Baraboo Development News
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Baraboo Council Approves Special Event Liquor Licenses and Annual Renewals
The Baraboo Common Council considered and approved producer full-service retail sales applications for wine tasting events. Baraboo Bluff Winery was approved for a coffee and wine tasting at Press Coffee on July 24th, 2026, for wine only [cite: 487-488, 510, 528]. Balanced Rock Winery was approved for a beer, wine, and intoxicating liquor sale at the Spa Serenity Anniversary Event on June 19th, 2026, held at the Sauk County Courthouse square [cite: 530-531, 542, 557]. In both cases, the city approves the application, which then goes to the state for final license issuance [cite: 501-502, 538]. The council also approved the renewal of annual liquor licenses for the 2026-2027 period, noting a significant change where the fairgrounds will renew for a beer and wine license, an upgrade from last year's beer-only license [cite: 451-453, 461-464, 486].
Baraboo Council Approves Accounts Payable, Council Member Abstains Due to Conflict of Interest
The Baraboo Common Council approved the consent agenda, which included writing off uncollectible accounts [cite: 142]. Accounts payable totaling $758,846.79 were also approved. During the discussion of accounts payable, Council member Brett (Tapham) declared a conflict of interest and abstained from voting on the accounts payable approval because Beyond Blessed, a board he serves on, was receiving a $10,000 grant within that package [cite: 201, 204, 213, 226].
Baraboo Council Approves Sale of Courson Square Duplexes, Appoints Members to Fire/EMS Commission
The Baraboo Common Council approved a request from the Baraboo Community Development Authority (CDA) to sell the Courson Square duplex units. The CDA aims to keep these units available for low-income families, though not all units will be restricted as low-income. The sale proceeds' destination is yet to be determined. These duplexes, located on the far east side of the block and separate from the recently remodeled Corson Square building, have experienced ongoing vandalism and wear, requiring continuous investment from the CDA for repairs before rental. The council also approved the appointment of Steve House and Greg Weiss to the Baraboo Area Fire and EMS District Commission, with the motion passing 5-4 after considerable debate regarding the commission's financial issues and the need for elected officials versus appointed individuals with financial expertise [cite: 703-716, 787, 239-251, 264-282, 284-295, 398, 411-426].
Baraboo Council Approves Budget Amendments, Declares Intent for Future Borrowing, and Updates Publication Policy
The Baraboo Common Council approved the first quarter 2026 budget amendments. These amendments primarily involve moving funds between accounts to cover expenses, with a significant portion of $57,514 being drawn from the general fund. This increase is largely attributed to the hiring of a new city attorney, which incurred costs exceeding initial budget estimations [cite: 658, 667, 669]. The council also approved a resolution declaring the city's official intent to reimburse expenditures from future borrowing proceeds. This borrowing will cover projects including street construction, Driftless Lost, Great Sock Trail, and HVAC upgrades at the old city services building and shop building, with a not-to-exceed amount of $5.6 million [cite: 797-798, 810]. Additionally, the council approved amending section 3.05 of the budget to allow for publication of budget amendments on the city's website instead of solely in the newspaper, aiming to save costs [cite: 812-813, 825].
Baraboo Council Vacates Sumac Court Right-of-Way, Accepts Annual Water Report
The Baraboo Common Council considered and approved the vacation of the unimproved portion of Sumac Court right-of-way. The unimproved section is located off Lake Street, south of Hill Street, and west of the railroad underpass, adjacent to the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. The owner of the adjoining property, Deputy Enterprises, requested the vacation to gain additional operating room for their North loading docks. The Plan Commission recommended approval, and the council unanimously approved the vacation, transferring the entire 50-foot width to Deputy Enterprises [cite: 564-576, 589]. The council also considered and unanimously approved the acceptance of the 2025 Compliance Maintenance Annual Water Report, noting the treatment plant, built in 1982, continues to receive 'A' scores, crediting the dedicated employees [cite: 609-610, 617-625, 653].
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