Merrill meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Merrill Council Approves VFW Beer License, Honors Parks Employee

The Merrill Common Council approved a temporary beer license for a VFW dirt track racing event and adopted a resolution honoring a longtime parks employee at its Aug. 12 meeting. The council also approved a routine change of agent for a Kwik Trip store. No other major decisions were made in the past two weeks; the Committee of the Whole reviewed capital budget requests without voting, and two commissions met with agenda items still pending.

Common Council

The council approved a temporary Class B beer license for VFW Post 1638 for an Aug. 29 dirt track racing event at the Merrill Fairgrounds. The motion passed without a recorded tally. It also approved a change of agent for Kwik Trip store #386, naming Allen Kuehl as the new agent. The council adopted a resolution honoring Dawn Smith for nearly 22 years of service to the Parks & Recreation department. Minutes from the July 14 meeting were placed on file. Committee reports were acknowledged with no questions.

Committee of the Whole

The Committee of the Whole met Aug. 12 to receive presentations on 2027 Capital Budget requests from department heads. Finance Director Ley distributed revised information, but no budget decisions were made. The committee approved minutes from its Oct. 28, 2025 meeting and entered closed session to discuss EMS contract negotiations, voting 6-0 to do so. After reconvening in open session, no action was taken. The next budget meeting is scheduled for Aug. 25 at 5 p.m.

Transit and Airport Commissions

Two commissions met in the past two weeks but have not yet published minutes, so no decisions are confirmed.

The Transit Commission met Aug. 17 with an agenda including public comment, approval of minutes, an administrator's report, and discussion of Community Night Out and the Back to School Bash. No specific decisions or dollar amounts were listed.

The Airport Commission met Aug. 19 to discuss the Runway 16/34 project and its potential time frame, the maintenance hangar project status and operational move details, general maintenance items (deer ramps, trees through the security fence, flag pole status), an update on the F-84 Monument, and airport standards, policies, and gate security codes. The meeting was described as a working session with discussions and updates rather than final votes.

Coming up

Several meetings are scheduled in the next two weeks:

• **Health and Safety Committee** – Aug. 24. Will consider a Class A beer license for Merrill Cenex (Hollandtown Minimart LLC, 504 E 2nd St) and a temporary Class B wine license for the Chamber of Commerce's Sip & Stroll event on Oct. 17, 1-7 p.m. Also will approve vouchers and file monthly reports from Fire Chief Klug and Police Chief Bennett.
• **Committee of the Whole** – Aug. 25. Will continue the 2027 Capital Budget presentation, consider minutes from Aug. 12, and may enter closed session for legal advice on litigation. Next budget meeting is Sept. 8 at 5 p.m.
• **Personnel and Finance Committee** – Aug. 25. Will review the July check report, city grant policy, 2026 Tax Increment District balance transfers, write-off of uncollectible SDC returns, and a donation to the fire department. May enter closed session to discuss a fire union grievance.
• **Library Board** – Aug. 26. Will discuss a JobPod grant and memorandum of understanding, the 2027 budget and capital improvements, a solar array lease buyout status, strategic goals, and library policies. Consent items include July minutes, vouchers, and financial reports.

All meetings are open to the public unless noted as closed session.

Merrill roundup: Land vacations approved, setback variance denied, budget talks continue

In the past two weeks, Merrill's boards and council approved three land vacations, denied a setback variance, and granted a temporary beer license for a racing event. Budget discussions for 2027 continued without final decisions.

Land and zoning

The City Plan Commission approved three petitions to vacate land and alleys, following recommendations from the Board of Public Works. The commission approved vacating the alley on the 500 block of Blaine Street, a right of way at the south-west corner of G.R. Sturdevant's addition (Logan Ave), and a portion of land in Mary Poor's addition (by S. Nast St and Logan Ave). It also approved the July 7th meeting minutes for filing.

The Zoning Board of Appeals denied a rear-yard setback variance for Benjamin Cadwallader at 800 E 6th Street. The board found the hardship was self-imposed because the deck was built without a required permit. The motion to deny passed with one no vote. The board also approved minutes from its June 2nd meeting unanimously.

