November 2024 Council Meeting

COLBY COMMON COUNCIL November 4, 2024 Page 1 The Budget Hearing for the 2025 Budget was called to order by Mayor Schmidt at 6:15 P.M. No citizens were present for the hearing. The Mayor reviewed the 2025 budget. The City’s levy in the 2025 budget is $800,000.00 and total General Fund Expenditures are $1,893,145.00. Clerk Gurtner reported that we will qualify for the expenditure restraint program with this proposed budget. Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Hesgard to adjourn the budget hearing at 6:27 P.M. Motion carried with a voice vote. The regular meeting of the Colby Common Council was called to order at 6:32 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, Susan Badtke from WCWRPC and Colby Superintendent Patrick Galligan. Agenda was posted by the clerk. The agenda will stand as the order of the meeting. Minutes of the October 1st meeting minutes were pre-read and reviewed. Motion was made by Hesgard, seconded by Hederer to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried with a voice vote. Financial Statement and Bills were discussed. Motion was made Schmidt, seconded by O’Brien to approve the financial statement and bills. The amounts approved are as follows: General Fund $93,579.38; Capital Fund $1,388.80; Water Department $29,454.38; Sewer Department $25,205.46; TIF Fund $2,180.58; Net payroll $26,366.58. Motion carried with a voice vote. Public Comment: Colby/Abbotsford Police Commission met on October 21st. The commission approved minutes and expenditures. Chief's Report: K-9 Hemi was deployed six times in September, resulting in two arrests. Chief Bowman summarized a K-9 training exercise held September 10. Eight K-9's and eight officers from area police departments participated in the event. Chief Bowman said he was looking into having a therapy dog program at Abbotsford and Colby schools. He said a person in the Medford area trains labradoodles for this service. Currently, staff people from the schools bring a dog into the schools on occasion. More information will be gathered for discussion at the next CAPC meeting. Chief Bowman said Detective Christian Lemay has been working drug cases in the region with the West Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force. There are 10 officers involved in Task Force activities. The group meets together on the third Thursday of each month at the Altoona Police Department. Chief Bowman said CAPD officers have been proactive in cracking down on drugs, which many times begins with a traffic stop. There were 1,003 total CAPD COLBY COMMON COUNCIL November 4, 2024 Page 2 activities reported for the month of September. There have been 8,093 total CAPD activities reported for the first nine months of 2024, compared to 6,252 activities for the first nine months of 2023. The commission met in closed session. The commission voted to recommend to the Abbotsford and Colby city councils a raise of $2.00 per hour for Police Secretary Jessica Weich, effective January 1, 2025. This action increases her wage rate to $28.09 per hour, which includes the $3.00 per hour contribution from Abbyland Foods. Motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by Hederer to approve the recommendation. Motion carried with a voice vote. The commission voted to recommend to the Abbotsford and Colby city councils a raise of $2.00 per hour for Lieutenant James Wagner, effective January 1, 2025. This action increases his wage rate to $36.60 per hour, which includes the $3.00 per hour contribution from Abbyland Foods. Motion was made by O’Brien, seconded by Lindeman to approve the recommendation. Motion carried with a voice vote. The commission voted to recommend to the Abbotsford and Colby city councils a raise of $2.00 per hour for Police Chief Alex Bowman, effective January 1, 2025. This action increases his wage rate to $42.02 per hour, which includes the $3.00 per hour contribution from Abbyland Foods. Motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by Hesgard to approve the recommendation. Motion carried with a voice vote. Central Fire & EMS District met on October 17th The commission approved minutes and the treasurer’s report. Carol Staab read the thank you letter that will be sent to the family of Pearl Vorland for the donation made in her memory changing the signage on the 3 stations reflecting the unified name of Central Fire & EMS District. Chief Mueller presented his monthly report. Chief Mueller stated that the Holiday Gathering has been scheduled for December 18, 2024. City Planning Committee met on November 4th. The public hearing portion of the meeting was started. Susan Badtke presented the 2024-2044 Draft Comprehensive Plan to the committee and council. Those present for the hearing discussed the plan and comments were positive. The committee voted to approve the minutes from September 16, 2024 as presented. COLBY COMMON COUNCIL November 4, 2024 Page 3 The committee approved Resolution 7-2024 – A Resolution of the City of Colby Planning Committee Recommending Common Council Adoption of The City of Colby Comprehensive Plan 2024-2044. Motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by Hederer to approve Ordinance 2024-4 An Ordinance to Adopt the City of Colby Comprehensive Plan 2024-2044 as presented and published. Motion carried with a voice vote. Mayor Schmidt: Mayor Schmidt reported on his meeting of the Clark County Economic Development meeting. He also informed the council that Francis Melvin has filed a lawsuit against the City of Colby in relation to the N 2nd Street Project. DPW Higley: The following building permits were issued: Cira Cano, 500 S Main St, paint, flooring & kitchen cabinets; Mike Hryndej, 408 S Main St, new garage; Colby Metal, 701 Industrial Dr, 8,000 SF building addition; Andrea Gluch, 206 E Clark St, gutter installation; Veronica Graebel, 308 S Main St, tearing down house; James Schmidt, 201 S 6th St, eve helmets. DPW Higley reported on the precipitation and flows for October 2024 at the STP. He also reported on the pumpage of water for October 2024. He reported that there was another water leak on N 2nd Street – it was the watermain. Operator’s Licenses: Liz Baumgartner, 305 S East St, Colby; Rita White, W2339 Cloverdale Rd, Colby. Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Lindeman to approve the operator’s licenses as presented. Motion carried with a voice vote. Liquor License – OK Corral Ballroom LLC, 506 N Division St, Colby: Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Hesgard to approve the Class B Combination license for O. K. Corral Ballroom LLC for 506 N Division St, Colby. Motion carried with a voice vote. Resolution 6-2024 Adopting City of Colby 2025 Budget and 2024 Tax Levy: The budget was discussed during the budget hearing. Motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by O’Brien to approve the City of Colby Resolution 6-2024 as presented. Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Baumgartner, Hederer, Hesgard, Lindeman, O’Brien, Schmidt. Motion carried. Committee meetings for November: Colby-Abbotsford Police Commission will meet on November 11, 2024 at 6:30 P.M. at the Police Department. Personnel/Labor Relations will meet on November 6, 2024 at 5:00 PM. Central Fire & EMS District will meet on November 21, 2024 at 7:00 P.M. at Station 2. COLBY COMMON COUNCIL November 4, 2024 Page 4 Adjourn: Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Lindeman to adjourn at 7:07 P.M. Motion carried with a voice vote. Approved _____________________ James W Schmidt, Mayor Attest _________________________ Connie Gurtner, Clerk