City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM OCTOBER 24, 2013 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Chair Horn presiding. On roll call: all members present. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Director of Public Works Flynn reported on four burials at the cemetery, equipment maintenance, picking up branches and trash, mowing and weed eating at the cemetery and parks, winterizing the cemetery water lines and park restrooms, cleaning restrooms, opening storm drains, street sweeping, hauling brush and compost, final paving is complete, repaired a storm sewer washout on Industrial Park Drive, working on downtown street lighting, held a chainsaw training for the crew, prepared the leaf vacuum for leaf pickup, the upper portion of the Eisner property (108 W. Fifteenth Street) has been removed and rebidding for remaining demolition, clean up and fill is next, fall clean up week is scheduled for the last week in October, an electronics recycling has been scheduled for Friday, November 8, 2013, notices for fuel bids have been hand delivered to the four gas stations, and the new front end loader has been delivered. Discussion followed on 303 W. Fifteenth Street, Amy Symington, owner. The fire occurred back in April, 2013, and nothing is happening. It is a hazard, and something needs to be done. The Commission reviewed the existing sewer utility rate schedule. The sewer utility is currently doing well, with enough funds to cover operational expenses, debt service payment and planned 2014 capital improvements on the Grand Avenue project. Under the Clean Water Fund Loan agreement, rates have to be reviewed at least every three years. Discussion followed. Motion Neville, second Quicker, to recommend to the Common Council that the current sewer utility rate (no change) schedule remain in effect for billings after December 2, 2013. On roll call: All members - Aye. City Clerk Roehl reported that the city received the Public Service Commission Final Decision and Rate Order on the new water rates on October 9, 2013. The new rates and rules have been placed, and the customer notices will be printed and prepared for mailing. The Commission has to officially adopt the new rates and tariff provisions and set an effective date. Discussion followed on a date - if the date coincides with the next meter reading date, no proration of rates is necessary. Motion Quicker, second Weiers, to recommend to the Common Council that the new water utility rate (increase) schedule and tariff provisions be adopted effective for billings after December 2, 2013. On roll call: All members - Aye. City Clerk Roehl presented the Third Quarter 2013 Water and Sewer Utilities Financial Statements. Motion Mabie, second Quicker, that Water Vouchers Nos. 212 to 238 in the amount of $180,438.55 and Sewer Vouchers Nos. 207 to 230 in the amount of $55,364.47 be paid. All Aye. Motion Mabie, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________________ Daryn J. Horn, Chair ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************  COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM OCTOBER 24, 2013 7:03 P.M. The Common Council met in regular session, Mayor Mabie presiding. On roll call: all members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Mayor Mabie reported on the October 9 and 10 meetings of the Finance Committee regarding: 1) work on the 2014 budget; 2) adoption of a Wage Schedule and the recommendation that Chief of Police Lindner contribute 9% to the cost of his health insurance premium for 2014, 3) reviewed the major areas of revenue and expenditure changes, 4) recommendation of budget categories and levy amount of the 2014 budget to the Common Council for Public Hearing on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 7:15 p.m. Total budget $3,217,237 – Proposed Levy including Tax Increment Districts $1,098,576 – an increase of $25,721. Council Member Horn reported on the October 24, 2013 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, 2) the recommendation that the current sewer utility rate (no change) schedule remain in effect for billings after December 2, 2013, 3) the recommendation that the new water utility rate (increase) schedule and tariff provisions be adopted effective for billings after December 2, 2013, 4) reviewed the Third Quarter 2013 Water and Sewer Financial Statements, and 5) payment of bills. Mayor Mabie declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Paul Knoff, Bauernfeind, Marshfield, stated that while the City Hall network setup did not go quite as smooth as we had hoped, it is now up and running. All files are on the server and backed up nightly, there is better protection with fire walls, remote locations are on the network, the big copier is online (print jobs costing a penny a page versus 3¢ per page on an inkjet printer). Issues with e-mail addresses, software licenses, CIMS program and Workhorse programs have been taken care of. John Gethers, Infitech, has stuck to his budget proposal of 15 hours, even though he went over. Knoff stated that All Covered manages IT services, patches and anti-virus issues. All Covered did not have the City’s guidebook fully updated. Since the problem was on their end, the City’s first month of service is free. The cost has been reduced because Infitech has segmented some of the City’s computers, and they are therefore not on the All Covered plan. Knoff showed an All Covered log of report tickets. All Covered is the City’s IT staff. The City can contact All Covered by e-mail or telephone with problems. Knoff stated this is not magic, but the City now has the infrastructure to save some steps. Mayor Mabie thanked Knoff for helping to get the network set up, stating that we knew and trusted you to get us through this. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities items (2 and 3). Motion Glassbrenner, second Horn, to accept the recommendation that the current sewer utility rate (no change) schedule remain in effect for billings after December 2, 2013. All Aye. Motion Quicker, second Neville, to accept the recommendation that the new water utility rate (increase) schedule and tariff provisions be adopted effective for billings after December 2, 2013. All Aye. Council Member Glassbrenner reported that Memorial Medical Center appreciated the City’s support, and that they have a new permanent surgeon coming in February, 2014. City Clerk Roehl presented the Third Quarter 2013 City Financial Statements. Mayor Mabie read a thank you from Randy and Julie Reineck, Central Wisconsin Horse Sale, for the City’s support. Motion Weiers, second Glassbrenner, that bills on City Vouchers Nos. 961 to 1011 in the amount of $500,079.71 be paid. All Aye. Motion Horn, second Quicker, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________________ Steven J. Mabie, Mayor ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************