[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6114804,"mediaKeyId","2741557-b36f4ab40e4bbd9d30a9cfeaa688eee6","parentId",2741557,"title","Watertown council orders replacement ladder truck, amends earliest arrival to 2028","audioSeconds",685,"startMs",1178000,"endMs",1863000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2741557-b36f4ab40e4bbd9d30a9cfeaa688eee6&start=1178&end=1863","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2741557-b36f4ab40e4bbd9d30a9cfeaa688eee6/thumbnail_1178000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6114804/Watertown/Jefferson-County/Wisconsin/Watertown-council-orders-replacement-ladder-truck-amends-earliest-arrival-to-2028","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114804-e049ddc0c0af3e949ec09f09613fdb9a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152524&Signature=m9SyEp6e1GKtROTqETWNRppWJ-slzL-47J1t6zGANk4KTwSQ24xR66zy5JBwa-XFOdYjGBM~S7C4~hNsu9Wsu~-rMxMIH2AnLn0qmbxb1ONFa3lUL4bNl92TFrHq4VcwlYp4ur-slc1HLdo5EhEBf4K7RcNZIMvDa8WHC9NZe1lu~AnzDfyB5tWbB9FOgkRps3q7xSLj4EEGQf7wVk9yq7mj3t7c36mVqshlLTUU~ErC65aFqfK0-YezKrB~7U1aDuHut-FIzr309rt1MSTCiiS9JjVhe1nOmr-C70MEPKNFxSsNq9XBCdCuHFVMaaVhQsLcCqer2mUnwWa5jMnSgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Watertown, WI","date","2025-03-23T12:57:18.607Z","article","The Watertown Common Council voted unanimously on March 18 to approve a resolution placing an order for a replacement ladder truck and to amend the resolution’s delivery language so the vehicle is not scheduled to arrive before 2028.

Council members discussed the timeline for borrowing and delivery and asked for more detail about maintenance history, cancellation terms and the resale value of the existing vehicle. A staff member advising the council said the city’s typical borrowing schedule results in proceeds arriving March 1 and that non-infrastructure purchases carry an 18-month required-spend constraint tied to bond rules. To reduce timing risk, the council amended the resolution language that originally referenced 2027 so the truck would not arrive before Jan. 1, 2028.

Fire department leadership and staff described rising maintenance costs and parts shortages. The meeting record shows the truck failed a five-year test this year and that maintenance spending on the vehicle was $47,000 in 2024; earlier years were lower (roughly $6,000–$7,000 in 2021–2023, $25,000 in 2019 and $17,000 in 2020). The discussion noted parts are increasingly hard to obtain and that some repairs recently have been costly.

Council members pressed staff on the contract’s cancellation language. Staff explained that the vendor’s contract requires payment in full at apparatus completion and inspection, and that a cancellation clause (item 9) would leave the buyer responsible for actual costs incurred up to cancellation: factory visits, equipment-specific costs and any amounts the vendor cannot recoup by reselling the vehicle. The council said the contract originally included percentage-based cancellation charges that have since been removed; staff offered to clarify that language before final execution.

Meeting discussion also covered resale and trade-in prospects for the outgoing ladder truck. Staff said surplus sales or refurbishment are possible, and that smaller municipalities sometimes buy and refurbish used apparatus, but resale values for large ladder trucks vary and may be limited.

After the amendment to change the year from 2027 to 2028 passed on a voice vote, the council voted 8-0 to approve the amended resolution. The resolution as amended authorizes ordering the truck; it does not yet commit the city to the final financing or delivery beyond the amended timing language. Council members requested staff circulate maintenance records and any final contract language clarifying cancellation fees and payment timing.

Next steps identified in the meeting: finalize contract language with the vendor, confirm the procurement and financing schedule consistent with bond rules, and provide the council with the detailed maintenance and cost records requested during the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Common Council Meeting | The City of Watertown | March 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Watertown Common Council voted unanimously on March 18 to approve placing an order for a replacement ladder truck and to amend the resolution so the vehicle is not scheduled to arrive before Jan. 1, 2028.","taxTitle","Watertown, Jefferson County, Wisconsin","taxId",69184,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6114799,"Watertown council approves ordinances, zoning-code contract, water-main award and event license; many measures pass on voice votes",1061,968000,2029000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2741557-b36f4ab40e4bbd9d30a9cfeaa688eee6&start=968&end=2029","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2741557-b36f4ab40e4bbd9d30a9cfeaa688eee6/thumbnail_968000.jpg","/articles/6114799/Watertown/Jefferson-County/Wisconsin/Watertown-council-approves-ordinances-zoning-code-contract-water-main-award-and-event-license-many-measures-pass-on-voice-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114799-50a6669856f0e0071c6879a4b6171570/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152524&Signature=kR4k8pBmMV1N15rL~vi37w-fkH-Xu3~qP1GrgD44jFHwgLAnXjGQ2RruicZrTM9QkGONk1RTNbF2jcGguAMC0xIWRFiDY5mqabgX6sqdfDy1-aBdMJ9JuF9Bob6Z1IE7GBzSNGQ0lbvprn9bQmPpL3FwP2a6cKj02UkO6yHQ0wV~VaqCcoy-Luuvz36eKaAywb6Mm9CLjtCDGdekvDYK7CtYI~ksxTVHQDjej9odYZ2VjXxif2n2iBpJVcoDrKSyQV~R8G2WWoG0NsVtPw~16vCempzGiOVVsQXFUHuKqAmOKPSTMV7fJq3s93leNlA0jnK2BXounexHcCox3rSK~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Watertown Common Council on March 18 cleared a slate of ordinances, resolutions and administrative actions affecting city code, zoning, public works and local events.

