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Record of Proceedings

Monroe Common Council Meeting - September 21, 2026

Common Council & Commissions — Monday, September 21, 2026
BodyMonroe, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council & Commissions
DateMonday, September 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 33:06

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

Okay, it's 631, and I'll call the order the common council meeting on 921 2026.

0:10

And we'll start with the Pledge Allegiance.

0:18

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.

0:28

And would the clerk call a rule, please?

0:31

Alder Tolman here.

0:33

Alder True Hart.

0:34

Here.

0:34

Alder Whartonweiler.

0:35

Here.

0:36

Alder Schaefer.

0:37

Here.

0:37

Alder Frankie.

0:39

Here.

0:39

Alder McGuire.

0:40

Here.

0:41

Alder Vesteen.

0:42

Here.

0:42

Alder Velkley.

0:44

Here.

0:44

And Alder Mosher.

0:45

Here.

0:46

It looks like all are here.

0:48

Appreciate that.

0:49

Corrections of minutes from September 8th, 2026.

0:56

Sounds like there's none.

0:57

So approved as presented.

1:02

Presentation of petitions and communication.

1:08

Looks like none.

1:09

So we'll move on.

1:10

Business by Mayor.

1:12

Well, it's the after the third week of September, even number years.

1:17

So we survived cheese days.

1:20

I appreciate police department, fire department, public works, and all the city departments for their help on it and all the hundreds of volunteers that participated it.

1:32

And also it's Green County, so all the different cities that had police protection EMS involved in it.

1:43

And despite Mother Nature, I think it went off pretty well.

1:48

From what I saw in the Green County Scanner, the police department might have been a little busy, especially at nights, but I think they survived.

2:00

So I just look forward to another two years for it.

2:05

So appreciate Noreen Ruckert, the director of Cheese Days, and Shauna Bergman, the committee chair, and all the people that uh were involved in it.

2:17

So I mean there's big turnout, even with the weather, but it was a great event.

2:23

Thank you, everybody.

2:24

And I hope you all enjoyed it.

2:26

So it'll have to last you for two years.

2:30

So uh moving on, appearances by public.

2:36

Anyone have anything?

2:38

Doesn't look like it, and nothing, nobody signed in.

2:41

So uh that was appearance by citizens, now appearances by property and business owners.

2:50

None.

2:50

So consent agenda.

2:54

I'll make a motion to um approve the consent agenda.

2:59

Second, have a motion second to approve the Senate agenda.

3:02

Um discussion.

3:08

If not, clerk call the rule for voting.

3:10

Alder Tolman, aye, Alder True Hart, aye, Alder Wartonweiler, aye, Alder Schaefer, aye.

3:16

Alder Frankie, aye, Alder McGuire, aye.

3:18

Alder Vestine, aye.

3:20

Alder Velkley, aye, and Alder Mosher.

3:23

Aye.

3:24

That's approved.

3:27

Okay.

3:28

Uh let's see.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████46%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Miscellaneous███████████11%
Parks and Recreation████████8%
Public Safety████████8%
Economic Development█████5%
Active Transportation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Monroe Common Council Meeting - September 21, 2026

The Common Council of Monroe, Wisconsin met on September 21, 2026 at 6:30 PM (called to order at 6:31 PM) at City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Tom Miller presided with all nine alderpersons present (Heidi Treuthardt, Richard Thoman, Corinne Wartenweiler, Matt Sheaffer, Craig Franke, Dylan McGuire, Christopher Vestin, Darlene Voelkli, and Dave Mosher). The meeting covered consent agenda, public hearings, a zoning change, and committee reports.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the consent agenda (miscellaneous licenses and claims list) by a 9-0 vote on a motion by Wartenweiler, seconded by Sheaffer.
  • The Treasurer's Report was accepted as presented with no comments or questions.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made. No citizens appeared for either the 'Appearance by Citizens' or 'Appearance by Property/Business Owners' agenda items.

