City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM AUGUST 26, 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. Director of Public Works Flynn reported on two burials at the Cemetery, equipment maintenance, mowing and weed eating Cemetery and Parks, watering flowers, preparing ball fields, mowing residential lawns, hauling brush and compost, started work on the walking path from the Arboretum to the Apple Valley Restaurant driveway, most of the summer part-time help have returned to school, one of our one ton trucks got to close to the road edge on the way to the landfill and the soft road shoulder gave way and the truck ended up on its side in the ditch, when the truck was pulled out, the fluids were alright but the passenger window was broken, however, the truck made clunking noise in the engine, it was checked out by Bautch Repair and something had left loose in the engine and it is not worth fixing, cleaning storm drains, street sweeping, the Grand Avenue water main project is complete, the Grand Avenue storm sewer project is complete and work has begun on removing the old road base, driveway approaches and sidewalk sections to be replaced, curb and gutter work is scheduled to begin this week also. Discussion followed on the sewer rate study presented at the last meeting. Director of Public Works stated that we have about $50,000 set aside in the capital improvement account which could be used towards the bar screen cost of $120,000. The Clean Water Fund (CWF) Loan will be paid off in 2016 and the phosphorus regulations are still up in the air. Flynn recommended a smaller 10% rate increase with another sewer rate study to be done after the CWF Loan is paid off and more is known on the phosphorus regulations. Motion Quicker, Second Neville, to recommend to the Common Council to proceed with the process for a 10% sewer rate increase, with a reduced volume rate charge and adding an administration fee charge per load for holding tank and septic tank service. All Aye. Motion Neville, Second Weiers, that Water bills Nos. 169 to 194 in the amount of $40,032.83 and Sewer bills Nos. 149 to 169 in the amount of $54,892.80 be paid. All Aye. Motion Mabie, second Glassbrenner, to adjourn. All Aye. ______________________________________________________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk Daryn J. Horn, Chair ************  COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM AUGUST 26, 2014 7:10 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 August 5, 2014 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) the recommendation to absorb the 9.9% rate increase for health insurance and not pass any of that cost on to the employees or increase the deductibles, 2) the recommendation to include in the definition of “emergency personnel” who must reside within 15 miles of the City of Neillsville, all police officers, fire fighters, Director of Public Works and all Water, Sewer and Street Department heads under the Director of Public Works and 3) a closed session on wages, benefits and conditions of employment in regard to non-union employees of the City of Neillsville and union contract negotiations with the Neillsville Professional Police Association – no action taken. City Clerk Roehl reported on the August 26, 2014 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding: 4) the recommendation to amend the August 5, 2014 motion to include that the contribution split will remain as is for health insurance – City 88% and Employee 12%, 5) the recommendation that Jeremy Boon and Jason Kuhn receive a $.50 per hour wage increase retroactive to the date of their six month employment completion, 6) a closed session on Bradley Lindner, Chief of Police, Letter of Retirement and sick leave payment – reconvening into open session, 7) the recommendation to accept Chief of Police Lindner’s Letter of Retirement effective September 30, 2014 and 8) the recommendation that a lump sum payment of one-half of Bradley Lindner’s accumulated unused sick leave, as of September 30, 2014, be placed into an account kept by the City designated to pay costs for his family insurance coverage. City Attorney Washsmuth reported on the August 6, 2014 meeting of the Planning Commission regarding: 1) the recommendation to approve an easement for the Goose Creek storm sewer on 306 W. Fifth Street – G-Store, Inc. and Torus, LLC, 2) the recommendation to proceed with the annexation of the former Victor St John property, Parcel No. 042.349.000 Town of Pine Valley, on U.S. Highway 10, owned by the City of Neillsville and 3) the recommendation to gratefully accept the SOS Partnership land donation, Parcel No. 042.0554.000 Town of Pine Valley (this is a strip of land on the north side of U.S. Highway 10, between the Wisconsin Department of Transportation right-of-way and the City Listeman Arboretum). Council Member Horn reported on the August 26, 2014 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, 2) the recommendation to proceed with the process for a 10% sewer rate increase, with a reduced volume rate charge and adding an administration fee charge per load for holding tank and septic tank service, and 3) payment of bills. Mayor Mabie declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Personnel Committee items (1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8). Motion Horn, Second