City Council

************ COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 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 one burial at the Cemetery, equipment maintenance, picking up trash, mowing and weed whacking, cleaning pavilions, picking up branches after the storm, mowing residential lots, watering flowers, trimming and pruning trees, hauling brush and compost, cleaning storm sewers, street sweeping, E. Fifteenth Street from Hewett Street to Bruley Street and the Cemetery roads have been paved, mowing road shoulders and landfill weeds, working on the 2017 budget and water main flushing will begin in the last week of September. The City Clerk reported that the regular meeting of Tuesday, November 8, 2016 is also the Fall General Election day. Discussion followed. Motion Glassbrenner, second Counsell, to reschedule the regular Tuesday, November 8, 2016 meeting to Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 6:45 p.m. All Aye. Council Member Clough reported that Director of Public Works Flynn and he marked 76 trees with painted “X”s identifying them for future removal as part of the City’s Urban Forestry Plan and Emerald Ash Borer mitigation program. Motion Counsell, second Mabie, to adjourn. All Aye. _____________________________________ Jerry L. Quicker, Chair ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************  COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 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 Counsell reported on the August 25, 2016 meeting of the Commission on Economic Development regarding: 1) a presentation by Beth Waldhart, Regional Business Fund, on funding options locally, 2) update on Connect Communities activities, 3) discussed the Midwest Living Magazine ad, 4) discussed and recommended upgrading the City’s website to V5 software with enhancements for mobile users at a cost of $529, 5) discussed updating the City’s brochure, 6) discussed a Visitor Center funding options and status and 7) discussed procedure, form and policy for economic development grant money. Council Member Quicker reported on the September 6, 2016 meeting of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners regarding: 1) current activities, 2) work on and referral of the proposed 2017 Cemetery budget to the Finance Committee, and 3) the recommendation to the Finance Committee to start setting aside money for the construction of a new Cemetery shed/office within the next three to five years. Council Member Glassbrenner reported on the September 7, 2016 meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board regarding: 1) discussion on and recommendation to approve the Clark County Youth Hockey Association’s request to add an addition to the existing O’Neill Ice Arena building for locker rooms, 2) discussion on and recommendation to approve the Neillsville Cross Country Team’s request for use of the Listeman Arboretum as a Haunted Forest fundraiser for new uniforms on October 22 and 29, 2016, 3) current activities of the Recreation Department, 4) current activities of the Parks Department, 5) work on and referral of the proposed 2017 Recreation Department budget to the Finance Committee, and 6) work on and referral of the proposed 2017 Parks Department budget to the Finance Committee. Mayor Mabie reported on the September 8 and 12, 2016 meetings of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) a closed session on non-union employees wages and benefits, interviewing candidates for the Assistant Clerk-Treasurer position, reviewing applications for the Wastewater Operator/Utilities Maintenance position and reviewing candidates for the Heavy Equipment Operator/Water and Wastewater Maintenance position, 2) reconvening into open session with the recommendation to hire Rita Sternitzky for the other Part-time Assistant Clerk-Treasurer position at $10.00 per hour effective on or after September 26, 2016, increasing to $10.50 per hour after six months, 3) a closed session on interviewing candidates for Wastewater Operator/Utilities Maintenance position, interviewing candidates for Heavy Equipment Operator/Water and Wastewater Maintenance position and non-union employees wages and benefits, 4) reconvening into open session, 5) the recommendation to hire Matthew Thoma for the Heavy Equipment Operator/Water and Wastewater Maintenance position at $16.50 per hour and 6) the recommendation to hire John Schoen for the Wastewater Operator/Utilities Maintenance position at $16.50 per hour. City Clerk Roehl reported on the September 13, 2016 meeting of the Finance Committee regarding: 1) opening three bank proposals for refinancing TIF District #2 Loan - $245,000 and TIF District #3 Loan - $848,000, 2) the recommendation that the Associated Bank proposal for TIF District #2 refinancing of 2.32% for five years be accepted, 3) the recommendation that the Associated Bank proposal for TIF District #3 refinancing of 2.50% for ten years be accepted, 4) discussion on the budget process, directions to departments and obtaining proposals from our current auditor and assessor, 5) referral of non-union wages to the Personnel Committee, and 6) set the budget meeting schedule. Council Member Quicker reported on the September 13, 2016 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities and 2) rescheduling the regular Tuesday, November 8, 2016 meeting to Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 6:45 p.m. Mayor Mabie declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Economic Development item (4). Motion Counsell, second Quicker to accept the recommendation to upgrade the City’s website to V5 software with enhancements for mobile users at a cost of $529. All Aye. