Ashland agendas take up sewer and water rate increase, railroad land transfer, 2027 budget
Ashland's City Council and its committees scheduled a run of items over the past two weeks, including a possible sewer and water rate increase, the transfer and rezoning of a former railroad right-of-way, and continued work on the 2027 budget. All four meetings are listed as agendas only; minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions, outcomes, or vote tallies are established by the records available.
Sewer and water rates
The Sept. 29 City Council agenda listed a presentation, discussion and possible action on sewer and water rate increases, to be delivered by Brian Rohmer of Ehlers, Inc. The topic returns Oct. 13, when the Committee of the Whole is scheduled to review a previous sewer rate presentation and discuss proposed rate adjustments. No rate figures appear in either agenda.
Former railroad right-of-way
The Sept. 29 council agenda also listed a resolution to transfer city-owned former Wisconsin Central Railroad right-of-way, Parcel No. 201-01687-0000, to Gregory Gehrman, and a separate ordinance to rezone the same parcel from City Center (CC) to Single and Two-Family Residential (R-2). Both were listed for council consideration; the outcome is not yet documented.
2027 budget and library levy
Budget work continued Oct. 8, when the Committee of the Whole was scheduled to discuss 2027 budget development and consider approving the 2027 General Fund, Special Revenue Funds, Debt Service Funds, Internal Service Funds, and Enterprise Funds budgets for a public hearing and Council approval on Nov. 17, 2026. The same agenda listed a resolution to exempt the City of Ashland from the Ashland County Library Levy. The 2027 budget also appeared on the Sept. 29 Committee of the Whole agenda as a continued presentation and discussion.
Harbor Commission
The Harbor Commission met Sept. 30 at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers, 601 Main Street West. Its agenda listed approval of the July 1, 2026 minutes, a citizen participation period, a financial statement review, an update on the boat launch, and new business covering the Manager's Report, Manager's Wages, and the next meeting date. The notice does not include supporting documents, dollar amounts, or specific proposals, so what will be decided on those items is not established.
Other items on the agendas
The Sept. 29 council agenda included a conditional use permit for a fence over four feet tall in the front yard at 2607 Lake Shore Dr East, Parcel No. 201-00325-0200, with Heidi Nevala listed as applicant. It also listed a resolution to rename Salem Road to "Church Drive," an architectural review of a public restroom building at Miskwaa Park, 501 3rd Street West, and an ordinance on water utility rules and private hydrants. Several fire department agreements and routine reports sat on the consent agenda.
The Committee of the Whole, meeting immediately after the council on Sept. 29, was scheduled to take up a mutual aid agreement between the Ashland Fire Department and the Ashland County Sheriff's Department and amendments to Chapter 711 (1252) Ordinance for a POTW and Collection System. Remote attendance was listed as available by GoToMeeting or toll-free phone line.
Coming up
The Committee of the Whole meets Oct. 13. Its agenda lists a presentation by Ashland School District Superintendent Rob Prater and discussion of proposed sewer rate adjustments.