Common Council Meeting

The Common Council met at City Hall in the City of Black River Falls on March 4, 2025 at 6:00 P.M. Alderpersons Gearing-Lancaster, Ammann, Peloquin, and Busse were present. Alderpersons Wussow and Dougherty attended remotely via Zoom meetings. Alderpersons M. Rave and E. Rave were excused. Mayor J. Eddy presided. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Peloquin, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to dispense with the reading of the minutes of February 4, 2025 Common Council meeting and approve as presented. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ CITIZENS IN ATTENDANCE There were 4 citizens in attendance, 1 in person and 3 via Zoom meetings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ COMMITTEE REPORTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to approve the minutes of the February 19, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ The Committee of the Whole met at City Hall in the City of Black River Falls on February 19, 2025 at 6:00 P.M. Alderpersons Gearing-Lancaster, Wussow, Ammann, Peloquin, Dougherty, and Busse were present. Alderpersons M. Rave and E. Rave were absent. Mayor Jay Eddy presided. 1. There were two citizens in attendance. 2. The Department Head monthly reports were reviewed. Department heads present were Jody Stoker, Darryl Nelson, Jarod Meyer, Travis Brown, Cara Hart, and Brad Chown. 3. The City Administrator distributed six options for a new City logo to replace the City Seal that is currently being used. 4. It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson Wussow to approve the Fire Department’s request to sell the 1996 Pierce 65-Foot Quint (Engine 13). Motion carried. 5. It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to recognize the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) as the representative for the non-supervisory, full-time members of Black River Falls Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Motion carried. 6. The Parks & Recreation Director advised the Winter Frostival event at the Lunda Community Park went well and there was a good turnout. He thanked Parks & Recreation staff members Dain Crawford and Greg Kohler for their efforts for this event. 7. It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson Dougherty to approve the Parks & Recreation Department’s request to purchase and install playground equipment at Marks Field with surfacing option #2 at a cost of $110,276.00 with the understanding the cost will be covered by a local donor. Motion carried. 8. It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Peloquin to approve the Agency Endowment Fund Agreement with the Black River Falls Area Foundation establishing the City of BRF All Abilities Park Fund. Motion carried. 9. It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson Wussow to approve the vouchers for December 2024 Check #74914 - #75059 Totaling $461,336.69. Motion carried. 10. It was moved by Alderperson Peloquin, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to approve the City Treasurer’s Report for December 2024. Motion carried. 11. It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Dougherty to approve the Revenue & Expense Reports for December 2024. Motion carried. Page 1 of 3 12. It was moved by Alderperson Dougherty, seconded by Alderperson Busse to approve vouchers for January 2025 Check #75061 - #75169 Totaling $1,508,081.47, noting Check #75060 was a manual payroll check. Motion carried. 13. It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson Wussow to approve the City Treasurer’s Report for January 2025. Motion carried. 14. It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson Dougherty to approve the Revenue & Expense Reports for January 2025. Motion carried. 15. It was moved by Alderperson Peloquin, seconded by Alderperson Wussow to adjourn. Motion carried at 6:58pm. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Peloquin to place on file the minutes of the February 24, 2025 Utility Commission meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson Ammann to approve the Mayor’s appointment of Blanche Thoreson to the Library Board with term expiring in 2027. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ Mayor Eddy announced his appointment of a special ad hoc Branding Committee to develop a new logo and branding guidelines for the City. Members are Mayor Jay Eddy, City Administrator Brad Chown, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Gunn, Back River Health Marketing Director Al Chaney, and Ho-Chunk Gaming Black River Falls Graphic Artist Nora Young. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster, seconded by Alderperson Dougherty to approve the Application for Payment #3 from Haas Sons, Inc for release of final retainage of $11,726.75 for the Buchanan Street project. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to approve the application for a Temporary Alcohol Beverage (Picnic) License for Black River Falls Athletic Boosters for the Falls Taste Fest May 3, 2025 at 388 Melrose Street (Milt Lunda Memorial Arena). Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Busse to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement with the Town of Brockway increasing the Room Tax from 7% to 8%. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ ORDINANCE 892 – an ordinance amending Sections 3.11 (1), (2), (3), and (5)(B) of the municipal codes of the City related to Room Tax was presented for 1st reading. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to approve RESOLUTION 2025-01 – a resolution to borrow $250,000 for Washington Street sewer main lining and street reconstruction project in TID #8. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson Peloquin to approve RESOLUTION 2025-02 – a resolution rescinding resident only parking restriction on portion of Fillmore Street and portion of Pierce Street. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ There was discussion on easement requests from Jackson County. There were no objections or concerns with a potential easement for the ATV/UTV trail on parcel 206-2175.000. There were concerns regarding a potential easement for a bike/pedestrian path on parcel 206-2025.0040 as this 30-acre parcel is part of the Certified Site in the Industrial Park and an easement may inhibit the sale of this parcel. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ There was discussion on recent emails received by Council members requesting the City enact a sex offender residency ordinance. City police are made aware when they are released, City PD know where they are residing, no action is taken unless there is an issue, enforcing an ordinance may be difficult, residency restrictions are already part of their probation and parole terms where they cannot be within so many feet of a school or minors. Dominic Goviera was in attendance and spoke in opposition of a sex offender ordinance stating it is almost impossible to house someone who is a sex offender with the current restrictions, believes if restrictions are tightened further we will end up creating a population of unhoused sex offenders that aren’t trackable by anyone. Mr. Goviera did not want his words to be misconstrued as being pro sex offender by any means and believes there needs to be restrictions, but unless there has been an incident that supports Page 2 of 3 tightening the restrictions he doesn’t believe it is worth City resources or time. Alderperson Peloquin would like more information. Mayor Eddy wants to make sure we are not violating their civil rights if they have served their sentence and have been cleared to re-enter the community. Alderperson Busse agreed more discussion is needed and we need more input from individuals like Dominic, downtown business owners, and those that see the real-life activities that are going on. Alderperson Ammann also agreed this is not something we can just jump in to because the restrictions would exclude the entire city. Further discussions should include the Chief of Police, the City Attorney, and we will invite a representative from Probation & Parole. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Ammann to adjourn. Motion carried at 6:47pm. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ A. Brad Chown City Administrator Page 3 of 3