City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM OCTOBER 27, 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 three burials at the cemetery, equipment maintenance, mulching leaves, weed eating cemetery and parks, picking up branches and trash, winterizing cemetery water lines and park restrooms, hauling brush and compost, cleaning storm drains, changing out parking signs on E. Fifth Street, leaf pickup – first round of the City is done, working on the second round, the airport project is done except for the runway painting, Armory Alley has been closed for garbage trucks, as they are too heavy and we cannot afford to repair it every spring, there have been some questions about removing the crab trees on W. Fifth Street and on Center Street (they are messy and people don’t want to clean up after them) – healthy trees are not permitted to be removed unless the owner is willing to replace them with another tree at their own expense, the tree survey has been completed. Council Member Counsell asked about getting a few more school no parking signs on E. Fifth Street down the hill from the school driveway to East Street. Director of Public Works Flynn will look into it. Motion Neville, second Glassbrenner, that Water bills Nos. 207 to 234 in the amount of $164,450.55 and Sewer bills Nos. 224 to 247 in the amount of $109,752.70 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Mabie, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________________ Jerry L. Quicker, Chair ____________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM OCTOBER 27, 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. Mayor Mabie reported on the October 14, 2015 meeting of the Finance Committee regarding: 1) working on the 2016 budget, 2) adoption of a wage schedule for 2016, 3) reviewed the major areas of revenues and expenditure changes, 4) recommendation of budget categories and levy amount of the 2016 budget to the Common Council for Public Hearing on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at 7:15 P.M. Total budget $3,422,562 – Proposed Levy including Tax Incremental Districts $1,099,604 – an increase of $1,499. Mayor Mabie reported on the October 20, 2015 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) a closed session on the Library Director position, and 2) reconvening into open session with the recommendation that Kathy Wegner, as Interim Library Director, be paid an additional $2.00 per hour while serving as Interim Library Director. Council Member Quicker reported on the October 20, 2015 meeting of the Library Board regarding: 1) accepted the resignation of Library Director Jo Ann Gustavson, 2) appointment of a Search Committee for a new Library Director, 3) discussed want ad wording, requirements and postings, with applications available at the City Clerk’s office, City Hall, 4) appointed Child Librarian Kathy Wegner as Interim Library Director, 5) discussed duties of Library Board members and Library Board policy. Council Member Counsell reported on the October 21, 2015 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding: 1) locations selling calendars and note cards, 2) reviewed a mock-up poster and brochures for the 2015 Christmas Tour of Homes and discussed marketing and advertising the event, 3) discussed the historic home tour brochure, and 4) reviewed and approved the application form for use by property owners requesting a “Certificate of Appropriateness” from the Commission. Council Member Neville reported on the October 22, 2015 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) discussed the resignation of Carrie Converse from the Committee and welcomed Aaron Bembnister as the new member, 2) financial report presented and approved, 3) discussed upgrades to facilities, sponsorship opportunities and 2016 events. Council Member Clough reported on the October 26, 2015 meeting of the Connect Communities regarding: 1) discussion on various educational opportunities for the committee members to attend, 2) discussed adding a student liaison/representative to the Connect Communities Committee, 3) discussed creating a Social Media Ambassador program, 4) discussed the creation and maintenance of a commercial building inventory, 5) discussed using window clings for marketing empty buildings – the consensus was to use coroplast (a corrugated plastic) instead of the clings, 6) discussed a Christmas marketing effort based on the shopping theme “Hometown Holiday Magic”. The tree lighting and tour of homes are the anchor events. Flashback Friday on Friday, December 4th and the tree lighting on Saturday, December 5th, 7) discussed and approved a “Selfie Contest” for Hometown Holiday Magic events, with first and second place prizes, and 8) discussed having a torch light parade. Council Member Quicker reported on the October 27, 2015 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, and 2) 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 item (2). Motion Quicker, second Clough, to accept the recommendation that Kathy Wegner, as Interim Library Director, be paid an additional $2.00 per hour while serving as Interim Library Director. All Aye. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Library Board item (1). Motion Glassbrenner, second Clough, to accept the resignation of Library Director Jo Ann Gustavson, and to thank her for her 14+ years (2001 – 2015) of service to the City of Neillsville. All Aye. City Attorney Wachsmuth presented the changes made to the draft of the following ordinance. ORDINANCE NO. 1052 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SEC. 7-1-1(b)(17)a. AND SEC. 7-1-6(b), VICIOUS DOGS The Common Council of the City of Neillsville does hereby ordain as follows: Section 7-1-1(b)(17) is hereby amended as follows: (17) “Vicious Dog” as used in this ordinance shall mean any of the following: a. Any dog, at the discretion of the Neillsville Police Department, which without provocation, and with vicious intent, attacks or bites, or has attacked or bitten a human being or domestic animal on public or private property causing injury.  