Highlights from the Sept 1 & 15, 2026 Grand Chute Town Board Meetings found at: www.grandchutewi.gov/government/minutes_and_agendas
In recent sessions, the Grand Chute Town Board appointed Travis Parish as the new Town Administrator, selected Bray Architects to lead design work for a proposed public safety facility, and approved a revised land purchase agreement adjacent to Pioneer Cemetery that secures site funding and public parking.
Leadership & Administrative Governance
- Town Administrator Appointment: Following a closed session, the Board voted to hire Travis Parish as Grand Chute’s Town Administrator in accordance with an employment agreement dated September 15, 2026. To ensure continuity until Parish assumes his duties, the Board also approved an addendum extending the contract of Interim Administrator Greg Peterson.
- Code of Ethics Ordinance Postponed: Following public comment from resident Jeff Ings regarding internal enforcement mechanisms for the proposed Chapter 50 Code of Ethics, the Board voted to postpone action on Ordinance O-12-2026 until its second meeting in October. Interim Administrator Peterson was directed to distribute the draft to town staff, committees, and department leads for review and feedback.
Public Safety & Municipal Infrastructure
- Public Safety Facility Architectural Services: The Board approved the selection of Bray Architects as the architect of record for the planned public safety building, authorizing staff to negotiate a contract. Bray Architects outlined a phased fee structure, with Phase 1 and 2 design costs set at $112,800 and total projected fees spanning Phases 1 through 5 estimated at $1,742,800.
- Website Overhaul Vendor: CivicPlus was selected as the vendor for the town’s web services upgrade. The project is driven by upcoming federal ADA compliance mandates taking effect by June 2027 and will introduce a shared municipal calendar and department-specific intranet portals.
- Storm Recovery Grant Resolution: The Board approved Resolution TBR-20-2026, authorizing town staff to apply for a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grant. The grant offers up to $50,000 in reimbursements for eligible tree repair, removal, and cleanup expenses resulting from the July 2026 storm.
Development & Real Estate Decisions
- Pioneer Cemetery Land Agreement: Following an initial denial of an offer from Four Real Estate Holdings LLC for two acres of town-owned land at the northeast corner of West Evergreen Drive and State Highway 47, the Board accepted a revised proposal. The updated terms include an additional $50,000 contribution from the buyer dedicated to cemetery signage and landscaping, as well as a permanent easement providing visitor access and parking on the developed site.
- Clarity Ridge Final Plat: The Board approved final plat FP-04-2026 for the Clarity Ridge residential development, subject to town engineer approval for drainage and erosion control plans. The project includes 17 single-family lots located north of West Evergreen Drive.
Strategic Planning & Employee Benefits
- Strategic Plan Adoption: Following presentations by consultant Corrie Porus-Plash of CP2 Consulting detailing community vision, organizational values, and operational goals, the Board formally adopted the finalized Strategic Plan report to serve as a roadmap for future policy and budget implementation.
- 2027 Employee Benefit Package: The Board approved staff recommendations for the 2027 employee benefits program. While dental and vision rates remain flat, the town will absorb a $217,722 increase in health insurance premiums under the State Group Health Insurance program. The package introduces voluntary hospital indemnity insurance, flexible fractional use of discretionary holidays, and eight hours of paid volunteer time off annually for eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit work within Outagamie County.
Key Action Items
- Staff will negotiate final contract terms with Bray Architects for the public safety facility design.
- The Town Administrator’s office will gather employee and committee feedback on the draft Code of Ethics ordinance ahead of the late-October Board meeting.
- Staff will finalize submission of the DNR Catastrophic Storm Grant reimbursement application prior to the September 27 deadline.
- Staff will draft the Clarity Ridge development agreement for final Board approval in October.
The Board will reconvene for its regular October sessions to address the Clarity Ridge development agreement, review incoming budget targets, and resume discussions on the ethics ordinance.
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