Menasha Common Council Meeting – October 19, 2026

The Menasha Common Council met on October 19, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the First Floor Conference Rooms, 100 Main Street, Menasha, Wisconsin. The meeting included a recovery plan update, consent agenda approvals, action items for a historic building restoration, ordinances related to disaster recovery funding, and public comments. All votes on the consent agenda, action items, ordinances, and appointments were unanimous 8-0.

Consent Calendar

• Common Council Minutes (10/5/26): Approved.
• Special Board of Public Works (10/5/26) – Payment No. 1: Approved $77,133.68 to Northeast Asphalt Inc. for Contract No. 2026-04, Midway Place Resurfacing.
• Plan Commission (10/6/26) – Bluejay Way Final Plat: Approved as presented, finding conformity with municipal ordinance, Comprehensive Plan, and surrounding development.
• Lawson Canal Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee (9/8/26) – Draft Lawson Canal Concept Plan: Approved as a blueprint for future development, with Council President Grady noting it provides a stake in the ground for long-overdue progress.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Asher Jacobson (109 Racine Street): Expressed strong support for recent ordinance changes that increase flexibility for development, stating they attract developers and investors. Also raised concerns about debris in the canal from the July storm, including lead paint and roofing materials, and urged the city to allocate resources for cleanup.
• Dan Wickman (owner of 2 Tayco Street): Thanked the council for approving the grant reimbursement and restoration agreements. Outlined renovation plans for the historic building, including historically sensitive window replacement, roof replacement, structural repairs, and conversion to two commercial spaces on the first floor and apartments above. Noted collaboration with local architect Brandon Grease and partner Steve Gearch.

Discussion Items

• Menasha Strong Recovery Plan Update (Director Dane): Provided key statistics: over 1,000 building permits issued since the July 27 tornado; an automated system answered 807 questions with a 99.7% accuracy rate, saving an estimated 332 hours of staff time; 40% of site users accessed it outside normal business hours. The recovery plan survey had 495 respondents as of the prior week, with the survey open through October 29. The RDA and its advisory group met twice (September 24 and October 6) with good public attendance. A meeting with property owners along Third Street corridor was held to brainstorm redevelopment. FEMA disaster assistance has been awarded, but details are pending. The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Administration (WEDA) is considering carve-outs for emergency disaster relief. The October 29 open house (5-8 PM in the same room) will present strategies for repairing, rebuilding, and redeveloping housing, plus environmental and infrastructure topics. A potential joint RDA-Council meeting is planned for December 7.
• 2 Tayco Street – Draft Grant Reimbursement and Restoration Agreements: Director Dane explained that the historic building (the city’s oldest commercial structure) was condemned after roof failure and water damage. New owner Dan Wickman, experienced in historic rehabilitation, purchased the property. The agreements tie incentives to three key milestones: (1) weather-tight envelope (roof and rear wall) by end of 2026; (2) rough construction (framing, plumbing, HVAC, electrical) by March 1, 2027; (3) substantial completion and occupancy permit by June 1, 2027. The city’s total incentive is $150,000 ($50,000 from the Downtown Building Incentive Program already approved, plus $100,000 from a downtown TID). The project is expected to generate $16,000 per year in property taxes. Alderman Lewis asked about remaining funds in the incentive program; Director Dane confirmed $50,000 of the original $150,000 budget remains for other projects.
• R-44-26 – Resolution Increasing Spending Limit During Local State of Disaster: Director Dane outlined the need for additional funding to issue raise orders and demolish unsafe structures. Staff prioritized 36 tier-one structures; estimated demolition cost is $20,000 each ($360,000 total). Additionally, $118,000 is requested to hire a part-time licensed building inspector to process the large number of red-tagged properties (132 red tags total). 44 homes have been repaired or have active permits; 16 have been demolished voluntarily; 68 remain damaged with no meaningful repair activity. Director Dane clarified that a raise order is a legal action to force demolition, but property owners can voluntarily pull a raise permit without a raise order. Alderman Rand, an affected resident, spoke in support, noting that only one of ten proactive requests for raise orders has been completed, and that processing is slow. Alderman Marshall noted some houses lack placards; Director Dane responded that placards may have blown off or been removed but the GIS system tracks all properties.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda Items: All four items approved 8-0.
• Action Items:
  • I1 – Alcohol License Transfer (Hungry Donkey to Mrs. Potatoes): Approved 8-0.
  • I2 – Accounts Payable ($1,057,253.10): Approved 8-0.
  • I3 – Draft Grant Reimbursement Agreement (2 Tayco Street): Approved 8-0.
  • I4 – Draft Restoration Agreement (2 Tayco Street): Approved 8-0.
• Ordinances and Resolutions:
  • R-42-26 (CDI Grant Application): Approved 8-0.
  • R-43-26 (CDBG Emergency Assistance Program Application): Approved 8-0.
  • R-44-26 (Increase Spending Limit During Disaster): Approved 8-0.
• Appointments:
  • L1 & L2 – Reappointments to Parks and Recreation Board: Melissa Grade and Richard Sturm reappointed for terms 10/20/26–10/1/29 (voice vote, all ayes).
  • L3 – Appointment to Water and Light Commission: James Baggot appointed for term 10/20/26–10/1/31 (voice vote, all ayes).
• Next Meeting: Scheduled for November 2, 2026, at 6:00 PM, with committee meetings to follow.