City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM MAY 26, 2015 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Chair Quicker presiding. On roll call: Council Member Clough absent, all other 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, cleanup for Memorial Day, mowing and weed eating at the cemetery and parks, picking up trash, installing soft landings at Cliff’s Park, two mowers broke down and have been repaired, mowed eight residential lots, hauled brush and compost, cleaning storm drains, working on street lighting, street sweeping, the Water Department had to replace a defective valve at the booster station (the valve was 800 pounds and installed eight feet above ground) – cost $5,000, repaired a major storm drain washout below the Sunburst property, preparing for crack filling, saw cutting patches for street repair, the Grand Avenue reconstruction project will begin around June 8, 2015, and paperwork has been filed for a conditional use permit for a Dollar General Store on the former Golden Eagle Restaurant property, 111 E. Division Street. David Hansen, AECOM, reported on the May 19, 2015 sewer bar screen bid opening. Five bids were received. AECOM has reviewed the bids and recommends accepting the low bid from J.F. Ahern Company, Fond du Lac, WI, in the amount of $117,400. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to recommend to the Common Council that the low bid from J.F. Ahern Company, Fond du Lac, WI, in the amount of $117, 400 for the sewer bar screen project be accepted. All Aye. Director of Public Works Flynn read Todd Averill’s letter of resignation as wastewater/water operator effective June 4, 2015. Motion Neville, second Counsell, to recommend to the Common Council to accept the resignation of Todd Averill from his wastewater/water position, and to thank him for his six years (2009-2015) of service to the City of Neillsville. All Aye. Director of Public Works Flynn requested that the vacant wastewater/water operator position be filled. Discussion followed. Motion Glassbrenner, second Neville, to recommend to the Personnel Committee that the vacant wastewater/water operator position be posted in house until June 1, 2015, and then if no applications are received, to post to the general public. All Aye. Motion Mabie, second Glassbrenner, that Water bills Nos. 100 to 122 in the amount of $30,117.46 and Sewer bills Nos. 104 to 126 in the amount of $43,302.08 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Mabie, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________________ Jerry L. Quicker, Chair ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************  COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM MAY 26, 2015 7:00 P.M. The Common Council met in regular session, Mayor Mabie presiding. On roll call: Council Member Clough absent, all other members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Mayor Mabie presented Terry Wulff with a plaque for 12 years (2003-2015) of dedicated service as a Planning Commission member. Terry Wulff complemented the Mayor, Council Members and all City Departments on the great work they have done, and stated that he is proud to be a City of Neillsville resident. Mayor Mabie presented Clinton Langreck with a plaque for 6 years (2009-2015) of dedicated service as a Library Board member. Clinton Langreck stated that he had a chance to work with Police Chief Klueckmann on a Public Information Officer (PIO) training. Chief Klueckmann was great to work with and very professional. Mayor Mabie stated that he has been the City’s Emergency Government Director, but will be giving the position back to the Police Chief. Mayor Mabie stated that he would be presenting a plaque to Barbara Miller for 8 years (2007-2015) of dedicated service as a Transit Committee member. Mayor Mabie reported on the May 18, 2015 meeting of the Board of Review regarding: 1) examination of the City’s 2015 Assessment Roll for errors and omissions, and to hear assessment objections, and 2) no property owners appeared in objection to their assessments. Council Member Counsell reported on the May 20, 2015 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding: 1) discussion on the violation for not obtaining a “Certificate of Appropriateness” for the addition of a window at Tufts’ Mansion, 2) the consensus of the commission was to require James and Dawn Voss to complete an application for a “Certificate of Appropriateness”, 3) discussed 2016 calendar theme, 4) discussed historic note cards, 5) discussed Historic Architectural Walking Tour brochure, and 6) discussed inquiry by Michael Thomas, 18 Hewett Street (Gates House) regarding repairs to the back porch because of tree damage – repairs were considered ordinary maintenance or repair under Ordinance Section 1-3- 5(b)(5) – a “Certificate of Appropriateness” is not required. Council Member Quicker reported on the May 26, 2015 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, 2) the recommendation to accept the low bid from J.F. Ahern Company, Fond du Lac, WI, in the amount of $117,400 for the sewer bar screen project, 3) the recommendation to accept the resignation of Todd Averill from his wastewater/water operator position, 4) the recommendation to the Personnel Committee to fill the vacant wastewater/water operator position, and 5) payment of bills. Mayor Mabie reported on the May 26, 2015 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding discussion and recommendation that the vacant wastewater/water operator position be posted in house until June 1, 2015, and then if no applications are received, to post to the general public. Mayor Mabie declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities items (2 and 3). Motion Quicker, second Neville, to accept the recommendation that the low bid from J.F. Ahern, Fond du Lac, WI, in the amount of $117,400 for the sewer bar screen project. All Aye. Motion Glassbrenner, second Quicker, to accept the recommendation to accept the resignation of Todd Averill from his wastewater/water operator position, and to thank him for his six years (2009-2015) of service to the City of Neillsville. All Aye. