Two Rivers councilmembers voted to switch the city’s employee health insurance into the state program starting Jan. 1, 2026. They also walked through big-ticket options for the Neshotah Beach concession stand and kicked around a paid-parking idea for peak beach days.
Key Decisions
Councilmembers leaned toward a major remodel of the Neshotah Beach concession stand (about $360,636) and discussed a paid-parking pilot ($10/day) on 10 peak beach days in 2026 to help fund beach operations.
The council voted 7-0 to opt into the Wisconsin Public Employers Group Health Insurance Program effective Jan. 1, 2026 — a move that can affect city costs and employee coverage going forward.
Councilmembers scheduled follow-up coordination for a November “Listening Session,” with three members volunteering to attend once a date is set.
Public Input
No public comments or communications recorded for this meeting.
Agenda Items
25-188 Resolution to Opt Into the Wisconsin Public Employers Group Health Insurance Program Effective January 1, 2026
Passed 7-0
The council approved switching the city into the state’s public employer group health insurance program starting Jan. 1, 2026. The minutes don’t spell out the cost comparison, coverage changes, or why this option was chosen, which are the details residents and city employees typically care about most. The vote was unanimous.
Staff laid out three paths for the Neshotah Beach concession stand: a basic code-focused fix (~$43,000), a major interior rework (~$360,636), or a brand-new building with expanded restrooms and year-round indoor rental space. Councilmembers’ “general consensus” favored the major remodel, with interest in fully enclosing/opening the covered patio area — a sign the city may be heading toward a sizable investment at the beach. Staff also floated a fee-based parking plan for Lots 2 and 3 on 10 peak beach days in 2026 ($10/day), potentially staffed by seasonal workers or community groups that could earn a share as fundraising; the council was described as receptive, but no decision was made.
Discuss date, time, and venue for next Listening Session in November
Three councilmembers (Wachowski, Bittner, and D. LeClair) said they would attend the November Listening Session and will coordinate schedules to set a date. This is a small process item, but it matters because listening sessions are one of the few lower-pressure ways residents can raise concerns outside a formal hearing format. No date was set in these minutes.