The Wausau Police Department could find itself without use of the city’s Flock cameras starting next year.
First, the city’s Public Health and Safety Committee on Monday recommended “defunding” the Flock camera program — essentially, cutting funding out of the budget.
And then the city’s finance committee on Tuesday elected to do the same as it finalized its recommendation for the 2027 city budget. The city under the proposed budget will move the $50,000 meant to pay the bill in January to the city’s motor pool fund instead.
Interestingly, that doesn’t remove the cameras, according to Wausau Police Chief Matt Barnes — that only eliminates the police department’s access to them.
Police officials pushed back against the move — they say it’s led to arrests that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to make. They couldn’t rule out that a police officer could potentially abuse the system — nationwide reports also highlight examples from other departments. But, officials argue, that comes down to hiring officers of good character.
The committee also took the $150,000 intended to cover a potential administrator’s salary and shifted it toward a citywide audit instead. Committee member Matt Hoenecke says the results could inform an administrator’s duties and priorities anyway.
The budget isn’t final. It will now come before the entire city council, with a Nov. 10 hearing.
We published a lot of stories this week. But one of our biggest is about the arrest of a Schofield Spa operator for offering illicit services — and a hint that an investigation might be going on in Wausau as well:
Schofield spa arrest revives concerns about illicit massage businesses
A Mountain Bay Metro Police officer entered Sakura Spa in Schofield in February 2024 after authorities received an anonymous tip on Feb. 7 of that year.
And when Mayor Doug Diny was elected, one of the issues he ran on was fixing the roads. Has he? It turns out, it’s much more complicated than a simple yes or no. The Wausonian dug into the numbers, the first area media outlet to do so:
Have Wausau’s roads gotten better or worse?
When Mayor Doug Diny campaigned for the office of mayor, he made a promise that he would fix the city’s roads. He had a large poster board graphic highlighting the poor conditions of some of Wausau’s roads. It sat in his living room when I interviewed him for a story about the race.
What else in Wausau?
City’s community care paramedic position curbs 911 calls: The Wausonian rode along last year with Matt Kozloski, the city’s Community Care Paramedic. The position aimed to curb 911 calls from so-called frequent flyers — residents who for some reason call 911 a lot, often for non-emergency reasons or because they weren’t getting proper treatment. Kozloski says the program so far has led to 273 fewer 911 calls, saving $300,000 in patient medical bills to boot. Now other central Wisconsin communities are developing plans to start a similar position, Kozloski told the Public Health and Safety Committee.
M&R Station asked to appear before committee following alleged shooting: The owners of M&R Station will be sent a letter of concern and asked to appear before the city’s Public Health and Safety Committee following a shooting outside its premises. The Wausonian reported earlier on the arrest of Jacob Allen Fong Lo, who is alleged to have shot someone from his vehicle outside the bar. Police say M&R Station staff failed to call the police following the shooting despite being aware that it had occurred.
Around the metro
Highway department building reserve plan approved: The Marathon County Board Tuesday approved the roughly $55 million highway department project, with officials outlining a plan to use reserves rather than new borrowing — that’s meant to avoid added costs associated with borrowing for the project. But some criticized the cost of the plan, saying the county should have aimed for something more affordable. “I understand 100% because I did tour the old facility — we need something new. There’s no doubt about that,” said County Board Member Deb Hoppa. “But why do we have to build a Cadillac when we can only afford a Chevy?”
Griner appointed to committee chair following controversy: The County Board approved Aaron Griner’s appointment as chair of the county’s Infrastructure Committee Tuesday — but that followed months of controversy. Some supervisors favored Duane Gau, who had served as vice chair and who some credited for his work following the tornado that devastated parts of Ringle. But County Board Chair Kurt Gibbs previously said Gau wasn’t selected in part because he was a first-term board member.
Elderly man dead following crash in Maine: An 80-year-old Wausau man is dead and two others were seriously injured following a crash in the village of Maine. Officers say the 80-year-old man was traveling south on N. 60th Avenue when his vehicle collided with another traveling east on Highway L. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A 64-year-old woman and a 68-year-old man were hospitalized with serious injuries. Deputies released no further details about the identities of those involved.
Weston police headquarters early construction approval narrowly passes: The Weston Village Board approved an early-start permit for a brand-new police headquarters — a change from the merger-era plan to house the Mountain Bay Metro department in Rothschild’s existing police station — but barely. The vote was 4–3 to authorize footings and foundations, subject to meeting applicable requirements, for the roughly $6.7 million project. Final approval of the amended site plan is expected in November. That project comes on the heels of a new village hall that was also controversial at the time for its price tag.
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Business
Grand Daddy’s building sells to auto business: Menke Motor Company bought the former Grand Daddy’s location on Grand Avenue, according to a recently filed real estate transaction. The property sold for $530,000 on Oct. 16. The sale means the end of Grand Daddy’s, according to a post by its owner.
Entertainment
The Vox Ultima releases full length album with masquerade party | Your Wausome Weekend Guide
I love when a local band releases an album, and even more when they proactively reach out to tell me about it. The production is solid on The Vox Ultima’s new album, Fathoms + Atoms, and takes me back to my own band days with a healthy influence of grunge, alternative and late 90s pop punk in there. But that’s hardly all this weekend with a speed puzzle…
Sports
Football: D.C. Everest defeated Wisconsin Rapids 51–35 Friday, elevating the Evergreens to a second-place finish in the Wisconsin Valley Conference, tied with Marshfield. Those teams finished second to SPASH, which managed to remain undefeated at 6–0 in conference play. Tournament play begins Friday with D.C. Everest taking on Waunakee and Wausau West taking on Bay Port.
Volleyball: D.C. Everest made short work of Wausau East last week, beating the Lumberjacks 25–12, 25–10 and 25–14 to clinch the Wisconsin Valley Conference title Thursday. D.C. Everest will take on Wausau East again today (Thursday) at home in the first round of WIAA playoffs. Wausau West will head to Appleton North.
Boys soccer: D.C. Everest needed a SPASH loss or at least a tie to finish at the top of the Wisconsin Valley Conference — but the Panthers beat Wisconsin Rapids 2–0 to earn the conference title, finishing on top by one point over the Evergreens. Remarkably, Wausau West then defeated D.C. Everest 2–1 Tuesday in the first round of the WIAA playoffs.
Girls tennis: D.C. Everest’s No. 1 singles player, Mikaela Hawley, lost in the first round of the WIAA state tournament to Verona’s Yustinia Haberkorn-Rudnitzky 6–3, 6–0. D.C. Everest’s doubles team forced a deciding match tiebreak after a battle for the second set, but ultimately lost 6–4, 6–7(5), 10–2 to Anna Malinsky and Miah Wong of Westosha Central.
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