Section 7-1-6(b) is hereby amended as follows: (b) VICIOUS DOGS. Any dog found to be a “vicious dog” as defined above, shall be removed from the City of Neillsville within five (5) days of the Neillsville Police Department giving the owner written notice of its determination that a dog is a “vicious dog”, unless the owner, within the five (5) days, makes written request to the Common Council for the City of Neillsville objecting to and for review of the determination by the Neillsville Police Department. Any request for review by an owner shall state specifically the reasons for objection. The Common Council for the City of Neillsville shall review the owner’s objection at their next regularly scheduled meeting on which the issue can be properly put on agenda. If the owner neither removes the dog nor makes a written request of objection within the five (5) days, the Neillsville Police Department shall be allowed to seize the dog and have it removed or destroyed. (1) EXCEPTIONS. The following exceptions shall be applicable to the term “vicious dog” as defined in section 7-1-1(b)(17) City Ordinances, thereby making these situations exempt from the requirements of subsection (b) herein; a. No dog shall be declared to be vicious if the dog caused injury or damage to a human being or domestic animal who, at the time, was teasing, tormenting, abusing or assaulting the dog, or if the dog was protecting its owner from attack by a human being. b. The owner of a dog that is used by a law enforcement agency shall not be declared to be vicious if the dog caused injury or damage to a human being or domestic animal while the dog is performing law enforcement functions. This ordinance shall be effective upon publication. __________________________________________ Steven J. Mabie, Mayor __________________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk Motion Counsell, second Neville, that Ordinance No. 1052 be adopted. All Aye. Mayor Mabie introduced John Ross, Clark County Emergency Government Director. Ross stated that FEMA requires a Hazard Mitigation Plan in place if you want to be eligible for grant dollars in the future. A hazard mitigation grant typically is funded 75% federal and 25% local. The original plan was adopted in 2005 and updated in 2010. Clark County received a grant and West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission was hired to help with the 2015 update, in which the City was a participant. Examples of past grants were the tornado safe room in the trailer court and the communications tower at the courthouse. The plan does not obligate you to any money, but a project has to be identified in the plan to be eligible for funding, if funding is available in the future. City Attorney Wachsmuth read the following resolution. RESOLUTION NO. 582 A RESOLUTION APPROVING A NATURAL HAZARDS MITIGATION PLAN FOR THE CITY OF NEILLSVILLE WHEREAS, hazard mitigation planning is the process of developing a set of actions designed to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people, businesses, infrastructure, and property from hazards and their effects; and,  WHEREAS, Clark County, has worked through its Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), with representation from local municipalities and emergency response providers, to develop the Clark County Multi-Hazards Mitigation Plan, 2015- 2020 to assess the magnitude of hazard risks and to develop strategies for minimizing or reducing these risks; and, WHEREAS, the City of Neillsville participated in the planning process through a meeting with community representatives to identify hazard risks, vulnerabilities, and strategies unique to the community, as well as through the review of draft plan materials; and, WHEREAS, the Plan was reviewed and preliminarily approved by Wisconsin Emergency Management as meeting the requirements of the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and applicable Code of Federal Regulations; and, WHEREAS, adoption of the Plan by the Common Council will meet prerequisite requirements which enables the City of Neillsville to apply for FEMA grant dollars for hazard mitigation projects; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Common Council adopts the Clark County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2015-2020 as the official all hazards mitigation plan for the City of Neillsville with the intent of implementing the plan recommendations as funding and resources allow. __________________________________________ Steven J. Mabie, Mayor __________________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk Motion Clough, second Counsell, that Resolution No. 582 be adopted. All Aye. City Attorney Wachsmuth reported that Geraldine Bethea filed a claim for damages related to a trip and fall on July 1, 2015. Statewide Services, Inc. administers the claims for the City’s insurance company (League of Wisconsin Municipalities Mutual Insurance Company) has recommended disallowing the claim. If the City denies the claim, Bethea has a six-month time frame to file a lawsuit. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to disallow the Geraldine Bethea Claim for Sustained Bodily Injury related to a trip and fall per recommendation from our insurance company. All Aye. Council Member Counsell asked how the Connect Communities kick-off event went. Council Member Clough replied that he felt it was well received by the 20 or so people who attended, he was impressed with Marie Steenlage (Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Manager for our district) and she will be a valuable resource in the future, there were business owners who were met for the first time. The Connect Communities program provides the training vehicle from which the local committee will bring back information and contacts to help local businesses thrive. Council Member Clough thanked the Job Service Center for funding the individual who did the City’s tree survey. Mayor Mabie stated that the last Chamber of Commerce Business After Five Event, held at Cummins Filtration, included a plant tour. It is certainly eye opening to see a national and international company located in a small community, and being good community supportive members. Tavern Operator’s License Application: Bradley J. Myers Motion Neville, second Quicker, to grant. All Aye. Motion Quicker, second Neville, that City bills Nos. 1060 to 1107 in the amount of $432,153.45 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________________ Steven J. Mabie, Mayor ____________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************