City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM MAY 13, 2014 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. Chair Horn presented Director of Public Works Flynn’s report on two burials at the cemetery, equipment maintenance, picking up branches, raking the road shoulders in the cemetery, the cemetery spring cleanup, hauling composts and brush, this week is city wide spring cleanup, replacing old signs with the new reflectivity standard signs, opening storm drains, patching potholes, street sweeping highway and downtown area, working on street lights, flushing water mains, repairing storm drains and inlets, and a thank you to all for the flowers, cards, etc. received in the passing of his mother. Motion Mabie, second Glassbrenner, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________________ Daryn J. Horn, Chair ____________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************  COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM MAY 13, 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. Council Member Quicker reported on the April 23, 2014 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding: 1) review of previous assignments on property addresses, proof reading of documents, additional property write-ups, and copies of historical information and photos from the Jail Museum, 2) discussed an index or explanation of the various levels of local, state and national registers, 3) discussed assignments for updating history and downtown sections, final drafts in electronic format, layout of the booklet, best way to get the brochure published, and calendar project. Council Member Horn reported on the April 24 and May 8, 2014 meetings of the Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) financial report, 2) updates on the facebook page and City’s web page, 3) discussed downtown activities before the parade, 4) discussed and hired the Fab 5 band for Sunday afternoon following the parade, 5) discussed wood carving, golf outing, children’s activities and games; 6) financial report, 7) discussed downtown activities before the parade – Pete Peterson, the Danish Peasant, will play downtown on Sunday, 8) discussed and updated the event poster, 9) discussed the 20th Anniversary Celebration prizes and giveaways, 10) discussed raffle and prizes schedule, 11) discussed and tabled beverages, and 12) discussed queen coronation and bartenders. Mayor Mabie reported on the April 28 and May 6, 2014 meetings of the Economic Development Commission regarding: 1) discussed possible financial assistance to the Memorial Medical Center (MMC), 2) presentation on MMC’s financial needs, 3) MMC has contacted the Regional Business Authority to request a $500,000 loan for Capital Replacement, 4) MMC’s Form 990-Non Profit Tax Return shows a loss for the prior year, 5) currently MMC does not have bankability – they need more billable services, 6) MMC is requesting a $1.5 million loan by the City – they are offering security, they are currently debt free, but if MMC fails, the City pays the debt, 7) discussion on how this would affect the City’s borrowing power, 8) discussion on MMC’s potential growth and electronic medical records; 9) discussed the loan proposal request from MMC, 10) MMC is working to increase receipts – contacting Mennonite and Amish families, area manufacturing companies and medical insurance companies, 11) enlisting a firm to help with accounts receivable collections, 12) expanding patient services hours, and 13) discussion on additional financial information needed by the City before a decision can be made. Council Member Weiers reported on the May 13, 2014 meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding: 1) purchasing geraniums for the Town Square Park flower bed, 2) setting the date for planting flowers as May 21, 2014 at 9:00 a.m., 3) purchasing boston ferns for the gazebo, 4) discussed and assigned weeding and deadhead schedule, and 5) discussed the hanging baskets fundraising letters. City Clerk Roehl reported on the May 13, 2014 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding the recommendation to place all the Other Part-time employee applicants, as presented, in a pool for the Cemetery, Parks, Public Works, and Recreation Departments to draw from as needed. The applicants are: Wendy Barth, Christopher Biebert, Joseph Bilski, Jared Boon, Matthew Dux, Dylan Hensiak, Teren Hensiak, Anthony Meshnick, Katrina Nemitz, Aaron Ollech, Joshua Opelt, Jenna Pavlac, Nathan Peterson, and Timothy Schroeter. Council Member Horn reported on the May 13, 2014 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities. Mayor Mabie declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Rachel Miller and Dr. David Paustian, Paustian Medical & Surgical Center S.C., W3645 Maple Road, Neillsville, introduced themselves. Miller stated they offer primary care, surgical care and cosmetic care at an affordable price. A one stop shop, giving people another option, with cash prices for people without insurance or who have high deductibles. Paustian stated that the trend is heading towards more private practice startups. The twist is Dr. Paustian is also a general surgeon. There are price breaks for same day payment by cash or credit card. Miller thanked the Council for allowing them to appear and explain who they are, and they look forward to growing with our community and the Clark County area. Mayor Mabie stated that the medical world is highly competitive, and we appreciate what you are doing for the area. