Will Wausonians vote themselves higher taxes? | Weekly Wausonian

Wausau news for the week of Nov. 6, 2025

Wausonians are one more step away from getting to decide if they want to raise their own taxes to cover the costs of some city firefighters since the grants will run out.

The city in 2022 elected to use grants to help fund a new slate of firefighters for the city. The firefighters were needed since staffing levels hadn’t increased since the 1970s but call volumes sure did.

The grants were for a limited time, council members knew at the time, and so another funding source would have to be found.

It wasn’t.

The city found a way to fund the firefighters for 2026, but questions remain on how those positions would be paid for in the 2027 budget.

A committee of the whole (essentially the city council meeting like a committee) approved recommending to the city council that it hold a referendum in April 2026 to ask voters if they want to raise their own taxes to pay for the firefighters.

They also recommended hiring a consultant to work on messaging for the referendum.

Mayor Diny suggested an alternative plan. It would cut 3.2 administrative positions and end the joint parks department with the county, saving what he estimates to be $1.4 million. That would add four to six firefighter positions to the tax levy and the city could look for additional savings throughout the year before the 2027 budget.

But City Council President Lisa Rasmussen said any assumptions about savings by cleaving the parks department apart are just that - splitting away would come with a lot of costs. That would be shaky ground to make budget assumptions on.

The city council on Nov. 11 will make the final decision on Tuesday.

The city has been without a transit director since August. Readers of the Wausonian found out about it first. And now? We learned why (our readers ALSO found out about that here first):

And many were sad when The Lounge announced it was closing - but a pair of young entrepreneurs turned it into J&P’s Tippling House:

What else in Wausau?

Is the city going to buy the Whitewater Music Hall building?: City leaders met in closed session Tuesday — but took no public action — on the potential purchase of 130 North First Street. That property was the home of Whitewater Music Hall, which opened in 2019 and closed earlier this year. The last time the ED Committee met in closed session, on 11 Scott Street, it gave direction to staff in closed session despite no public action, shielding the decision from the public. The proposal then went right to the city council. Right now the former Whitewater building is up for auction on real estate sites, with an opening bid of $125,000. The auction is slated to start in 26 days as of this writing.

But a private party is already interested in it?: The city is considering buying the former Whitewater property - but should they when it appears someone else is already interested in it? Wausau resident Carrie Marohl told the committee Tuesday that she had been looking into buying the property to make it a private solution for the unhoused, with wraparound services for them. Marohl said she had met with city leaders and that shortly after that, the potential purchase appeared on the agenda for closed session.

City seeking vendors for RiverLife: City leaders are seeking a vendor to operate the concession stand at RiverLife Park next year, according to a post on the city’s social media. Briq’s had been operating in the spot for a few years but announced before last summer that it wouldn’t reopen in the spot. That led to some last-minute scrambling until the city finally got Pho Zone to operate for the season. The city will take proposals and the city’s parks committee will select from amongst those proposals.

Tis the season! Give the gift of staying informed on local issues:

Around the metro

County should see few amendments when it sets budget: The county board held a budget hearing - no one spoke - Monday evening. The board also highlighted some potential amendments it’ll consider as it sets the 2026 budget. They include: $20,000 to help fund the Marathon County Historical Society’s 250th anniversary of America’s founding and $5,000 toward Synergy to boost economic development efforts in the county. Whether or not there will be last-minute amendments remains to be seen.

Trial for former fire chief accused of child enticement delayed: The trial for the case against former Riverside Fire Chief Robert Bowen was slated to happen later this month. But prosecutors on Tuesday asked to move the trial date and it was granted. Court records show the court will host a scheduling conference Nov. 18, the day the trial was to begin. Bowen faces one count of felony child enticement and two misdemeanor fourth-degree sexual assault charges.

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Business

New gym set to open in former Adventure CrossFit space: Iron House gym is set to open soon in the Weston building that was built for Adventure Awaits CrossFit recently. A walkthrough of the gym on Iron House’s Facebook page looks more like a traditional gym, with squat racks, dumbbells, weight machines and treadmills. A grand opening is planned for Nov. 12.

Entertainment

It’s 11-11 Party weekend! Tickets are still available for this event, which typically wasn’t the case when it was first created. Plus Sweeney Todd, a Hmong New Year, pro wrestling (yes really!) and more in Your Wausome Weekend Guide:

Sports

Volleyball: Last week we reported that all Wausau area teams were eliminated in girls volleyball - but that wasn’t quite right. Just the Wisconsin Valley Conference teams that we stick to in our sports section. But Wausau Newman volleyball is very much alive, and won the sectional championship by defeating Highland in four games. The Cardinals overcame a loss in their first game to come back and win, earning a state tourney bid. Newman will now take on Florence this morning (Thursday) at 9 am in a semi-final matchup, with a chance to play for the state title on the line.

Boys soccer: D.C. Everest was tough to beat all season — but that came to an end last week as the Evergreens lost to Hortonville 2-1. Hortonville scored the most goals against the Evergreens as anyone all season, with most of D.C. Everest’s wins coming with a clean sheet.

Junior hockey: The Wausau Cyclones split a pair of games against the St. Louis Junior Blues this weekend. The Cyclones lost 4-2 to the Blues Saturday but got their revenge with a 2-1 win Sunday. The Cyclones are now 7-5 on the season, tied for third in the NA3HL Central Division.

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