City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM JANUARY 14, 2014 6:48 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 three burials at the cemetery, equipment maintenance, snow and ice removal from streets, parking lots and sidewalks, picking up Christmas trees, and a major water main break at Huron Street and E. Division Street on Friday, January 10, 2014 – the city’s hydraulic hammer broke, Opelt’s big excavator could not move the frozen ground (5 feet of frost), finally Mike Struensee’s mounted hammer got through as far as he could reach, the rest the crew had to air hammer by hand – it was finally fixed around noon on Saturday. Flynn requested authorization to carryover 2013 unused vacation time for public works employees due to snow removal and shortage of people during the last half of December, 2013: Dale Zank – 45 hours, Lisa Enloe – 40 hours, Dennis Eddy – 15 ½ hours, and Regan Barth – 16 hours. Motion Quicker, second Neville, to recommend to the Common Council that public works employees be allowed to carryover their 2013 unused vacation time to 2014, to be used within 90 days. All Aye. Motion Glassbrenner, second Weiers, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________________ Daryn J. Horn, Chair ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM JANUARY 14, 2014 7:00 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. Chief of Police Lindner introduced the City’s new police officer – Benjamin D. Zawislan. Mayor Mabie swore in the new police office – Benjamin D. Zawislan. Mayor Mabie reported on the January 8 and 14, 2014 meetings of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) a closed session to interview public works employee applicants, reconvening into open session with the recommendation to hire Jeremy Boon at a starting wage of $16.50 per hour; and 2) presentation by Chris Thorson, The Advantage Group, Wausau, on voluntary benefit insurance programs, discussion and authorization for The Advantage Group to make their voluntary benefit program available to City employees. Council Member Horn reported on the January 14, 2014 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, and 2) the recommendation that public works employees be allowed to carryover their 2013 unused vacation time to 2014, to be used within 90 days. Mayor Mabie declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Personnel Committee item (1). Motion Horn, second Glassbrenner, to accept the recommendation to hire Jeremy Boon, as a public works employee, at a starting wage of $16.50 per hour. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities item (2). Motion Quicker, second Weiers, to accept the recommendation that public works employees be allowed to carryover their 2013 unused vacation time to 2014, to be used within 90 days. All Aye. Chief of Police Lindner reported on December, 2013 complaints, citations, arrests and investigations, and yearly totals for the same. New officer Ben Zawislan is in field training with Officer Scott Klueckmann, Officer Aaron Bembnister has returned to active duty, the City’s sex offender ordinance has been challenged in court, the fire siren in the industrial park is not working yet, six deer were harvested during the 2013 archery deer season in the City – with the passing of the 2013 Wis. Act #71, changes have been made to archery and cross bow regulations. Mayor Mabie read a letter from Lorraine Flynn thanking and complimenting the City crew for their work in keeping the City looking its best, and hard work on the recent water main break. City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving the fifth installment of the 2009 (PILOT) Payment in Lieu of Taxes with Wisconsin Housing Preservation Corporation (WHPC – Neillsville I, LLC) in the amount of $10,000. “Class A” Retail Liquor and Malt Beverages License Application: Gordy’s Neillsville Foods, Inc., Gordy’s County Market, David A. Schafer, Agent, 320 E. Division Street Motion Glassbrenner, second Horn, to grant. All Aye. Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Glen J. Buth, Bonnie J. Carl, Bradley L. Olson, Judith J. Quicker Motion Horn, second Neville, to grant all the listed licenses. Council Member Quicker – abstained. All other members – Aye. Motion carried. Motion Neville, second Quicker, that City bills Nos. 1 to 68 in the amount of $1,747,199.84 and CDBG Housing Escrow Account bill No. 1 in the amount of $3,760.00 be paid. All Aye. Motion Horn, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________________ Steven J. Mabie, Mayor ____________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************