Discussion Items

  • Halloween Trick-or-Treat Hours: The Public Safety Committee resolution establishing 2026 Halloween trick-or-treat hours for October 31, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM was approved by a 9-0 vote.
  • Comprehensive Plan Amendment: A public hearing was held with no public testimony. Attorney Bartholf explained that the amendment updates the Future Land Use Map for one parcel (related to Wisconsin Power and Light's substation expansion). Council members asked about the process for future amendments; Administrator Rindy confirmed the same process would be followed. The ordinance adopting the amendment was approved 9-0.
  • Zoning Change for Wisconsin Power and Light: The council considered rezoning a 0.84-acre vacant parcel (tax parcel #23251-2346) from one- and two-family residential (TR10) to Light Industrial (LI) to allow expansion of the adjoining substation. Discussion focused on potential future uses allowed under LI, with concerns raised about the council giving up future oversight (e.g., if the owner built a structure or changed uses without additional approvals). Staff noted that site plan approval would still be required for many changes. The ordinance passed 8-1, with Dave Mosher voting against.
  • Urban Forestry Grant Resolution: Resolution authorizing application for urban forestry and urban forestry catastrophic storm grant programs from the Wisconsin DNR. The council approved the resolution 9-0, noting it would help offset costs for emerald ash borer management and tree planting.

Key Outcomes

  • All consent items (licenses, claims) approved 9-0.
  • Halloween trick-or-treat hours set for October 31, 2026, 5:00–8:00 PM.
  • Comprehensive Plan amendment adopted 9-0.
  • Zoning change for Wisconsin Power and Light approved 8-1.
  • Forestry grant application authorized 9-0.

Committee Reports and Departmental Updates

  • Alder Franke reported that Main Street Monroe held its final Concert on the Square of the season and it went well.
  • Alder Sheaffer noted the Plan Commission reviewed a proposal for a botanical garden at the former Ken's Feed Mill property; he praised the proposal as impressive.
  • Alder Mosher discussed room tax funds allocated to the Chamber for marketing, particularly outside the state.
  • Alder Treuthardt announced the GCDC Fall Breakfast on October 15 and a new $10,000 first-time homebuyer grant program (Welcome Home Green County) requiring 20 volunteer hours per year for five years.
  • Mayor Miller provided an update on airport construction, including runway reconstruction funded largely by fuel tax.
  • Clerk Wahl said absentee ballots had been mailed out for the November primary.
  • Chief Foltz reported no major incidents during Cheese Days and thanked staff and mutual aid partners.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, it's 631, and I'll call the order the common council meeting on 921 2026. And we'll start with the Pledge Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. And would the clerk call a rule, please? Alder Tolman here. Alder True Hart. Here. Alder Whartonweiler. Here. Alder Schaefer. Here. Alder Frankie. Here. Alder McGuire. Here. Alder Vesteen. Here. Alder Velkley. Here. And Alder Mosher. Here. It looks like all are here. Appreciate that. Corrections of minutes from September 8th, 2026. Sounds like there's none. So approved as presented. Presentation of petitions and communication. Looks like none. So we'll move on. Business by Mayor. Well, it's the after the third week of September, even number years. So we survived cheese days. I appreciate police department, fire department, public works, and all the city departments for their help on it and all the hundreds of volunteers that participated it. And also it's Green County, so all the different cities that had police protection EMS involved in it. And despite Mother Nature, I think it went off pretty well. From what I saw in the Green County Scanner, the police department might have been a little busy, especially at nights, but I think they survived. So I just look forward to another two years for it. So appreciate Noreen Ruckert, the director of Cheese Days, and Shauna Bergman, the committee chair, and all the people that uh were involved in it. So I mean there's big turnout, even with the weather, but it was a great event. Thank you, everybody. And I hope you all enjoyed it. So it'll have to last you for two years. So uh moving on, appearances by public. Anyone have anything? Doesn't look like it, and nothing, nobody signed in. So uh that was appearance by citizens, now appearances by property and business owners. None. So consent agenda. I'll make a motion to um approve the consent agenda. Second, have a motion second to approve the Senate agenda.

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