (term: 10/6/2026 – 7/1/2027). Haffner requested a yearly term.

Key Outcomes

  • Data Center Moratorium adopted (6-2).
  • Donations for tornado relief accepted ($10,110 total).
  • Waterway cleanup funding increased by $100,000 for debris removal via barge.
  • Alcohol operator’s license denied (7-0-1).
  • All consent agenda items and remaining resolutions approved with strong majorities.

Meeting Transcript

Would you please rise and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance? Clerk Janet, can we please have the role? Alderman School. Alderman Rand, Alderman Eisenach, Alderman Hale, Alderman Perkins, Alderman Lewis, Alderman Marshall, Alderman Grotty, all are present. Thank you very much, Clerk Janet. Next on the council agenda this evening is item D, and this is public hearing. We do have two public hearings this evening. The first is a special use permit. So uh Director Dane, do you want to just give us a little bit of background on this particular item before I open it up for a public hearing? Kind of helpful. Uh public hearing on the data center. Um it's a special use permit for the I'm sorry, I was still getting number two. Okay. Um I have to jog back. Yep, we received an application for a special use permit um to allow high density residential use at twelve eighty-four Midway Road, um, which was formerly uh an apartment building that was used for student uh housing associated with uh UW Fox Cities. Um the owner uh of that is um come forward and uh requesting a special use permit um to uh convert the existing apartment building into um uh uh residential um this would be providing how uh housing accommodations for seniors requiring supervisory care um creating an option that addresses a growing community need while uh utili uh reutilizing the existing building um and I can I guess go into more depth when we get to this on the uh later in the agenda. Thank you very much, Director Dane. Uh so that was a little background on the first public hearing item. So if anybody in the gallery this evening wishes to participate in the public comment, you may do so. Just ask that you please step up to the podium, state your first and last name and address. You have as much time as you'd like to address the council, mayor, and staff. Uh, would just ask that if you do have a question incorporated into your discussion point and we can address the question later in the evening when we get to that specific item. So with that, I will open the public hearing for item D one, special use permit, multifamily residential use, 1284 Midway Road, parcel number six zero one two six two-one five. Okay. And then the next is D two, and this is O eighteen twenty-six. Uh Director Dane, do you just want to give us a little bit of background on this item, please? Sure. Um, I think as everyone knows, um there's been a lot of discussion around data centers happening across Wisconsin and across the country. Um lot of communities I think have been uh not really prepared um for some of the impacts that they've created. And so the purpose of this moratorium is really just to give the city um 12 months to put together some regulations that would help us address you know potential impacts of a of a data center within the city of Manasha Thank you very much Director Dane. So this is item D2 and I will open the public hearing for item D2, 01826 and ordinance enacting Title 13, Chapter 1 Article A, Section 13-1-9A of the Code of Ordinances effectively establishing a temporary moratorium on the issuance of zoning and building permit approvals for data centers with greater than 10,000 square feet of floor area. This public hearing is now open if anybody wishes to speak does anybody want to participate in this public hearing. All right seeing none then that will conclude the item D2 public hearing and it is now closed and that uh concludes the public hearing portion of tonight's common council agenda and we'll move to E and this is public comment on any matter of concern to the city if anybody in the gallery wishes to speak before the common council you may do so again just please step up to the podium see your first and last name and address and you have five minutes to speak. Hi good evening my name is Amy Rappert and I am here speaking on behalf of my mom Krista Ball. She lives at 848 3rd Street in Manasha and um part of the with a tornado um her house was severely damaged she was displaced immediately and it's a um unique situation where there is a house in the front and a house in the back and that's where she lived in was in the house in the back and we've had an engineer over twice letting saying that there was no racking on the home but also we've had we've tried to hire refers to come and tarp it and they said that it's too dangerous and um have asked us that that they were concerned that they were saving this house and I said well we are to the point until we hear otherwise but so I am here wondering about um the raise orders if there's anything if that has been um as far as those being sent out is there a time frame um she's 70 and she is in physical and her mental health has significantly altered just from um the stress of the situation and being displaced right now and not knowing whether her house is being taken down you know where her next steps are from here.

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