Common Council Meeting

The Common Council met at City Hall in the City of Black River Falls on February 6, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. Alderpersons Olson, Dougherty, Gearing-Lancaster, Wussow, Ammann, and M. Rave were present. Alderperson E. Rave was excused. Mayor J. Eddy presided. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Olson, seconded by Alderperson Wussow to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the January 2, 2024 Common Council meeting and approve with change to document Alderperson Dougherty’s attendance as remote. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CITIZENS IN ATTENDANCE There were 3 citizens in attendance for agenda items – 1 in person and 2 via Zoom meetings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheriff Waldera was in attendance and advised there were no updates on the County jail / justice center project. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COMMITTEE REPORTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson M. Rave to place on file the minutes of the October 12, 2023 Airport Commission meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to place on file the minutes of the January 4, 2024 Business Improvement District (BID) Board meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Olson to approve the minutes of the January 17, 2024 Committee of the Whole meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Dougherty, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to place on file the minutes of the January 18, 2024 Hiring Committee meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson M. Rave, seconded by Alderperson Olson to place on file the minutes of the January 29, 2024 Utility Commission meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alderperson Travis Brown submitted a letter of resignation from the Common Council effective January 30, 2024. Alderperson Brown served on the Hiring Committee which is actively recruiting for two department head positions. Therefore, the Mayor needs to appoint another Alderperson to this committee and recommends Alderperson Justin Dougherty. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster, seconded by Alderperson Ammann to approve the Mayor’s appointment of Alderperson Justin Dougherty to the Hiring Committee. Motion carried 5-1 with Alderperson Dougherty abstaining. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Hiring Committee recommends a change to the Chief of Police/Criminal Investigator job description to add “or equivalent” to the requirement for an Associate’s Degree under Education and Experience Requirements. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Dougherty, seconded by Alderperson Wussow to approve the revised job description for the Chief of Police/Criminal Investigator job description as presented. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Olson to disallow the Claim for excessive assessment from Gross Brothers Enterprises, LLC for parcel 206-2214.0000. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to disallow the Claim for excessive assessment from Gross Brothers Enterprises, LLC for parcel 206-2214.0045. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Dougherty, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to convene in to closed session for the purpose of considering a proposed amendment to the Development Agreement with S.C. Swiderski, LLC and considering a Memorandum of Understanding with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department which is authorized under Section 19.85(1)(e) of the Wisconsin Statutes and confer with legal counsel regarding a proposed settlement agreement for multiple Gross Brothers Enterprises, LLC v City of BRF cases which is authorized under Section 19.85(1)(g) of the Wisconsin Statutes. Motion carried at 6:13pm. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 1 of 2 It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson M. Rave to reconvene in to open session to take or announce action, if any and if appropriate. Motion carried at 6:55pm. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Mayor announced to those present and on-line that the Council was back in open session. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Dougherty, seconded by Alderperson M. Rave to approve the Settlement Agreement for multiple Gross Brothers Enterprises, LLC cases as presented with changes as discussed in closed session. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson M. Rave to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department with the changes discussed in closed session. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Olson, seconded by Alderperson Wussow to approve the First Amendment to the Development Agreement with SC Swiderski, LLC as presented. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Olson, seconded by Alderperson Dougherty to adjourn. Motion carried at 6:58pm. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. Brad Chown City Administrator Page 2 of 2