Marshfield City Council Gears Up for Busy July with Tourism Talks, Financial Updates, and Major Infrastructure Plans

By David Ballerstein
​Marshfield, WI -- The City of Marshfield has a full agenda for early July, with two Common Council meetings scheduled next week to address a range of significant issues—from renewing tourism partnerships to discussing major borrowing plans for city projects.
At a special Common Council meeting set for Wednesday, July 9, city leaders will meet with Visit Marshfield representatives to discuss the future of the city’s tourism efforts. The city’s current agreement with Visit Marshfield, which handles tourism promotion, is in its final year. Officials plan to review Visit Marshfield’s achievements and discuss priorities for the next three years.
“They do a great job bringing people to town, promoting events like the Maple Fall Fest, and supporting various community initiatives,” said City Administrator Steve Barg during the latest episode of Council Preview on Marshfield Now. “The Council wants to know what projects they’re working on and how future funds might be spent to attract more visitors.”
Visit Marshfield relies heavily on room tax revenues collected from local hotels, with 70% of those funds allocated to tourism promotion and 30% retained by the city for Parks and Recreation programs.
Regular Council Meeting on July 8
The Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, July 8, will feature several major presentations and financial matters.
Sierra Starner Heffron, recently hired as the Business Development Director at the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MACCI), will provide a quarterly update on business retention, development, marketing, and workforce efforts. The city contributes roughly $48,000 annually toward this position and will hear how MACCI’s work ties into Marshfield’s broader economic growth strategies.
“This is a good check-in to make sure the city’s investment is being put to work effectively,” Barg noted.
Financial Audit and Borrowing Plans
Also on the agenda is a presentation from CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA), the city’s independent auditor. CLA will deliver findings from the city’s 2024 financial audit, a crucial report that helps guide budget planning for the coming year.
“The audit gives us a snapshot of how we ended 2024 and helps us plan for 2026,” Barg said, noting the city performed well financially, partly due to a mild winter that reduced costs for snow removal.
The Council will also review plans for approximately $9.7 million in borrowing for 2025—significantly higher than the city’s typical annual borrowing of $4–4.5 million. A large portion of this borrowing is tied to the renovation of the Wildwood Plaza building for the new police station, a multi-year project. The remainder will fund street maintenance, building improvements, and equipment purchases.
“This borrowing spike is unusual but necessary,” Barg explained. “It’s well thought out and structured over 20 years to spread the cost fairly.”
Lead Service Line Replacements
Addressing public health concerns, Water Utility Manager Nick from Marshfield Utilities will present an ordinance requiring property owners to replace lead and galvanized water service lines. After delays due to previous lapses in state funding, financial assistance programs have reopened, offering either full loan forgiveness or a 75% forgiveness structure for homeowners depending on eligibility.
The Council will also consider resolutions enabling the city to issue promissory notes and enter agreements required for these water service replacements.
Historic Preservation and Downtown Grants
In other business, the Council will review a request for a grant from Wood County’s Building Renovation Grant Program. If successful, the city hopes to revive a program that provides matching funds to help downtown businesses improve building facades or interior spaces. The city would contribute $25,000 if the county provides matching funds, with the goal of restoring the program to a $50,000 level in 2026.
“This program has made a significant difference for downtown businesses in the past,” Barg said. “It’s clearly economic development, and we’re hopeful for the county’s support.”
Early Look at Budget Priorities
Finally, the Council will begin initial discussions on 2026 budget priorities. The city wants input from council members early in the process to avoid surprises later in the year.
“Tell us what you want to protect if we need to make cuts,” Barg urged. “Whether it’s parks, streets, or other services, this is the time to speak up.”
Both meetings are expected to set the stage for critical decisions affecting the city’s finances, infrastructure, and future growth.

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