December Council Meeting

COLBY COMMON COUNCIL December 5, 2023 Page 1 The regular meeting of the Colby Common Council was called to order at 6:30 P.M. by Mayor James Schmidt. On roll call: O’Brien, T Schmidt, Baumgartner, Hesgard, Hederer and Lindeman. Also present were Mayor James Schmidt, Clerk Connie Gurtner, DPW Harland Higley Jr, Police Chief Jason Bauer and citizens. Agenda was posted by the clerk. The agenda will stand as the order of the meeting. Closed Session Motion was made by Hederer, seconded Hesgard to go into Closed Session. Roll call vote: Yes - Hesgard, O’Brien, Lindeman, Baumgartner, Hederer. No – Schmidt. Motion carried. Closed Session per Wisconsin State Statute 19.85 (1)(c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. PURPOSE: Negotiations to Hire for Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Position Motion was made by O’Brien, seconded by Hesgard to hire Callie Weber and to offer her $24/hours. Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Schmidt to reimburse her the $1,290 for her SHRM certification test, but if she leaves the position in the next three years, she would be required to pay back a prorated portion of this reimbursement. Motion carried with a voice vote. Baumgartner voted no. Motion was made by Hesgard, seconded by Hederer to reconvene into open session. Motion carried with a voice vote. Minutes of the November 7th meeting minutes were pre-read and reviewed. Motion was made by O’Brien, seconded by Hesgard to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried with a voice vote. Financial Statement and Bills were discussed. Motion was made Hederer, seconded by Hesgard to approve the financial statement and bills. The amounts approved are as follows: General Fund $82,598.28; Capital Fund $3,326.60; Water Department $30,184.63; Sewer Department $26,822.95; Net payroll $23,115.02. Motion carried with a voice vote. Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by O’Brien to approve the Francis Melvin Pay App #6 for $56,267.05 & Change Order #1for $3,359.43 for Community Drive. Motion carried with a voice vote. Motion was made by O’Brien, seconded by Lindeman to approve the Francis Melvin Pay App #6 for $86,796.03 Change Order #4 for -$42,389.91 for N 2nd Street. Motion carried with a voice vote. Colby/Abbotsford Police Commission met on October 11th. COLBY COMMON COUNCIL December 5, 2023 Page 2 The commission approved minutes and expenditures. Fund Transfer-Metal Plate Fund to Sick Time Payout Expense: Chief Bauer explained the rationale behind this fund transfer. He said the Metal Plate Fund had a balance of $22,800. president Schmidt noted this has been a normal procedure in the past. The commission voted to recommend to the respective city councils transferring $17,500 from the Metal Plate fund, with $4,500 going to the General Checking Account and $13,000 going to the Sick Time Payout Expense. Motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by Hesgard to approve this recommendation. Motion carried with a voice vote. Chief's Report: Chief Bauer said deployment of the K-9 in October resulted in two arrests. The October and November Activity Report will be reviewed at the December meeting. Chief Bauer said the Colby School Board has approved hiring a full-time School Resource Officer (SRO). He said the Abbotsford School District and the Colby School District would each be responsible for funding 87.5% of the cost for two full-time SRO's, one for each school district. He said a used squad vehicle would be set up for the additional SRO position, noting that a marked unit parked at a school was a good deterrent. He said two patrol officers would have to be hired to fill vacancies created by moving Lieutenant Bowman to the chief's position and a current patrol officer moving to the additional SRO position. Personnel/Labor Relations met on November 13th and 29th. Both meetings were held in closed session to review and interview candidates for the Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Position. Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Hesgard to hire Callie Weber as Deputy Clerk/Treasurer at $24/hours and reimburse her for $1,290 for her SHRM Certification test with an understanding that she will reimburse the city a prorated portion if she leaves the city within the next three years. Motion carried with a voice vote. Central Fire & EMS District met on November 16th. Nancy O’Brien reviewed the activities of the Central Fire & EMS District with the board. Colby Economic Development Corporation met on November 28th. Mayor Schmidt reported on the last meeting. The committee is working getting the by-laws updated at this time. City Planning Committee met on December 5th. COLBY COMMON COUNCIL December 5, 2023 Page 3 Discuss Contact with Kelley Supply to Discuss Potential Development