Common Council

CITY OF DARLINGTON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS APRIL 7, 2026 The meeting was called to order by Mayor McDermott at 7:00 PM. Present at roll call were: Kerry Black, Dave Roelli, Joe Boll, Cindy Corley, and Steve Pickett. Absent: John Sonsalla. Also present were: Dave Lindecker, Szvon Conway, and Amy Johnson. Motion by Pickett, seconded by Roelli, the meeting notice and agenda were properly posted. Motion carried. Motion by Pickett, seconded by Black, to approve the minutes of previous meetings. Motion carried. Under unfinished business, discussion was held concerning the following recommendations for appointment to the Library Board. Mayor McDermott is recommending to the City Council that it appoint Ashley McCarville as the School District Representative to replace Patti Taylor. After discussion and consideration, motion by Corley, seconded by Roelli, to accept the recommendations from Mayor McDermott, and appoint Ashley McCarville to the Library Board. Motion carried. Under new business, discussion was held concerning the following recommendations of approval from the Finance and Personnel Committee: • Approve the hiring of an applicant for the Seasonal Parks position. Mayor McDermott reported that the committee is recommending the hiring of Chuck Keister for this position, with a starting wage of $15.00 an hour. After discussion and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Sonsalla, to accept the Committee’s recommendation of hiring Chuck Keister as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. • Approve the interim Director of Public Works pay for Jeff McCarthy. Mayor McDermott reported that the committee is recommending an interim pay rate of $41.56 per hour until the position is filled. After consideration, motion by Black, seconded by Corley, to accept the Committee’s recommendation as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Discussion was also held concerning the following recommendations for approval from the Plan Commission: • Approve Resolution 2026-06, A Resolution to Name a City Street. The street is currently known as “Maple Street”. The recommendation was made to name the street “Paul Peterson Drive.” After discussion and consideration, motion Pickett, seconded by Corley, to approve Resolution 2026-06, A Resolution to Name a City Street “Paul Peterson Drive.” All ayes. Motion carried. • Approve Resolution 2026-07, A Resolution to Name a City Street. The recommendation was made to name the street “Bluebird Lane.” After discussion and consideration, motion Pickett, seconded by Corley, to approve Resolution 2026-07, A Resolution to Name a City Street “Bluebird Lane.” All ayes. Motion carried. • Approve the plat for the Walnut Ridge Subdivision. Dan Dreessens attended the meeting to present information and answer questions regarding the plat. After discussion and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Boll, to approve the plat as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. • Approve the lot price recommendation for the Walnut Ridge Subdivision. The Commission is recommending selling the residential lots in the subdivision for $1.50 per square foot. Lot sizes range from 10,625 square feet (.24 acres) to 24,367 square feet (.56 acres). After discussion and consideration, motion by Roelli, seconded by Black, to approve the recommendation as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Discussion was then held concerning the following recommendation from the Park and Recreation Committee. A copy of the meeting minutes was included in the agenda packet.  1. Approve the hiring of summer employees for the Swimming Pool, Parks and Recreation Programs, Concession Stand, and Umpires. Wade Berget attended the meeting to present this request and answer questions. He presented the following list of summer employees for Council approval: • Swimming Pool = Madyson King–Manager, Olivea Winslow–Assistant Manager, Ava Andrae, Addison DePauw, Piper Depauw, Alyza Johnson, Lillian King, Max Martin, Samantha Prescher, Ben Weaver, Madison Welacha, Jerzey Wiegel, Sophie Wiegel, Sydney Wiegel – lifeguards • Summer Parks & Recreation = Anakin Corley, Landon Edgerton, Grady Hartwig, and Brendan Leary • Concession Stand = Anyka Johnson, Izabella Ortega • Parks Seasonal = Jerry Douglas After discussion and consideration, a motion by Pickett, seconded by Boll, to accept the Commission’s recommendation and approve the hiring of the summer employees for the Swimming Pool, Parks and Recreation Programs, and Concession Stand as presented. Motion carried. 2. Approve replacing the playground equipment and swings at the Pecatonica River Trails Park Campground. Copies of the bid from Lee Recreation in the amount of $24,545.00 for the replacement of all swings and playground equipment in the sand area of the campground playground were included in the agenda packet. Wade stated that the project would be funded by the Campground Outlay. After discussion and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Boll, to approve the replacement of the playground equipment and swings at the Pecatonica River Trails Park as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Discussion was also held concerning a proposed Agreement for Professional Services between the City of Darlington and Ayres Associates Inc., for landfill gas monitoring and reporting. A copy of the proposed agreement was included in the agenda packet. Jeff McCarthy attended the meeting to present information and answer questions. The landfill is underneath the Piggly Wiggly building and the Riverside Park area. Gas monitoring and reporting are required by the Wisconsin DNR. The estimated cost for this work in 2026 is $16,500.00. After discussion and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Black, to approve the proposed Agreement with Ayres Associates Inc., as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Motion by Pickett, seconded by Corley, to approve the following March 2026 vouchers: City ACH Vouchers #414 thru #425 in the amount of 95,403.57; City vouchers #47435 thru #47515 in the amount of $141,187.59; Direct Deposit Payroll vouchers #16064 thru #16125 in the amount of $76,341.38; Library vouchers #6552 thru #6558 in the amount of $1,596.10; Sewer Dept. ACH voucher #39 in the amount of $21,717.38; Sewer Dept. vouchers #8412 thru #8426 in the amount of $8,929.48; Water Dept. ACH voucher #56 in the amount of $16,629.89; Water Dept. vouchers #7803 thru #7826 in the amount of $95,245.97. Under reports of Committees, Janet Trout reported on the Library Board meeting held on March 23, 2026. Alderperson Joe Boll reported on the Park and Recreation Commission meeting held on March 25, 2026. There being no further business for this meeting, motion by Corley, seconded by Sonsalla, to adjourn the meeting at 7:20 PM. Motion carried. CITY OF DARLINGTON Amy L. Johnson, Clerk-Treasurer