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Personnel Committee item. Motion Quicker, second Weiers, to accept the recommendation to place all the Other Part-time employee applicants, as presented, in a pool for the Cemetery, Parks, Public Works, and Recreation Departments to draw from as needed. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl presented a request from Amanda Erickson and Jenny Buchholz for use of Schuster Park on Saturday, June 21, 2014 for a Grass Co-ed 6’s Volleyball Tournament fundraiser – “Shelly Opelt’s Smackdown for Breast Cancer.” Motion Neville, second Horn, to grant the request for use of Schuster Park on Saturday, June 21, 2014 for a Grass Co-ed 6’s Volleyball Tournament. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl presented a request for change of annuity carriers for the Wisconsin Defined Contribution Service Award Program (SAP). The SAP was set up in 2000 as a way to help local communities to retain firefighters and EMTs. Each year, the City and Rural Fire Association contribute to an annuity fund for each firefighter, which is matched by the State of Wisconsin. After a minimum of ten years of service, a firefighter who leaves the department can withdraw a benefit amount (depending on eligibility). Annually, the contributed funds were split between two annuity accounts – Futurist Gold and Saver’s Index III. The carrier, Allstate Insurance Company, has decided to sell off Lincoln Benefit Life, holder of the Futurist Gold annuity, and we have twelve months to make a change. Thomas Ketchum, The Horton Group, Wausau, the City’s SAP agent, has recommended moving the Futurist Gold annuity to Mass Mutual Financial Group. It can be moved without charges or penalties at this time. The Savers Index III is not being changed at this time. Motion Glassbrenner, second Quicker, to authorize the Mayor to sign the paperwork needed to move the Service Award Program, Futurist Gold annuity, from Lincoln Benefit Life to Mass Mutual Financial Group. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving the following donations from the Marguerite Listeman Foundation: Fireworks – 4th of July - $3,500, and Heritage Days - $2,000. Motion Weiers, second Horn, to accept and appropriate $5,500 to Account No. 55340 Celebrations, and to thank the Listeman Foundation. All Aye. Chief of Police Lindner reported on April, 2014 complaints, citations, arrests and investigations. Officer Aumann will be off on worker’s comp until at least July 3, 2014, and John Mark Bruner has been hired as the new parking enforcement employee. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated that an individual contested a city ordinance citation last year. The judge dismissed the citation, but ordered briefs be filed by both parties. The City filed a brief, the individual did not. Our brief got lost on the judge’s desk, and a final decision was not made, so it has been dropped. City Attorney Wachsmuth reported on a call from Thomas Harnisch regarding an easement on the Goose Creek sewer box culvert on his property at 306 W. Fifth Street. City Clerk Roehl reported on a thank you from the Alice Sischo family (Judy Lindner’s mother’s funeral), a thank you from Neillsville Senior Center for the City’s annual contribution, the upcoming League of Wisconsin Municipalities workshop for new officials, and the Board of Review will be Monday, May 19, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the Council Room of City Hall. Mayor Mabie reported on a thank you from the David Flynn family (his mother’s funeral) and a thank you from Randy and Julie Reineck, Central Wisconsin Horse Sale, for the City’s support. Temporary Class “B” Retailers License Application: Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce, Deanna Heiman, Agent, for the Manz Conference Room, Memorial Medical Center, 216 Sunset Place, for May 20, 2014 – Business After Five event. Motion Quicker, second Neville, to grant. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Weiers, that City bills Nos. 429 to 487 in the amount of $103,741.23 be paid. All Aye. Motion Horn, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________________ Steven J. Mabie, Mayor ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************