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Personnel Committee item. Motion Counsell, second Glassbrenner, to accept the recommendation that the vacant wastewater/water operator position be posted in house until June 1, 2015, and then if no applications are received, to post to the general public. All Aye. Council Member Glassbrenner presented an invitation to participate in the Clark County outdoor recreation plan update and the Letter of Agreement. The cost would be on a not-to-exceed basis up to $2,500. Council Member Glassbrenner stated that he had talked with Rick Dailey, Clark County Forestry and Parks Administrator. The City of Neillsville can add to or revise its section in the County plan. Last time, the County absorbed all the costs. The City has to have a written plan in place to apply for grant funding in the future. The current Clark County plan expired in 2013. Discussion on who should be involved in the plan update – Parks and Recreation Board, Planning Commission, etc. Director of Public Works Flynn stated that this is separate from the recent City Comprehensive Plan that was done. There is money in the Planning budget to cover the $2,500 cost, and it is beneficial to be in the County’s plan to get people working together across municipal lines and to save costs. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to approve the “Letter of Agreement” with West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission to include the City of Neillsville in the update of the Clark County Outdoor Recreation Plan at a cost of not-to-exceed $2,500. All Aye. City Attorney Wachsmuth read the following resolution. RESOLUTION NO. 577 SUPPORTING CONTINUED DEFEDERALIZATION OF THE REGIONAL CONSOLIDATED REVOLVING LOAN FUND WHEREAS, the City of Neillsville voluntarily transferred the assets of its CDBG funded Revolving Loan Fund to Regional Business Fund, Inc. (RBF) on May 11, 2007 to allow the businesses in the municipality greater access to a more flexible source of business financing and enhance economic development in the region; and WHEREAS, staff of the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission followed the direction provided by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce (DOC) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in developing the process to consolidate and defederalize the municipal revolving loan funds into the RBF, Inc. as outlined in the Investment Strategy and Memorandum of Understanding with DOC; and WHEREAS, starting in 2011, administration of the CDBG program at the state level was transferred from DOC to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), and then to the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) in July, 2013; and WHEREAS, on April 1, 2015 DOA notified the RBF that HUD has determined that the proper defederalization process was not followed and that all existing cash and future consolidated loan fund repayments thereby must be considered federal and must adhere to all accompanying federal rules and requirements; and WHEREAS, the City of Neillsville does not agree with the DOA and HUD ruling because the process for defederalization was originally provided and directed by DOC and HUD; and  WHEREAS, having to administer the Consolidated Revolving Loan Fund with the federal restrictions will minimize the fund’s usefulness to businesses in that the federal requirements are restrictive and burdensome; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Neillsville encourages DOA and HUD to reconsider their ruling and allow the Consolidated Revolving Loan Fund proceeds to continue in their defederalized status. This defederalization is necessary and vital to west Central Wisconsin businesses as they seek to add jobs and investment to the regional economy. __________________________________________ Steven J. Mabie, Mayor __________________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk Discussion followed. Motion Quicker, second Glassbrenner, that Resolution No. 577 be adopted. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving a $400 donation from Jackson Electric Cooperative as part of their employee match program. An employee designated the Neillsville Recreation Department to donate $200 to, and Jackson Electric Cooperative, as the employer, matched the $200. The $400 is designated for youth activities. Motion Neville, second Counsell, to accept and appropriate $400 to Account No. 55300 Recreation Department Administration, and to thank Jackson Electric Cooperative and its’ employee for the donation. All Aye. Tavern Operator’s License Application: Tamara A. Mallory Motion Neville, second Glassbrenner, to grant. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Counsell, that City bills Nos. 511 to 551 in the amount of $431,897.15 and CDBG Housing Escrow Account bills Nos. 2 to 4 in the amount of $1,295 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________________ Steven J. Mabie, Mayor ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************