Menomonie City Council forms housing committee, considers data center, nonprofit funding

CITY OF MENOMONIE COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
Menomonie City Hall
800 Wilson Avenue
1st Floor, City Council Chambers
7:00pm
Monday – July 7, 2025
Page 1 of 2
Pledge of Allegiance
1. Roll Call
2. Approval of Minutes

Minutes were approved by voice vote. 
3. Public Comments (agenda items only).

See the video for comments. Several comments were made in support of item 4b, the formation of a committee to discuss housing challenges. 

4. New Business
   a) Proposed City of Menomonie Non-Profit Grant Program – discussion and
possible action.

The current method of having nonprofits apply for subsidies has become unwieldy. There is a proposal to change the procedure . The process would involve the city allocating funds for nonprofit grants at budget time, followed by the submission of applications for these grants after the budget is passed. The proposed dollar amount is $50,000. This is 25% less than the allocation last year. In December the organizations would report on how the money was spent and what their plans are to become more sustainable. No decision will be made on this tonight and it will be moved forward for future discussion.

 
   b) Proposed Creation of an Ad-Hoc Committee to Discuss Housing.
Challenges in the City – discussion and possible action.

Councilperson Erdman suggested that since GROWW is already studying this and several council members are involved, starting another committee might not be productive. The mayor suggested that having a committee as part of the council would be more powerful from the viewpoint of the council - it would be an information gathering committee. The mayor is concerned that a 3 or more person committee would require postin g of meetings and being careful of walking quorums, etc. 

Councilperson Brennan suggested that the purpose of the committee would be to make recommendations on the use of housing funds and to have a transparent group that would allow the council to participate while also having public input in the meetings. Suggestions were also made about having the Economic Development organizations and Housing Action Team involved as well, rather than creating yet another committee that is disconnected. 

Cody Gentz, Sydney Brennan, Matthew Crowe, and Mary Solberg were appointed to the committee,, which was formed during the meeting tonight. 

   c) Vehicle Purchase for Fire Department – discussion and possible action.

The chosen vendor was not the low bid, but the vehicle was better-equipped and the service experience with the vendor has been very good. The purchase was approved unanimously. The bids are in the attached packet. 

   d) Proposed Development Agreement for Façade Improvements with The
Mabel Tainter Literary, Library and Educational Society – discussion and
possible action.

The Tainter has requested TIF funding to repair stained glass windows on the building as art of the facade improvement project. The reimbursement would be approximately $12,000 on a repair project of  $112,000. The development agreement was approved unanimously.

   e) Proposed Ordinance 2025-04, an Ordinance annexing certain lands along
CTH B between 650th Avenue (also known as Eagle Point Road) and 690th
Avenue from the Town of Red Cedar and establishing a temporary
Agricultural (A) zoning – discussion and possible referral to the Plan
Commission.

The rezoning will be referred to the Plan Commission and brought back to the city council. This property is on the East side of County B and in the general area of Henderson Excavating and Hurlburt Heating.

   f) Proposed Ordinance 2025-05, an Ordinance rezoning certain lands along
CTH B between 650th Avenue (also known as Eagle Point Road) and 690th
Avenue from Agriculture (A) to Restricted Industrial (I-1) – discussion,
possible introduction and possible referral to the Plan Commission.

The proposed use of this property is as a data center.  This will go to the July 28 Plan Commission meeting and then brought back to the council. At this time it is not known who the owner will be of the data center and several members voiced that they will not be willing to vote yes on this when it comes back without knowing who will own the data center. The Applicant is a Wisconsin foreign LLC (Balloonist LLC) and its registered agent is Corporation Service Company, a Delaware Corporation.

There will be a public hearing on this rezone before approval. 

The rezoning was referred to the Plan Commission by voice vote. 

   g) Proposed Ordinance 2025-06, an Ordinance rezoning certain lands along
21st Street Northeast and 7th Avenue Northeast (Menomonie Alliance
Church) from Single Family Residential (R-1) to Local Commercial (B-2) –
discussion, possible introduction and possible referral to the Plan
Commission.

The intention is to make this a daycare center, which requires the rezoning.  It was referred to the Plan Commission by voice vote. There will be a public hearing on Aug. 4.  The rezoning will be sent to the Plan Commission. 

   h) Special Event Requests – discussion and possible action
      (1) National Night Out, Wilson Park, August 5, 2025
      (2) Praise in the Park, Wilson Park, September 20, 2025
These event requests were both approved.

   i) Mayoral Appointments to Boards and Commissions – discussion and
possible action:
      (1) Library Board
         (a) Dayle Mandelson (reappointment to June 2028)
         (b) Brian Seguin (reappointment to June 2028)

The appontments were approved by voice vote. 
5. Budget Transfers

This is an installation of a mini-split unit to cool a server and radio room in  Fire Station 1 to keep the equipment from overheating. The transfer was approved.

6. Mayor’s Report

The mayor praised the July 4th festivities.

7. Communications and Miscellaneous Business

Point Comfort Park was hit hard by the storm, and it was cleaned up today. 

The rain caused may tree falls, a water main brek on 5th St (Which is now open for traffic on gravel again) and some flooding in city buildings. The city workers had a very busy day on Friday. 

8. Claims

The claims list was approved by roll-call vote. 
9. Licenses
   a) Normal license list – discussion and possible action

The license list was approved by voice vote. 
   b) 2025-2026 License Renewal list – discussion and possible action.

The license renewal was approved. 
   c) Consideration of Class “A” Beer License application for Synergy Community Cooperative located at 2100 County Road B (Menomonie Cenex Exit 45) – discussion and possible action.
   d) Consideration of “Class A” Liquor (Cider Only) License application for Synergy Community Cooperative located at 2100 County Road B (Menomonie Cenex Exit 45) – discussion and possible action.

Both of the licenses for Synergy Community Cooperative were approved. The restaurant is surrendering its liquor license but the gas station will be doing retail liquor sales.

10.Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 PM.
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