February Council Meeting

COLBY COMMON COUNCIL February 7, 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 and Deputy Clerk Erin Hennes. Agenda was posted by the clerk. The agenda will stand as the order of the meeting. Minutes of the January 3rd meeting minutes were pre-read and reviewed. Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Lindeman to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried with a voice vote. Financial Statement and Bills were discussed. Motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by Hesgard to approve the financial statement and bills. The amounts approved are as follows: General Fund $796,093.92; Capital Fund $4,000.00; Water Department $45,936.38; Sewer Department $38,638.02; Net payroll $25,355.63. Motion carried with a voice vote. Comments from the Public – Jake Brunette, candidate for Clark County Branch Two Judge, attended the meeting to introduce himself and his campaign. Colby/Abbotsford Police Commission met on January 9th. The commission approved minutes and expenditures. 2022 Budget Amendment Approval-Resolution 1-2023: The commission approved 2022 Budget Amendment Resolution 1-2023 as presented. Add revenues of $15,000 from donations to offset the following adjustments in expenses: Salaries, + $14,000; Fuel, + $4,000; Auto Maintenance, + $7,500; State Retirement, + $3,000; Equipment, + $6,000; Liability Insurance, - $4,000; Health Insurance, - $7,000; Worker's Compensation, - $4,000; Computer Software, - $2,000; Building Maintenance, - $1,000; Clothing Vests, - $1,500. Chief's Report: Lieutenant Bowman said the K-9 was deployed nine times in the last month, resulting in 15 arrests. The K-9 deployment in 2022 resulted in 59 total arrests. Bowman said the CAPD had a good month, closing a number of cases and making many arrests. He provided information about a recent vehicle stop and the potential for assets being transferred to the CAPD. There were 825 total CAPD activities reported for the month of December, with a year-to-date total of 9,560, compared to 9,152 total CAPD activities reported for the calendar year 2021. Central Fire & EMS District met on January 19th. Treasurer's Report: Beginning Balance, $164,583.53; Total Receipts, $54,719.95; Total Disbursements, $64,587.47; Ending Balance, $154,716.01; COLBY COMMON COUNCIL February 7, 2023 Page 2 Money Market #1 Account Balance, $361,815.49; Money Market #2 Account Balance, $301,516.10 Bills for Payment: Total bills of $34,202.40 were approved for payment. Public Discussion: Abbotsford Mayor Jim Weix reported that premiums had increased for the fire hall property insurance. 2021 Cost: $ 3,010; 2022 Cost: $2,944; 2023 Cost: $3,617. He said the city would bid out this coverage for next year. President Larry Oehmichen said a credit of $1,306 was received for the cyber insurance coverage premium, as the policy limit was reduced from $250,000 to $50,000. It was reported that the two Fire Associations had purchased four sets of harnesses to be used in rescue situations at the cost of $3,000. Chief Joe Mueller said an auger had been purchased for use in grain bin rescues. Discussion was held about ambulance service in the surrounding areas and the patient intake process at the emergency departments at the Marshfield Medical Center and Aspirus Hospitals. It was noted the annual chili feed fundraiser was scheduled at Station 1 in Colby Saturday, Jan. 28, from 11 am to 3 pm, drive through carryout service only. Chief's Report: Activity 12/15/22 to 01/19/23: EMS calls to service: 24 (835 for 2022); Fire calls to service: 3 (74 for 2022). Chief Mueller said lift assists were not included in the service totals. He said delivery of the new command truck had been pushed back to April/May 2023. The 2% signup project has been completed by the City of Colby and the Town of Hull. Retention money has gone out. Delivery of a new fire truck could be four years from the order date. Chief Mueller said the Truck Committee would meet to discuss future needs. The last engine was purchased from the Pierce Company at the approximate cost of $460,000. City Planning Committee met on January 30th. Permit to Sell Fireworks: Last year the city had issued a permit to Lee Hoernke to sell fireworks in the parking lot at ZB Designs. Our ordinance allows for fireworks to be sold and our attorney had given an opinion stating the same. The concern is that our ordinance states that fireworks must be stored more than 500 feet from a residence. So, that location would not meet that requirement. Clerk Gurtner will contact Lee Hoernke and let him know that they would need to pick a new location. Motion made by Schmidt, seconded by Hederer to approve firework permit for Lee Hoernke, with conditions that they operate within the city ordinance. Motion carried with voice vote. Discontinuing Grantee CDBG-Housing RLF Program: Barb Gabrielson from BG & Associates had contacted Clerk Gurtner about the discontinuation of the city’s CDBG-Housing RLF Program. The city currently has $36,700 in our checking account. The money would be distributed to the state and awarded using a regional program. The city has approximately $200,000 in outstanding loans and COLBY COMMON COUNCIL February 7, 2023 Page 3 that money would be sent to the state when paid back to the city. Clerk Gurtner did talk to our auditors and Lucas Dorn said that most smaller municipalities are closing their programs. Clerk Gurtner recommends closing the fund and sending the remaining money to the Wisconsin DOA/DEHCR. The commission voted to recommend to the council to discontinue the Grantee CDBG-Housing RLF Program. Motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by O’Brien to discontinue the Grantee CDBG-Housing RFL Program as recommended by the committee. Motion carried with a voice vote. Resolution 2-2023 Adjusting Fees for the UDC Inspections: Robert Christensen of CSC Services does UDC inspections for the city. He contacted the city asking to adopt his new fees. The fees for the construction covered by the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code are as follows. The committee voted to recommend approval of Resolution 2-2023 to council. Motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by O’Brien to approve Resolution 2-2023 as follows. Motion carried with a voice vote. Resolution 2-2023 Resolution for the City of Colby to adjust the fees allowed for the construction of or addition to dwellings covered under the Ordinance Chapter 203 adopting the Uniform Dwelling Code. The fees for the construction covered by the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code are as follows: Site Constructed $400.00 for the first 800 sq. ft. of finished space $0.30/sq. ft. of additional finished space $0.10/sq. ft. of unfinished space Modular Homes Base Fee plus fees for other improvements Building Permit Seal $30.00 Additional Inspections $50.00 per inspection Reinspection Fees $50.00 per reinspection Additions to Dwellings Constructed after 6/1/1980 $200.00 plus $0.30/sq ft of additional finished space $0.10/sq. ft. of unfinished space James W Schmidt Connie L Gurtner Vacant Lot Parking Lease with Provision Partners: The city signed an agreement with Harmony Country Coop over 10 years ago and it has expired for the use of a vacant lot owned by the city. The city acquired the lot during the re-construction of Highway 13. The vacant lot parking lease would allow Provision Partners to use and maintain the city’s vacant lot adjacent to the convenient store. The committee made the term of the lease 10 years with an automatic renewal and removed the annual lease payment from the draft. The committee voted to COLBY COMMON COUNCIL February 7, 2023 Page 4 recommend approval of the Vacant Lot Parking Lease with Provision Partners to the council with the noted changes. Motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by Hesgard to approve the Vacant Lot Parking Lease with Provision Partners as presented. Motion carried with a voice vote. Marketing City Owned Property: Jason Lindeman had brought up a suggestion to find someone to promote our city lots. He said that they could possibly get paid commission on a development base rather than sale price. Clerk Gurtner will do a little more research on options available to the city to market our property and have information for the council in April. Parks/Rec/Recycling Committee met on January 30th. Purchasing Banners: The city is looking to purchase new banners for 2023. There was conversation about having banners to honor our veterans. The committee also looked at many different options to go with the veteran’s banners. DPW Higley is going to check on pricing for different styles. Playground Equipment for Infant/Toddler from Big Dreams/Better Communities Grant: Indianhead had applied for funding to get park equipment for communities that have an Indianhead office. We did receive funding and there are two pieces of equipment suggested for use. DPW Higley suggested putting it in the library, but the Librarian was not interested. Discussion was held on putting it in the South 6th Street Park. 2023 Budget: The committee reviewed all the 2023 budget items: pickle ball net/paint, concession stand bathroom paint, trees, lights, and blacktop at S 6th St Park. Public Works Committee met on February 7th. Tractor Bids: The city received two bids for the John Deere 3039R Compact Utility Tractor with snow blower and rotary broom – Riesterer & Schnell for $53,500 and Tractor Central for $58,500. The committee voted to recommend approval of the bid from Riesterer & Schnell in the amount of $53,500. Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Lindeman to approve the recommendation of the bid from Riesterer & Schnell in the amount of $53,500. Motion carried with a voice vote. Highway 13 Utility Project: Mike Stoffel of Ayres and Associates reviewed plans for the water main replacement on Highway 13. There are two options to complete this project – either bursting or directional drilling. Stoffel is suggesting leaving the choice up to the contractor. There aren’t any significant pros or cons to either method. The project should take about 30 days. The project timing will be coordinated with the DOT asphalt replacement project. Ayres submitted paperwork for a safe drinking water loan with potential loan forgiveness. The city COLBY COMMON COUNCIL February 7, 2023 Page 5 will not know if we qualify for funding until September, so the city will have to do temporary borrowing for the project. Bid opening would be the beginning of March in order to get bids for approval by the March meeting. Mayor Schmidt: Mayor Schmidt reported on his meeting of the United Communities of Clark County. Schmidt reported that the city will be sending an annual snow removal letter with a copy of the city ordinance to all affected residents for sidewalk snow removal. This will be sent in fall and will remain in effect through March. We hope to encourage residents to keep their sidewalk clean without interference. He also reported on the death of past council member David Holtzhausen. Deputy Clerk Hennes will send a plant on behalf of the city once arrangements are made. Mayor Schmidt for DPW Higley: The following building permits were issued: none. Mayor Schmidt reported on the precipitation and flows for January 2022 at the STP. He also reported on the pumpage of water for January 2022. Operator’s License: The city received the following operator’s licenses: Sandra Seiler, 824 Community Dr, Colby. Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Hesgard to approve. Motion carried with a voice vote. Picnic License – St. Mary’s Knight of Columbus: The city received the following picnic license – St Mary’s Knights of Columbus Fish Boil/Fry 3/3, 3/17, 3/31. Motion was made by Hesgard, seconded by Lindeman to approve. Motion carried with a voice vote. Committee meetings for February: Colby-Abbotsford Police Commission will meet on February 13, 2023 at 6:30 P.M. at the Police Department. Central Fire & EMS District will meet on February 16, 2023 at 7:00 P.M. at Station 2. The Parks Committee will meet on Monday February 20, 2023 at 6:30 PM. Adjourn: Motion was made by Hederer, seconded Lindeman by to adjourn at 7:15 P.M. Motion carried with a voice vote. Approved _____________________ James W Schmidt, Mayor Attest _________________________ Erin Hennes, Deputy Clerk