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By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review
A federally funded firefighter apprenticeship program, raises for city transit workers and a human resources position postponed last month top the Wausau Finance Committee’s agenda Tuesday.
The committee meets at 5:15 p.m. July 14 in the council chambers at City Hall, 407 Grant St.
The Wausau Fire Department is asking the committee to approve a partnership with Northcentral Technical College to launch the FireMedic Apprenticeship Program, an 18-month paid training pipeline for up to 18 future firefighter/paramedics. The program is structured around approximately $3.27 million in congressional funding requested through U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s office, which would cover apprentice wages, benefits, training, equipment and instruction, according to a memo from Deputy Fire Chief Justin Pluess.
Apprentices would be hired as limited-term city employees and rotate through Wausau fire stations while completing firefighter and paramedic certifications through NTC, combining roughly 4,719 hours of instruction and field training. The memo says the concept was first developed in 2024, when the department faced a vacancy rate of about 15% among line staff, and argues that a pipeline of trained candidates would reduce overtime spending tied to staffing shortages.
Pluess’ memo stresses that apprentices would not count toward minimum staffing levels and that the program would not obligate the city to keep the positions once the grant expires. Participants would not be guaranteed jobs but could apply for openings through the normal hiring process. The first cohort is targeted to start Oct. 5, pending state apprenticeship and technical college system approvals.
Transit union, HR coordinator position also on the agenda
The committee will also consider a two-year contract with Local 1168 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, covering Metro Ride employees from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. Under the tentative agreement, starting wages in most classifications would rise by $1 per hour, followed by a 2% across-the-board increase this month and 1.5% increases in December 2026, June 2027 and December 2027. The deal also expands vacation carryover for part-time employees, allows sick and vacation time to be used in quarter-hour increments and requires employees who leave without honoring their full notice period to forfeit unused leave banks. The Human Resources Committee takes up the agreement Monday, one day before the finance vote.
Also back before the committee is a proposal to add a human resources coordinator, which finance members postponed June 23 after questioning how the position would be paid for. Committee member Sarah Watson said at that meeting she wanted to know the fiscal impact before approving the job, and a motion to approve was withdrawn.
The position now returns with a defined salary: Grade 19, ranging from $46,508 to $65,146, with a recurring cost of about $57,000 a year. HR Director Lisa Nowak has told city officials the department’s workload is unsustainable at its current staffing of three, and the Human Resources Committee approved the position 5-0. The resolution notes the request is not budget neutral, and a related budget modification accompanies the item.
The committee will review the April general fund financial report, which shows the city collected 63.7% of budgeted revenue through four months while spending 30.3% of its expenditure budget.
Finance staff flagged several pressure points: refuse costs are expected to exceed budget because of a fuel escalator clause in the city’s new contract, significant March snowfall is expected to drive winter maintenance costs higher than planned, and equipment billing for March and April had not yet been recorded. On the revenue side, the state raised maximum municipal court costs from $38 to $48 in the first quarter, and an extension of the SAFER grant will offset additional firefighter costs this year.
Easements for traffic signal replacements
Committee members will also vote on a sales study and payment report for property acquisitions tied to planned traffic signal replacements at two Grand Avenue intersections: Townline Road (County Highway N) and Sturgeon Eddy Road. The city won state Signal and ITS Standalone Program funding to fully rebuild both signals, adding overhead signal heads on monotube arms, flashing yellow left-turn arrows, countdown and audible pedestrian signals, video detection and new sidewalk curb ramps.
The work requires permanent easements — since converted to outright purchases — and temporary construction easements from seven properties: 105, 107 and 111 Sturgeon Eddy Road and 1225, 1300, 1303, 1320, 1339, 1343 and 1403 Grand Ave. A consultant’s sales study sets land values at $2 per square foot for residential property, $2.80 for commercial and 95 cents for large multifamily parcels. The committee will discuss the actual payment offers to owners in closed session under a state law exemption for negotiating public property purchases, and may reconvene in open session to act.
How to participate
Residents can weigh in during the public comment period at the start of Tuesday’s meeting, which covers agenda items only. The meeting is open to the public in the council chambers at City Hall, 407 Grant St., and can be watched live on the city’s YouTube channel or Channel 981 on cable. Written comments can be sent to the city clerk’s office at [email protected] or by calling 715-261-6500. Committee recommendations go to the full City Council for final action.