Key outcomes included passage of two ordinances on first reading, authorization of a contract for a zoning-code rewrite, awarding a water-main relay contract, acceptance of the annual stormwater report submittal and approval of event licensing for Watertown River Fest.

Ordinances: The council approved Ordinance 25-05, an amendment to section 410-39 of the city code, on first reading with a recorded vote of 7-1 (Councilmember Schmidt cast the lone no). The council also approved Ordinance 25-06, amending chapter 500-6 (vehicles and traffic), on first reading on an 8-0 vote.

Zoning and public works: The council authorized an agreement with Vanderwall and Associates for a zoning-code rewrite (Exhibit 97-21) on an 8-0 voice vote. It also passed an initial resolution to discontinue a portion of public way at Cole Street (Exhibit 97-22) and awarded the 2025 Western Avenue water-main relay to Forest Landscape and Construction for $187,005.80 (Exhibit 97-23), each approved by voice vote.

Administrative and financial items: The council authorized submittal of the city’s 2024 annual stormwater report (Exhibit 97-24) and approved a development agreement with Lumen Terrace (Exhibit 97-26). It also approved an amendment to the collective bargaining agreement replacing the Labor Association of Wisconsin with the Wisconsin Professional Police Association (Exhibit 97-27). The council extended a technical services agreement with Strand (Exhibit 90-7-208) for public works technical support.

Licenses and appointments: The council approved a temporary Class B wine license for Watertown River Fest (Aug. 7–10) and confirmed one committee appointment. The meeting packet also included payroll summaries and a cash and investment report; council members had no substantive objections on those items.

Votes at a glance (selected items):
- Ordinance 25-05 (amend §410-39): Motion by Davis; second by Board; vote 7-1 (Schmidt no). Outcome: passed (first reading).
- Ordinance 25-06 (amend ch. 500-6, vehicles & traffic): Motion by Davis; second by Blankie; vote 8-0. Outcome: passed (first reading).
- Exhibit 97-21 (Vanderwall & Associates zoning-code rewrite): Motion by Wetzel; second by Blankie; vote 8-0. Outcome: approved.
- Exhibit 97-22 (initial resolution to discontinue portion of public way at Cole Street): Motion by Bartz; second by Blankey; vote 8-0. Outcome: approved.
- Exhibit 97-23 (award Western Avenue water-main relay to Forest Landscape and Construction): Motion by Board; second by Davis; contract award $187,005.80; vote 8-0. Outcome: approved.
- Exhibit 97-24 (authorize 2024 annual stormwater report submittal): Motion by Board; second by Wetzel; vote voice 8-0. Outcome: approved.
- Exhibit 97-26 (development agreement — Lumen Terrace): Motion by Board; second by (record shows Board); vote 8-0. Outcome: approved.
- Exhibit 97-27 (collective bargaining amendment — replace union representative): Motion by Board; second by Davis; vote voice 8-0. Outcome: approved.
- Exhibit 90-7-208 (extend technical services agreement with Strand): Motion by Board; second by Blanky; vote 8-0. Outcome: approved.
- Temporary Class B license for Watertown River Fest (Aug. 7–10): Motion by Blankie; second by Bartz; vote voice; outcome: approved.

Most votes were taken by individual roll-call or voice; when a roll-call was recorded the transcript includes council members’ yea/nay votes. No public testimony was recorded on the matters that required public hearings or formal comment during the meeting.

The council also received a bridge construction update (replacement arches and spandrels installed; deck pour scheduled weather permitting), and several staff reports and board minutes were entered into the record.","At its March 18 meeting the Watertown Common Council approved two ordinances, authorized a zoning-code rewrite contract, awarded a water-main project, approved annual stormwater reporting, authorized several administrative agreements, and granted a temporary license for Watertown River Fest. Most measures passed unanimously or by voice vote.","actionData","errors"]

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Watertown council orders replacement ladder truck, amends earliest arrival to 2028

Watertown council approves ordinances, zoning-code contract, water-main award and event license; many measures pass on voice votes