October 2024 Council Meeting

COLBY COMMON COUNCIL October 1, 2024 Page 1 The regular meeting of the Colby Common Council was called to order at 6:39 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 and DPW Higley. Agenda was posted by the clerk. The agenda will stand as the order of the meeting. Minutes of the September 9th meeting minutes were pre-read and reviewed. Motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by Hederer to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried with a voice vote. Financial Statement and Bills were discussed. Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by O’Brien approve the financial statement and bills. The amounts approved are as follows: General Fund $160,760.40; Capital Fund $408,743.71; Water Department $24,743.45; Sewer Department $21,727.2; TIF Fund $19,970.04; Net payroll $26,620.98. Motion carried with a voice vote. Pay Request #4 For Haas Sons: Motion was made by Hesgard, seconded by Hederer to approve pay request #4 for Haas Sons for Venzke Dr and E Frontage Rd in the amount of $138,889.02. Motion carried with a voice vote. Colby/Abbotsford Police Commission met on September 9th. Minutes and Expenditures were approved by the commission. 2025 CAPD Budget: The 2025 CAPD Budget was reviewed. Chief Bowman explained details and answered several questions. The commission voted to recommend the 2025 CAPD Budget to the Abbotsford and Colby city councils for approval, adding $15,000 to the proposed budget Auto Fund line item. After various revenue sources are applied, the total 2025 CAPD Budget of $1,307,676 will require contributions of $556,155 from the City of Abbotsford and $411,073 from the City of Colby. Motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by O’Brien to approve the proposed 2025 CAPD Budget as presented. Motion carried with a voice vote. Chief's Report: K-9 Hemi was deployed six times in July, resulting in two arrests. Chief Bowman said Officer Fuentes was making 10 to 15 traffic stops per shift. He provided details about a recent suicide in the City of Colby. There were 972 total CAPD activities reported for the month of August. There have been 7,090 total CAPD activities reported for the first eight months of 2024, compared to 5,409 activities for the first eight months of 2023. Commendations to Lt. Wagner, Det. Lemay, Officer English and Officer Fuentes: Chief Bowman presented commendations to each officer for their actions in response to a double homicide that occurred July 5, 2024 in the City of COLBY COMMON COUNCIL October 1, 2024 Page 2 Abbotsford. Many family members attended the ceremony. A lunch sponsored by Smith Brothers Meats and Colby Chrysler was enjoyed after the CAPC meeting adjourned. City Planning Committee met on September 16th. Susan Badtke went through the next steps and process for the 2024-2044 Comprehensive Plan. She asked the committee to make any suggestions for specific plan changes. Susan asked the committee if they are comfortable with the draft to move forward with the public hearing with this draft. The committee is satisfied with the draft after a few changes that were discussed. The next step is a public hearing and one that is complete, action from the City Planning committee on a resolution. The final step is an ordinance adopted by the full council. Next Steps and Meeting Date: Susan will complete the requested changes to the draft and prepare documents for the hearing notice. The public hearing will be held on November 4, 2024 at 6:00 PM. Public Works Committee met on September 18th. 2025 Budget: DPW Higley went over all the reoccurring annual budget items listing off the amount that is planned to be budgeted for each in 2025. Wish List – crack/chip seal, N 4th Street, N 5th Street, and West Carol Street between 4th and 5th Street ($45,000), tractor backhoe ($150,000, without a trade in), finish mower ($6,000), mill off S 3rd Street from Clark Street to Broadway Street ($78,000), seal fire hall ($1,760),south parking lot by cafe ($950), north parking lot by cafe ($1,050), engineering for East Street ($154,500), new tool box ($3,000). DPW Higley stated that the funds to purchase his wish list items, if approved, would need to be borrowed. Hederer suggested putting the milling of S 3rd Street on hold until 2026. Decision was made by the committee to move the cost to seal the fire hall ($1,760), south parking lot by café ($950), and north parking lot by café ($1,050) into off street parking lots in the general budget. Parks/Rec/Recycling Committee met on September 18th. Public Comment: Wade Oehmichen attended to make a few suggestions for improvements to the S 6th Street Park that he noticed during his volleyball league over the summer. He requested an additional net curtain in the pine trees by court, court 3 lighting- court is dark once the sun goes down, would like another light pole so the court can be used past dark, ruts on soccer field to the east of the hill filled with sand and grated in to level the surface so they can have sand and grass volleyball tournaments, parking lot on east side of the hill. COLBY COMMON COUNCIL October 1, 2024 Page 3 2024 Budget Updates: $17,160 of the $25,000 that was budgeted for capital in 2024 has been utilized. Some of the items purchased include picnic tables and lights. DPW Higley stated that $4,000-$5,000 was designated for painting, but he would like to carry that over for a new roof at the food shelter. 