Neville, to accept recommendation and amendment to absorb the 9.9% rate increase for health insurance and not pass any of that cost onto the employees or increase the deductibles, the contribution split will remain as is for health insurance – City 88% and Employee 12%. All Aye. Motion Quicker, Second Horn, to accept the recommendation that Jeremy Boon and Jason Kuhn receive a $ .50 per hour wage increase retroactive to the date of their six month employment completion. All Aye. Motion Quicker, Second Weiers, to accept the recommendation to include in the definition of “emergency personnel” who must reside within 15 miles of the City of Neillsville, all police officers, fire fighters, Director of Public Works and all Water, Sewer and Street Department heads under the Director of Public Works. All Aye. Motion Quicker, Second Glassbrenner, to accept the recommendation to accept Chief of Police Lindner’s Letter of Retirement effective September 30, 2014 and to thank him for his 33 years of service, the last 13 as Chief of Police, to the City. All Aye. Motion Glassbrenner, Second Horn, to accept the recommendation that a lump sum payment of one-half of Bradley Lindner’s accumulated unused sick leave, as of September 30, 2014, be placed into an account kept by the City designated to pay costs for his family insurance coverage. All Aye. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Planning Commission items (1, 2 and 3). Motion Quicker, Second Neville, to accept the recommendation to approve an easement for the Goose Creek storm sewer on 306 W. Fifth Street – G-Store, Inc. and Torus, LLC. All Aye. Motion Weiers, Second Glassbrenner, to accept the recommendation to proceed with the annexation of the former Victor St John property, Parcel No. 042.349.000 Town of Pine Valley, on U.S. Highway 10, owned by the City of Neillsville. All Aye. Motion Quicker, Second Weiers, to accept the recommendation to gratefully accept the SOS Partnership land donation, Parcel No. 042.0554.000 Town of Pine Valley (this is a strip of land on the north side of U.S. Highway 10, between the Wisconsin Department of Transportation right-of-way and the City Listeman Arboretum. All Aye. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Commission of Public Works/Utilities item (2). Motion Quicker, Second Neville, to accept the recommendation to proceed with the process for a 10% sewer rate increase, with a reduced volume rate charge and adding an administrative fee charge per load for holding tank and septic tank service. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl presented the Security Health Plan contract renewal notice for 2014-2015. The Family actives plan premium is going from $1,680.08 to $1,846.41 per month – a 9.9% increase. The Single actives plan premium is going for $775.77 to $852.57 per month – a 9.9% increase. The Medicare retirees single plan premium is going from $465.21 to $484.48 per month – a 4.1% increase. Motion Horn, Second Glassbrenner, to approve the health insurance contract renewals with Security Health Plan as presented. All Aye. Mayor Mabie recommended Jacob Ormond to fill the vacant member position on the Parks and Recreation Board. Motion Quicker, Second Horn, to accept the Mayor’s recommendation to appoint Jacob Ormond (2017) as a member of the Parks and Recreation Board. All Aye. The City Clerk reported on receiving a $1,000 donation from the Marguerite Listeman Foundation for christmas decorations. Motion Quicker, Second Weiers, to accept and appropriate $1,000 to Account No. 55360 Christmas Decorations, and to thank the Listeman Foundation. All Aye. The City Clerk reported on receiving the following donations from the Listeman/Naedler Foundation: Cliff’s Park improvements - $15,153 and Schuster Park north restroom and camera. Total $33,678. Motion Neville, Second Quicker, to accept and appropriate $33,678 to Account No. 57620 Parks Outlay, and to thank the Listeman/Naedler Foundation. All Aye. Council Member Glassbrenner reported on the August 21, 2014 Memorial Medical Center Finance Committee meeting regarding projects being worked on and the month of July was in the black. City Clerk Roehl presented a notice that the Clark County Tax Deeded Land Sales Committee will meet on September 23, 2014 to open bids on City Parcel No. 261.1021.000 the former Wesley and Donna Buttke property at 606 E. Eighth Street. City Clerk Roehl reported that Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Ellen Clark received her certifications as a Certified Municipal Clerk with the International Institute of Municipal Clerks Association (IIMC) and a Wisconsin Certified Municipal Clerk with the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association (WMCA) at the annual WMCA conference held in Rothschild, WI on August 21, 2014. The Common Council congratulated Clark on her accomplishments. Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Robin L. Bone, Gerald N. Holm Jr., Linda L. Polzin and Bridget S. Reil. Motion Quicker, Second Glassbrenner, to grant all the listed licenses. All Aye. Motion Neville, Second Horn, that City bills Nos. 796 to 856 in the amount of $934,765.69 be paid. All Aye. Motion Horn, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________________ Steven J. Mabie, Mayor ____________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************