Common Council

CITY OF DARLINGTON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS MARCH 3, 2026 The meeting was called to order by Mayor McDermott at 7:00 PM. Present at roll call were: Kerry Black, Joe Boll, Cindy Corley, Dave Roelli, John Sonsalla, and Steve Pickett. Absent: None. Also present were: Dave Lindecker, Attorney Stauffacher, Dan Dreessens with Delta 3 Engineering, Inc., Andrew Kurtz, Szvon Conway, Cale Jackson, Leona Havens, Bob Hermanson, Joe Keyes, Janet Trout, and Amy Johnson. Motion by Sonsalla, seconded by Pickett, the meeting notice and agenda were properly posted. Motion carried. Motion by Pickett, seconded by Corley, to approve the minutes of previous meetings. Motion carried. Under reports, comments, suggestions, and recommendations of citizens present, Cale Jackson the Superintendent of Darlington Community School District, presented information regarding the proposed referendum that the Darlington Community School District will have on the April 7, 2026, Spring Election ballot. The Council thanked him for the information. Under new business, it was agreed to move agenda item “h” to the first agenda item. Discussion was held concerning the following recommendations from the Plan Commission: • Certified survey map approval request from The Driver Opera House. Mayor McDermott stated the Plan Commission is recommending approval of the certified survey map as presented. After discussion and consideration, motion by Roelli, seconded by Black, to accept the Plan Commission recommendation and approve the certified survey map from The Driver Opera House as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. • Approval of Resolution 2026-04 - A Resolution Approving Tax Increment District No. 8 Amendment No. 2. After discussion and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Sonsalla to approve Resolution 2026-04 – A Resolution Approving Tax Increment District No. 8 Amendment No. 2 as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Andrew Kurtz then left the meeting. The meeting returned to normal agenda order. Discussion was held concerning proposed Resolution 2026-03, A Resolution Designating a World Migratory Bird Day. A copy of the proposed resolution was included in the agenda packet. After review and consideration, motion by Corley, seconded by Boll, to approve Resolution 2026-03, A Resolution Designating a World Migratory Bird Day as presented. Motion carried. Janet Trout attended the meeting to present the 2025 Johnson Public Library Annual Report. A copy of the annual report was included in the agenda packet. Janet highlighted several sections of the report and answered questions from those present. The Council commended Janet on how well the programs and circulations are doing at the Library and thanked her for her time. Janet then left the meeting. Discussion was then held concerning an exemption request received regarding Ordinance 12.015 Residency and Loitering Restrictions for Sex Offenders. Chief Conway stated that he received an exemption request from a registered sex offender who moved within a 750 foot safety zone that was created with Ordinance 12.015. Several questions and concerns were discussed about the exemption request. After consideration and discussion, motion by Roelli, seconded by Black to deny the exemption request as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Discussion was also held concerning the bids received for the Walnut Ridge Subdivision Project. A copy of the bid tabulations was included in the agenda packet. Dan Dreessens from Delta 3 Engineering, Inc., attended the meeting to present information and answer any questions. Bids were requested for Phase One and for Phase Two. The City can either choose to complete Phase One for now and then obtain updated bids for Phase Two at a future date. Funding for the project will be obtained through loan funds. • Five bids were received for Contract #4 – Phase One. The two lowest bidders were Owen’s Excavating and Trenching, Inc. from Hazel Green, WI, who submitted the lowest bid for the amount of $731,844.23, and Rule Construction, Ltd, from Dodgeville, WI, who submitted the second lowest bid for the amount of $860,430.75. After discussion and consideration, motion by Boll, seconded by Pickett, to approve Owen’s Excavating and Trenching, Inc’s bid for the amount of $731,844.23. All ayes. Motion carried. • Five bids were received for Contract #4 – Phase One. The two lowest bidders were Owen’s Excavating and Trenching, Inc. from Hazel Green, WI, who submitted the lowest bid for the amount of $771,655.67, and Rule Construction, Ltd, from Dodgeville, WI, who submitted the second lowest bid for the amount of $897,893.25. After discussion and consideration, motion by Boll, seconded by Roelli, to approve Owen’s Excavating and Trenching, Inc’s bid for the amount of $771,655.67. All ayes. Motion carried. There will be final estimates to be presented at a later date for approval for the installation of electric and natural gas for each phase of the project. Mr. Dreessens then presented the Plat for the Walnut Ridge Subdivision. The Plat will be presented to the Plan Commission at the next meeting for approval along with resolutions for naming a street and changing a street name, and discussion about possible covenants and lot prices. Discussion was then held concerning a cash farm lease contract for cropland for land the City owns within the City’s TID. This is for cropland that was previously used by the Bahr family. The lease contract would be with Bret Doyle for the 2026 crop year for 15 acres in the amount of $300.00 per acre or an annual payment of $4500.00, which sum shall be paid in full by Mr. Doyle before April 1, 2026. After consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Sonsalla, to approve the cash farm lease contract as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Discussion was held concerning the following recommendation from the Finance and Personnel Committee: • Approval of the updates to the City of Darlington Handbook. Motion by Pickett, second by Roelli to approve the recommendation from the Finance and Personnel Committee as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Motion by Roelli, seconded by Black, to approve the following February 2026 vouchers: City ACH Vouchers #392 thru #413 in the amount of 177,918.28; City vouchers #47356 thru #47434 in the amount of $896,771.96; Direct Deposit Payroll vouchers #16000 thru #16063 in the amount of $74,946.38; Library ACH voucher #21 thru #22 in the amount of $5,675.70; Library vouchers #6546 thru #6551 in the amount of $1,905.92; Sewer Dept. ACH voucher #38 in the amount of $1,416.72; Sewer Dept. vouchers #8391 thru #8411 in the amount of $37,619.89; Water Dept. ACH voucher #55 in the amount of $1,416.72; Water Dept. vouchers #7784 thru #7802 in the amount of $48,175.83. Motion carried. Under reports of committees, Alderperson Joe Boll reported on the Park and Recreation Commission meeting held on February 25, 2026. There being no further business for this meeting, motion by Corley, seconded by Roelli, to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 PM. Motion carried. CITY OF DARLINGTON Amy L. Johnson, Clerk-Treasurer