in Industrial Park: The City Council made a motion to aggressively work with Kelley Supply to find additional lots for development in the Industrial Park. The committee suggested contacting Greg Albrecht to ask him to come to a meeting. T Schmidt also asked DPW Higley to research the wetlands in the Industrial Layout of Property Fronting Highway 13 for Potential Development: Clerk Gurtner reviewed the layout of the city’s Hwy 13. The committee approved a preliminary layout of the city’s Hwy 13 lot. Motion was made by O’Brien, seconded by Lindeman to approve the preliminary layout of the city’s lot creating an East/West street of 66’ and a frontage street of 50’. This would leave about 4.6 acres of land that can be used for development. Motion carried with a voice vote. Downtown Commercial Zoning: The city had started the process to change the zoning code for the downtown area about five or ten years ago. The committee discussed if this is something the city would like to pursue this again. The clerk will get working on the maps/zoning ordinance and get the process started. Mayor Schmidt: Mayor Schmidt reported on his meeting of the United Communities of Clark County. Mayor would like to appoint the following as election inspectors for the 2024- 2025 term: Joanne Bartnik, Lee Kaschinska, Charlotte Haines, Janet Gurtner, Sharon Rachu, Bev Fecker, Irene Haas, Karen Winkler, Donna Klemke, Henry Sanchez, Nancy O’Brien, Jessie Polivka, Donna Schmidt, Marlene Kaiser, Jane Holtzhausen, Nancy Swan, Douglas Noyes, Liz Baumgartner, Erin Hennes, Andy Goergen. Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Lindeman to approve the appointments. Motion carried with a voice vote. Motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by Hesgard to approve a $2.00/hour raise for election inspectors. The new rate with be $12/hr for election works and $14/hr for chief inspectors. Motion carried with a voice vote. Clerk Gurtner: Clerk Gurtner reported on her meeting with Centergy, Central WI Alliance for Economic Development. She also reviewed the tax rate with the council. DPW Higley: The following building permits were issued: Peck Roofing, 203 W Dolf St, shingles & ridge vent; Mike Dassow, 606 N Division St, interior remodeling; Mark Weber, 307 S 2nd St, front porch & steps. DPW Higley reported on the precipitation and flows for November 2023 at the STP. He also reported on the pumpage of water for November 2023. Emergency Response Plan for Elections: Motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by O’Brien to approve the City of Colby Election Day Emergency COLBY COMMON COUNCIL December 5, 2023 Page 4 Response Plan as updated on December 5, 2023 and presented. Motion carried with a voice vote. MSA Contract for TID Services: MSA has been helping the city staff with issues including development, interpretation, preliminary planning, and related documentation in the TIF District. Motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by Hesgard to approve the contract with MSA in the amount of $5,000. Motion carried with a voice vote. Ordinance 2023-1 Ordinance Repealing & Recreating Section 432-21: Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Hesgard to approve Ordinance 2023-1 as follows. Motion carried with a voice vote. Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Hesgard to rescind the motion and review all the prohibited zones and discuss next month. Motion carried with a voice vote. Intro of Resolution 7-2023 Vacating of Streets in Rahm Estates: The city has started the process to vacate streets in Rahm Estates. Resolution 7-2023 was introduced tonight. Employee Christmas Gifts: Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Hesgard to give each employee a $50 AbbyColby Crosssings Chamber gift certificates. Motion carried with a voice vote. 2024 Property/Liability/Auto/Workers Comp Renewal: The city received a renewal from Spectrum Insurance Group. An option for no fault sewer was quoted in the policy at $3,253/yr premium. Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Hesgard to approve our Liability, Auto, Building/Equipment, Workers Compensation Insurance with Spectrum Insurance Group – League of WI Municipalities/MPIC at a cost not to exceed $45,781/year which does not include the no fault sewer coverage. Motion carried with a voice vote. Committee meetings for December: Colby-Abbotsford Police Commission will meet on December 11, 2023 at 6:30 P.M. at the Police Department. Central Fire & EMS District will meet on December 21, 2023 at 7:00 P.M. at Station 2. Public Works Committee will meet on December 12, 2023 at 5:00 P.M. Adjourn: Motion was made by O’Brien, seconded by Lindeman to adjourn at 8:01 P.M. Motion carried with a voice vote. Approved _____________________ James W Schmidt, Mayor Attest _________________________ Connie Gurtner, Clerk