Common Council Regular Meeting

MINUTES Common Council Regular Meeting Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 5:30PM City Hall, 410 E Leffler Street, Dodgeville, WI I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 5:30pm by Mayor Barry Hottmann. Members present: Shaun Sersch, Roxanne Reynolds-Lair, Tom DeVoss, Jeff “Potsie” Weber, Julie Johnson-Solberg, Michelle Peterson. Members Absent: Mike Olson, Jerry Johnson. Others Present: Pat Sieling (Dodgeville resident), Logan Hanson (Vierbicher), Brandon Wilhelm (Dodgeville Police Chief), Steve Demuth (Dodgeville resident), Beth Mikrut-Gilles (Dodgeville resident & owner of In the Beginning Child Care), Bjorn K (Pizza Ranch representative), Dylan Wadzinski (Director of Public Works), Wendy Nipple (Dodgeville Resident), Roxanne Newberry (Dodgeville resident), representatives from Pine Ridge Motel and Best Western hotel II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approval of Minutes from May 5, 2026 2. Approval of Claims from May 19, 2026 3. Approval of a Special Event license for the following events: Town Square hosted by Dodgeville Revitalization/Dodgeville Area Chamber of Commerce on July 10, 2026 thru July 27, 2026 ; Ball to Life Games hosted by Ball to Life at Wilson Park on June 20, 2026 ; Dodge Fest hosted by Dodgeville Revitalization/Dodgeville Area Chamber of Commerce on July 31, 2026 thru August 2, 2026, with the day of the event being August 1, 2026. 4. Approval of Temporary B Alcohol Beverage License for the following events: Dodge Fest hosted by Dodgeville Revitalization/Dodgeville Area Chamber of Commerce in the Iowa County Courthouse Parking Lot on August 1, 2026 ; Town Square hosted by Dodgeville Revitalization/Dodgeville Area Chamber of Commerce located in downtown Dodgeville July 10, 2026 thru July 26, 2026 Motion by DeVoss, second by Reynolds-Lair. Voice vote 6-0. Motion carried. IV. PUBLIC COMMENT Citizen or delegation presentations, requests or comments and discussion of same, pursuant to Wis. Stat. Sec. 19.83 (2) and Sec. 19.84 (2). Ten minute limit except by consent of council. No action will be taken on any item that is not specifically listed on the agenda. During Public Comment, Dodgeville resident Steve DeMuth inquired about the City’s plans for the Park on Fountain and Montgomery streets. Mayor Hottmann informed DeMuth that the city had no plans for this park location at this time, and noted that a community conversation about this park would be scheduled in the future. DeMuth also expressed his concerns with the number of acres of parks that the City had, including city parks, Dodgeville School District, and the park located at Governor Dodge. DeMuth asked council if the park located on Fountain and  Montgomery Streets could be instead put back on the tax roll. DeMuth inquired about the finances of the library project. Council members informed DeMuth that a library building project update handout was included in the packet for the May 19 th council meeting. Lastly, DeMuth inquired about the two businesses planned for the former Truck Stop property, and asked if these were done deals. Mayor Hottmann informed that the developers agreements for both the Pizza Ranch and TRU Hotel by Hilton were new business topics for the May 19 th council meeting. Dodgeville resident and owner of In the Beginning Child Care Center Beth Mikrut- Gilles expressed her gratitude to the City Council, Dodgeville Police Department, and others about addressing her concerns of school lockdowns so quickly. At the May 5th council meeting, Mikrut-Gilles expressed concerns of when there is a lockdown at one of the Dodgeville schools, and asked if her childcare center could be included in notifications of when this is occurring, so that they can secure their facility, and protect the children/staff safely. Mikrut-Gilles noted that after the council meeting on May 5th, Chief Wilhelm contacted officer Joe Pepper, and Officer Pepper will join the childcare center’s June staff meeting, to address safety concerns. Owners of the Pine Ridge Motel and Best Western hotel were in attendance expressing concerns about the new TRU Hotel coming to the City of Dodgeville and asked for council not to approve this new hotel, due to the risk of current hotel owners losing business. Dodgeville resident Wendy Nipple expressed concerns to