Council actions

The Common Council approved a temporary Class B beer license for VFW Post 1638 for an Aug. 29 dirt track racing event at the Merrill Fairgrounds. It also approved a change of agent for Kwik Trip store #386 to Allen Kuehl, adopted a resolution honoring Dawn Smith for nearly 22 years of service to the Parks & Recreation department, and placed July 14th meeting minutes on file. All motions passed.

Budget and parks

The Parks and Recreation Commission discussed 2027 capital requests, focusing on a $150,000 Aquatic Center item that includes slide refurbishment and pool resurfacing. The commission asked staff to itemize the pool costs and deferred further discussion to the September meeting. It approved June 2026 minutes and claims for June and July 2026. The new Recreation Manager, Emily Wendorf, was introduced.

The Committee of the Whole received presentations on 2027 Capital Budget requests from department heads, with Finance Director Ley distributing revised information. No budget decisions were made; the next budget meeting is set for Aug. 25 at 5:00 pm. The committee approved minutes from October 28, 2025, entered closed session (6-0) to discuss EMS contract negotiations, and reconvened without taking action.

Library Board

The Library Board held a special meeting to review and act upon the revised 2027 Library Budget Appropriation Request. Minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions are reported.

Coming up

The Merrill Transit Commission meets Aug. 17 (today) for its regular August meeting. The agenda includes public comment, approval of minutes, an administrator's report, and discussion of Community Night Out and Back to School Bash. No specific decisions or dollar amounts are listed.

Merrill committees advance 2027 budget items; Police and Fire Commission promotes officer to Patrol Lieutenant

Merrill's city committees spent the last two weeks moving pieces of the 2027 budget forward, with the Personnel and Finance Committee approving preliminary personnel and ambulance budgets and the Board of Public Works forwarding capital project requests for water, sewer, and street departments. The Police and Fire Commission also approved a promotion and an eligibility list.

Police and Fire Commission

On July 21, the Police and Fire Commission approved the promotion of Officer Jonathan Sass to Patrol Lieutenant and approved the police department eligibility list. The commission also determined that a citizen complaint regarding the Merrill Police Department was outside its authority.

Personnel and Finance Committee

On July 28, the committee approved the 2027 Ambulance/EMS budget submission to Lincoln County and approved the 2027 preliminary personnel/payroll budget, which includes a 2.5% cost of living adjustment. The committee also approved continuing grant applications for four Merrill Fire Department staff members and reduced the T.B. Scott Library computer contingency fund to $5,000. Vouchers were approved, and June 23rd meeting minutes and monthly reports were placed on file.

Board of Public Works

On July 29, the Board of Public Works reviewed and forwarded 2027 capital project requests for the water, sewer, and street departments to the budget meeting. The board approved Water & Sewer vouchers and Street Department vouchers.

The board also approved three land and right-of-way vacations and forwarded them to City Plan: an alley vacation north of lots 13 and 14 of block 3 of VR Willards addition; a right of way vacation at the south-west corner of G.R. Sturdevant's addition (Logan Ave); and a land vacation in Mary Poor's addition, by S Nast St and Logan Ave. June 24th minutes and monthly reports were placed on file.

Health and Safety Committee

On July 27, the committee approved a change of agent to Allen Kuehl for Kwik Trip, Store 386, 2311 E Main Street. The committee approved vouchers, placed June 22nd meeting minutes on file, and placed monthly reports from the Fire Chief, Police Chief, and Lincoln County Humane Society on file.

Transit Commission

The Merrill Transit Commission met July 20 to discuss veterans rides, magnets, and bus configuration and seating. No decisions are specified in the available agenda; minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

• **Aug. 4 — Library Board (special meeting):** Will act on the revised 2027 Library Budget Appropriation Request.
• **Aug. 4 — Zoning Board of Appeals:** Public hearing for Benjamin Cadwallader at 800 E 6th Street regarding a minimum rear yard setback variance under M.M.C. Sec. 113-38.
• **Aug. 4 — City Plan Commission:** Will consider three land and alley vacations forwarded by the Board of Public Works, including the alley on the 500 block of Blaine Street, the right of way at the south-west corner of G.R. Sturdevant's addition (Logan Ave), and land in Mary Poor's addition by S. Nast St and Logan Ave.
• **Aug. 5 — Parks and Recreation Commission:** Will review June and July 2026 claims, discuss the Recreation Manager position, and consider 2027 capital requests.