City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM AUGUST 11, 2015 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Chair Quicker 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, trash pickup, watering flowers, cleaning Listeman Arboretum trails, mowing residential lots, hauling brush and compost, working on street lighting, cleaning storm drains, street sweeping, painting lines in complete and the handicapped spaces are now “blue”, street patching is 98% complete, working on Birch Street in the cemetery (dug out the old base, constructed new base and replaced two culverts), constructed a concrete slab for the chemical feed building, removed a portion of the sidewalk to install a ramp to the building, attended a pre-conference meeting at the airport in preparation for the runway resurfacing project, Dollar General will be closing on the former Golden Eagle property on August 21, 2015, the fire department will have a training in the vacant property around the 25th and demolition will be shortly thereafter. Motion Mabie, second Clough, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________________ Jerry L. Quicker, Chair ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM AUGUST 11, 2015 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 Clough reported on the August 3, 2015 meeting of the Connect Communities Committee regarding: 1) discussion on and adoption of a mission statement – “Our mission is to initiate a creative and successful approach to revitalizing downtown Neillsville”, 2) discussion on and recommendation to the Economic Development Commission of a budget of $3,000 for the remainder of 2015, 3) discussion on committee member responsibilities, 4) discussion on volunteer coordinators, 5) discussed a Connect Communities Kick-off event for Thursday, October 1, 2015 (tentatively scheduled), 6) reviewed the Executive Director training attended by members, and 7) discussed using a “logo” and “catch phrase” for the Connect Communities program. Council Member Quicker reported on the August 11, 2015 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities. Mayor Mabie declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Gary Weirauch, Memorial Medical Center (MMC) Board Member, thanked the Council for last year’s vote of confidence. The $1.5 million loaned by the City remains on our balance sheet. MMC has 43 days of working cash on hand, which is adequate cash, but not excessive cash. All area visits (clinic, ER urgent care, surgery, rehab) are up. The first half of the year, everyone has new deductibles and co-pays, so visits are curtailed, but MMC is doing much better than last year and is projecting a break-even by the end of the year, without having to touch the City’s money. Weirauch introduced Kelly Silbernagel, MMC Finance Officer, who has returned to MMC. Kelly Silbernagel stated that MMC has been able to make its payments on time and in full to the City. The first six months run in the red each year, and MMC has always had a strong fourth quarter. MMC is working on recruiting staff, we know we have an access issue and better access to care is wanted, more family practitioners are coming on board this fall. Patients want more specialty services on site. A renovation project on the clinic to provide more space for providers. Urgent care 24/7 has been very well received. Silbernagel thanked the Council for its support. Council Member Counsell asked about accounts receivable; working with the Amish and Mennonite communities; and emergency room service provider. Silbernagel stated that MMC’s accounts receivable are still a little high, last month MMC went with a new billing company, the accounts receivable have not grown since last year - they have remained level; we have been working with the Amish and Mennonite communities and developed an agreed upon cash rate structure for certain services, and we now have a much better, closer working relationship with both communities; MMC is still using an outside emergency room (ER) provider service. Dr. Timothy Meyer stated that MMC went from an all MMC ER provider service to an all outside ER provider service, now we have a hybrid ER provider service. Some of our physicians are now also working for the outside ER provider service, which gives the patients a familiar face. Meyer stated that MMC is involved with Oakbrook Health in Thorp, WI, working to increase radiological services, and taking a closer look into why patients are being transferred out. The Council thanked Weirauch, Silbernagel and Meyer for their update on MMC. Mayor Mabie read Hope Rendell’s letter of resignation from the Grants Committee. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to accept Hope Rendell’s resignation from the Grants Committee, and to thank her for her service to the City. All Aye. Chief of Police Klueckmann reported on July, 2015 complaints, citations, warnings, arrests and investigations, and the City’s Disaster Response Plan has been updated. Council Member Clough reported that the Listeman Foundation has awarded the Neillsville Improvement Corporation (NIC) a grant for $10,000 for three kiosks. Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Shonda L. Avanzato, Stephanie J. Beelman, Jessica R. Calkins, and William G. Riddle Motion Neville, second Clough, to grant all the listed licenses. All Aye. Motion Glassbrenner, second Neville, that City bills Nos. 790 to 849 in the amount of $145,640.79 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________________ Steven J. Mabie, Mayor ____________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************