the council of still not having an ADA coordinator on staff for the City of Dodgeville. Nipple reports that she received an email from HR director Grace Gervasi indicating number of employees for the City of Dodgeville, both full time, part-time, and seasonal, and states due to the current number of staff within the City of Dodgeville, the City is non-compliant of having an ADA coordinator. Nipple also voiced concerns with why it took so long to complete the handicapped access ramp at the new city hall, and while she was appreciative that the city now had one, asked why this was not completed until March 2026, when the new city hall moved in in October 2025. Nipple asked council that when they begin hosting council meetings via zoom, to make sure that the city takes into effect those who are visually and hearing impaired. Lastly, Nipple voiced concerns of the handicapped parking stall downtown, snow removal policy and how there is no update, and also the lack of information regarding fireworks permits. V. REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS 5. Library Building Update Attachment included in common council packet 6. Interim Clerk/Treasurer Report During Interim Clerk/Treasurer report, Wolfe reports that she has been playing catchup a little, going through emails, organizing, etc. Wolfe also reports that renewal license applications including alcohol, tobacco, dance, etc will be presented for review/approval at the June 2nd council meeting. Wolfe reports attending a Board of Review training in Monroe on May 13 th. Lastly, Wolfe reports working on  several special event licenses and working with other city staff on creating summer schedules especially for time off, etc. 7. Mayor Report Mayor Hottmann reports that he did not have anything to report, as what he was working on was several items included on the May 19th council agenda. VI. PROCLAMATIONS 8. EMS Week: May 17-23, 2026 Mayor Hottmann declared May 17th – 23rd, 2026 EMS week. VII. OLD BUSINESS 9. Consideration of a request from Mary Jo Benish for a liability insurance waiver for the Argall/Hessling Graduation party special event license to be held on May 23, 2026 Motion by DeVoss, second by Johnson-Solberg to approve liability insurance waiver request from Mary Jo Benish for the Argall/Hessling Graduation party special event to be held on May 23, 2026. Roll call vote 6-0. Motion carried. VIII. NEW BUSINESS 10. Discussion and possible action to approve a contract with WEDC for the Idle Sites Grant as it relates to the development of the Pizza Ranch and TRU Hotel at the former truck stop Motion by Sersch, second by DeVoss to approve contract with WEDC for the Idle Sites Grant as it relates to the development of the Pizza Ranch and TRU Hotel at the former truck stop. Roll call vote 6-0. Motion carried. 11. Discussion and possible action to approve the developer’s agreement with Dodgeville Pizza Ranch, LLC as it pertains to the constructing of a Pizza Ranch at the former truck stop Motion by DeVoss, second by Weber to take no action at this time relating to the developer’s agreement with Dodgeville Pizza Ranch, LLC. Roll call vote 6-0. Motion carried. 12. Discussion and possible action to approve the developer’s agreement with 4 Dimensions, LLC as it pertains to the constructing of a hotel (TRU by Hilton) at the former truck stop. Motion by DeVoss, second by Peterson to take no action at this time relating to the developer’s agreement with 4 Dimensions, LLC. Roll call vote 6-0. Motion carried. 13. Discussion and possible action to approve the 2026-2027 contract with Family Service Madison to provide employee assistance program for City of Dodgeville employees. Motion by Sersch, second by Johnson-Solberg to approve the 2026-2027 contract with Family Service Madison. Roll call vote 6-0. Motion carried. 14. Preliminary resolution declaring intent to exercise special assessment powers relative to the installation of sewer equipment improvements along West Washington Street  Motion by DeVoss, second by Weber to approve preliminary resolution declaring intent to exercise special assessment powers for installation of sewer equipment at 322 West Washington Street. Roll call vote 6-0. Motion carried. IX. ADJOURN 15. Motion to adjourn Motion by Weber, second by Peterson to adjourn. Voice vote 6-0. Motion carried Time: 6:23pm