Special Common Council Meeting

The Common Council met in special session at City Hall in the City of Black River Falls on September 18, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. Alderpersons Gearing-Lancaster, Ammann, Peloquin, Dougherty, and Busse were present. Alderperson E. Rave attended remotely via Zoom meetings. Alderpersons Wussow and M. Rave were excused. Mayor J. Eddy presided. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ Mayor Eddy presented Letters of Recognition to Henry Meek, Owen Zenz, and Bella Rowen for their outstanding lifesaving efforts on August 21, 2024 to prevent a drowning at the Hoffman Aquatic Center. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster, seconded by Alderperson Dougherty to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the September 3, 2024 Common Council meeting and approve as presented. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ CITIZENS IN ATTENDANCE There were 10 citizens in attendance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ COMMITTEE REPORTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson Peloquin to place on file the minutes of the September 11, 2024 Historic Preservation Commission meeting. Motion carried. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------- The Department Head monthly reports were reviewed. Department heads present were Darryl Nelson, Jarod Meyer, Jody Stoker, Travis Brown, Cara Hart, and Brad Chown. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Dougherty, seconded by Alderperson Peloquin to approve the Police Department’s request to purchase equipment for the new squad. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to approve the Police Department’s request to purchase a new Dell Latitude 5430 rugged laptop for the new squad at a cost of up to $3,000. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Dougherty, seconded by Alderperson Ammann to invoice the property owner at 919 Fillmore Street in the amount of $1,194.00 for property abatement. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to approve revisions to the TIF VI Façade Improvement Grant application removing the requirement for commencing work within 60 days of award and adding language requiring the work to be complete within 1 year of the award. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ There was lengthy discussion on the exercise of options to extend the contract with Abby Vans, Inc for 1 year for shared-ride taxi service. The paperwork to do so requires confirmation that the rates are fair and reasonable, and a list of comparable service provider rates shows our transit system paying one of the highest rates in the state. 2025 rate would be $50.33 per hour while most other systems will be paying between $30 and $40 per hour. The City received three responses to the RFP for the shared-ride service 2 years ago and the rates received then were $44.27, $49.10, and $49.50 which the State deemed fair and reasonable at that time. The Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission is finishing the public transit study they were contracted to perform. The Council will review the study when available and have further discussions on the exercise of options for the shared-ride taxi service. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson Dougherty to approve ORDINANCE 890 – an ordinance annexing certain land from the Town of Brockway. Motion carried. The ordinance is available at City Hall and will be published as a Class I notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ ORDINANCE 891 – a Charter Ordinance amending Section 4(4.) of Charter Ordinance 824 regarding the number of limited term part-time Patrol Officers was presented for 1st reading. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson Busse to approve the amended Mayor’s Appointments as presented. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ Page 1 of 2 It was moved by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster, seconded by Alderperson Peloquin to approve vouchers for August 2024 Check #74404 - #74526 totaling $323,259.85. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Peloquin, seconded by Alderperson Dougherty to approve the City Treasurer’s Report for August 2024. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson E. Rave, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to approve the Revenue & Expense Report for August 2024. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson Peloquin to adjourn. Motion carried at 6:47pm. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ A. Brad Chown City Administrator Page 2 of 2