Special Common Council Meeting

The Common Council met in special session at City Hall in the City of Black River Falls on March 19, 2025 at 6:00 P.M. Alderpersons Gearing-Lancaster and Busse were present. Alderpersons Wussow, Ammann, Peloquin, M. Rave, E. Rave, and Dougherty attended remotely via Zoom meetings. Mayor J. Eddy attended remotely via Zoom meetings and presided. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the March 4, 2025 Common Council meeting and approve as presented. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ CITIZENS IN ATTENDANCE There were no citizens in attendance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson M. Rave, seconded by Alderperson Dougherty to place on file the minutes of the March 5, 2025 Ad Hoc Branding Committee meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ The Department Head monthly reports were reviewed. Department heads present were Jody Stoker, Darryl Nelson, Travis Brown, and Brad Chown. Jarod Meyer attended remotely via Zoom meetings. Cara Hart was excused. 1. The Fire Chief advised new part-time EMT’s being onboarded and the EMS schedule has been full. 2. The Police Chief addressed questions regarding recruitment for the open Patrol Officer positions. The Chief has one application he is reviewing now but not receiving qualified candidates. This is not unique to our department, and the new normal appears to be agencies hiring uncertified candidates and sponsoring those candidates through the course so this may be something we need to consider. 3. The Parks & Recreation Director provided an update on the Marks Field Project. Initial cost estimate was $600-800 thousand. The scope has changed, and the new cost estimate is $1.4 million. The donors will fully support the project minus the city funding the water and sewer portion which would be approximately $80,000. This would be an additional rental shelter for the community. The City Administrator agreed the city contributing to the project makes sense and we would get a new, revenue generating facility in the end. The existing septic system could be abandoned allowing the city to possibly expand parking at some point. There were no objections to the city looking at that kind of expense for this project. Once the bids come in the actual amount would come to Council for approval which is expected to be in that $80-100 thousand dollar range. There is almost $100,000 in Parks & Recreation capital reserves and about $30,000 in the ATC reserve fund. Jackson County Little League is planning to establish a maintenance fund for these facilities similar to the fund for the All-Abilities Park. This may be funded with donations and possibly a percentage of Little League registrations and/or a percentage of shelter rentals. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson Peloquin to approve ORDINANCE 892 – an ordinance amending Section 3.11 (1), (2), (3), and (5)(B) of the municipal codes of the city increasing the room tax from 7% to 8%. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ CITY OF BLACK RIVER FALLS ORDINANCE NO. 892 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 3.11 (1), (2), (3) and (5)(B.) OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF BLACK RIVER FALLS, JACKSON COUNTY, WISCONSIN, REGARDING ROOM TAX The Common Council of the City of Black River Falls, Jackson County, Wisconsin, do ordain as follows: SECTION 1. Section 3.11 (1) of the Municipal Code is hereby amended to add AirBnB’s and VRBO’s and similar entities to the list of establishments covered by the definition of “Hotel” “Motel” and/or “Bed & Breakfast.” SECTION 2. Section 3.11 (12) of the Municipal Code is hereby amended to reflect the increase in the room tax from seven percent (7%) to eight percent (8%). SECTION 3. Section 3.11 (3) of the Municipal Code is hereby amended to update the name of the “Tourism Commission” as the “BRF-Brockway Tourism Zone Commission” or “Commission.” Page 1 of 2 SECTION 4. Section 3.11 (5)(B.) of the Municipal Code is hereby amended to refer to the “remaining seven percent (7%) shall be divided” rather than “remaining six percent (6%) shall be divided.” SECTION 5. Severability. The provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed severable and it is expressly declared that the Common Council would have passed the other provisions of this Ordinance irrespective of whether or not one or more provisions may be declared invalid and if any provisions of this Ordinance of the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the remainder of this Ordinance and the application of such provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. SECTION 6. Conflicting ordinances. Ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the above Ordinance are hereby repealed. SECTION 7. Effective date. Upon passage and publication, this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force as provided by law. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson M. Rave, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to approve the application for a Temporary Alcohol Beverage (Picnic) License for the Guardian Angels Parish for a Fish Fry and Bake Sale March 21, 2025 at 407 Main Street. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Dougherty, seconded by Alderperson M. Rave to approve vouchers for February 2025 Check #75170 - #75281 totaling $2,843,731.21. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Peloquin to approve the City Treasurer’s Report for February 2025. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson M. Rave, seconded by Alderperson Dougherty to approve the Revenue & Expense Report for February 2025. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson E. Rave, seconded by Alderperson Busse to adjourn. Motion carried at 6:30pm. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ A. Brad Chown City Administrator Page 2 of 2