2025 Budget: Wish List – New roof & gables for food shelter on 1st Street ($12,410), court 3 curtain & lighting ($1,000), seal basketball court ($1,000), parking lot & lawn restoration ($10,600), heavy duty floor cabinet for S 6th Street Park ($2,400), cameras on S 6th Street Park and Ballpark. The committee voted to approve the 2025 budget of $25,000 plus $3,000 carry over from 2024. Central Fire & EMS District met on September 19th. Nancy O’Brien reported on the meeting of Central Fire & EMS. Finance Committee met on October 1st. Clerk Gurtner started by reviewing the entire 2025 budget with the committee. The proposed property tax levy for 2025 is $800,000, with an allowable levy of $850,871. The general fund/capital budget deficit is $505,851. General Fund operating budget deficit is $89,351. Required General Fund operating budget cut to qualify for Expenditure Restraint Aid is $19,596.00 (allowable increase is CPI determination of 3.2% of net expenses without debt payments). Some suggestions – Utilize Designated Funds outside of Fire Hall Maintenance of $167,386.99, Move Off Street Parking to Capital Budget of $3,760.00, Look to cut about $16,240.00 in other areas of operating budget, Borrow to balance the Capital Budget. NOTE: Loan #17 - final payment is due in 2025 of approximately $63,000, then the next loan final due date is 2029. DPW Higley suggested decreasing the top dress/crack fill budget from $45,000 to $25,000 for 2025. Board of Review met on September 5th. Assessor Schmidt reviewed a summary of the 2024 values for the City of Colby. The city had an increase of assessed value in the city of $49,607,000. Clark County assessment ratio is 100.05% and Marathon County assessment ratio is 101.09%. The board began reviewing the 2024 Marathon County Assessment Roll at 4:15 PM for errors/omissions. The committee took a break to listen to the testimony COLBY COMMON COUNCIL October 1, 2024 Page 4 for the objection from Jason and Samantha Penry at 4:25 PM. The Marathon County roll was completed at 5:31 PM. The board began review of the 2024 Clark County Assessment roll at 4:42 PM for errors/omissions. The Clark County roll was read until we adjourned at 6:00 PM. During the review of both Assessments Rolls improvements and sales were discussed. Jason and Samantha Penry filed an objection to the Board of Review. They are asking the board to consider an assessment change from $381,900 to $300,000 for the property at 507 N 5th St, parcel #211.0245.003. Clerk Gurtner swore in both Jason and Samantha Penry to testify. The committee discussed the value in detail and compared the value to others in the city. The committee voted to keep the assessed value of the property at $381,900. Clerk Gurtner will send notice as soon as the post office is open for business tomorrow. Mayor Schmidt: Mayor Schmidt reported on his meeting of the United Communities of Clark County. He informed the council that the city was awarded an Urban Forestry Grant in the amount of approximately $47,000. Mayor Schmidt appointed Ruth Krueger and Kris Woik as Election Inspectors. Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Hesgard to approve the appointments. Motion carried with a voice vote. DPW Higley: The following building permits were issued: Allison Gosh, 316 N 7th St, fence; Sharon Laessig, 408 S 2nd St, water line repair, fix foundation, windows, doors, siding, roof; Dr Mike Schaefer & Deborah Schaefer, 401 N 2 nd St, remodel bathroom; Jennifer Hoes, 700 W Carol St, driveway; Tim & Becky Folz, 501 W Washington St, siding and deck repairs; Zion Lutheran Church/Early Childhood Center, 301 N 2nd St, playground repairs/fence; Merlin Schaefer, 503 S Main St, new garage and roof replacement; Pam Raske, 400 S Division St, fence; Mark Weber, 307 S 2nd St, replace siding and concrete patio; Colby Hispanic 7th Day Adventist Church, 207 W Clark St, roof. DPW Higley reported on the precipitation and flows for September 2024 at the STP. He also reported on the pumpage of water for September 2024. Alcohol Beverage License: DMG Hospitality at 1210 N Division Street has applied for a Class “B” Beer license to have a trucker lounge inside of the existing premise of the Colby Travel Stop. Clerk Gurtner contacted Zac Dolan at the Wisconsin Division of Alcohol Beverages and reviewed those responses with the council. Mike Buck from Diversified Management Group reviewed the concerns and explained the intent of the new lounge. Motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by Hesgard to approve the license as presented from DMG Hospitality at 1210 N Division St. Motion carried with a voice vote. COLBY COMMON COUNCIL October 1, 2024 Page 5 Picnic License – Colby Lion’s Club Bingo 10/8,11/12,12/10,1/14,2/11,3/11: Motion was made by Hesgard, seconded by Hederer to approve the picnic license for the Colby Lion’s Club Bingo for the dates requested. Motion carried with a voice vote. Designate Trick or Treat Hours: Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Hesgard to designate trick or treat hours for October 31st from 4 PM to 7 PM. Motion carried with a voice vote. Committee meetings for October: Colby-Abbotsford Police Commission will meet on October 21, 2024 at 6:30 P.M. at the Police Department. Central Fire & EMS District will meet on October 17, 2024 at 7:00 P.M. at Station 2. Personnel/Labor Relations Committee will meet on November 6, 2024 at 5:00 PM. Adjourn: Motion was made by Hederer, seconded by Lindeman to adjourn at 7:34 PM. Motion carried with a voice vote. Approved _____________________ James W Schmidt, Mayor Attest _________________________ Connie Gurtner, Clerk