Many action items from The Richland Center City Council meeting

RICHLAND CENTER, Wis. (WRCO / WRCE) – The City of Richland Center has historically received Emergency Management Services through an agreement with the County, with the current contract set to expire on Dec. 31.

On September 26, the County provided a proposed one-year contract to continue EMS for the City and other participating municipalities, with a signing deadline of November 1. The proposed 2026 EMS contract from the County includes material changes compared to the current and previous agreements. 

If a one-year contract is approved as presented there will be an increase of $52,420 from 2025 to 2026, amounting to a total cost of $167,510. The City Council voted Tuesday night to decline executing the proposed 2026 EMS contract with Richland County as presented and instead authorize the City Administrator to formally request an extension of the current EMS agreement through March 31, with a rate adjustment excluding capital expenditures, to ensure uninterrupted service and allow time for a thorough evaluation of service options.

In other action at last night’s meeting, the Richland Center City Council approved:

• An Emergency Purchase Notification in the amount of $11, 000 for overage expense to fixing the city parking lot.
• The requested 2026 contribution of $148,160 for the operation of the Richland Fire Department.
• The requested 2026 contribution of $53,190 for the operation of the Symons Recreational Complex.
• The MSA Professional Services Agreement for 2025 pavement rating and street inventory services at a cost not to exceed $5,000.
• The expenditure of $1,000 for the Cemetery GIS System correction work from unallocated contingency.
• To approve the Vierbicher Pine River Dike Annual Inspection Proposal at a cost not to exceed $3,000.
• The execution of a five-year contract with Republic Services for residential waste and recycling services and to proceed with development of a transition plan that includes the closure of the City’s Transfer Station by March 31.
• The execution of a contract with Innovative Public Advisors for operational planning services fully funded by an Innovation Planning Grant.
• A Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Connect Communities Program application.
• And, contracting with Vierbicher Associates for grant administration services associated with HUD CPF Grant B-24-CP-WI-2332.

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