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Parks and Recreation Board items (1 and 2). Council Member Glassbrenner stated that the addition would be paid for by fundraising with no tax dollars involved. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated that all funding should be on hand before the project is started and specific completion date should be required. Director of Public Works Flynn stated the state has approved the construction plans. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to accept the recommendation to approve the Clark County Youth Hockey Association’s request to add an addition to the existing O’Neill Ice Arena building for locker rooms with the understanding that financing will be done upfront and the project completed by May 1, 2017. All Aye. Council Member Glassbrenner stated that the Cross Country Team would be using just a loop, not the entire Arboretum and they would be entering from the W. Second Street entrance. Motion Clough, second Glassbrenner, to accept the recommendation to approve the Neillsville Cross Country Team’s request for use of the Listeman Arboretum as a Haunted Forest fundraiser for new uniforms on October 22 and 29, 2016. All Aye. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Personnel Committee items (2, 5 and 6). Motion Quicker, second Neville, to accept the recommendation that Rita Sternitzky be hired for the Other Part-time Assistant Clerk-Treasurer position at $10.00 per hour, effective on or after September 26, 2016; increasing to $10.50 per hour after six months. All Aye. Motion Glassbrenner, second Clough, to accept the recommendation that John Schoen be hired as Wastewater Operator/Utilities Maintenance at $16.50 per hour. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Quicker, to accept the recommendation that Matthew Thoma be hired as Heavy Equipment Operator/Water and Wastewater Maintenance at $16.50 per hour. All Aye. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any question on the Finance Committee items (2 and 3). Motion Counsell, second Glassbrenner, to accept the recommendation that the Associated Bank proposal for TIF District #2 refinancing of 2.32% for five years be accepted. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Clough, to accept the recommendation that the Associated Bank proposal for TIF District #3 refinancing of 2.50% for ten years be accepted. All Aye. The City Clerk reported that the regular meeting of Tuesday, November 8, 2016 is also the Fall General Election day. Discussion followed. Motion Clough, second Neville, to reschedule the Tuesday, November 8, 2016 meeting to Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving a Wisconsin Department of Transportation Municipal Street Improvement Grant for the Grand Avenue project in the amount of $14,254.20. Motion Counsell, second Glassbrenner, to accept and appropriate the Wis DOT grant in the amount of $14,254.20 to Account No. 57330 Street Construction Outlay. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving two donations from Gross Motors, Inc. - $250 for Recreation Department uniforms and $750 for the benefit of Cliff’s Park. Motion Clough, second Quicker, to accept and appropriate $250 to Account No. 55300 Recreation Department Administration and $750 to Account No. 57620 Parks Outlay, and to thank Gross Motors, Inc. for their donations. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving a $1,200 donation from the Marguerite Listeman Foundation for Christmas decorations. Motion Glassbrenner, second Neville, to accept and appropriate $1,200 to Account No. 55360 Christmas Decorations, and to thank the Listeman Foundation for their donation. All Aye. Mayor Mabie stated the next item is adding access of the Neillsville Chamber of Commerce to the City’s website. The City would co-op with the Chamber. Council Member Counsell stated that the Chamber would be giving up their own website. There is the potential for 69 other non-profit entities to come in and make the same request to be on the City’s website. Mayor Mabie stated that the Chamber’s website is costly and this would free up money for them, the City gets many business calls and this Council is pro-business. Council Member Clough stated with this arrangement, two groups would be paying for one site. Council Member Counsell stated that the Chamber of Commerce is a member paying organization, the City’s website is paid for by the taxpayers, if you let one entity on, what about the others. The Deputy Clerk thinks it would be an advantage to the City not having to maintain the business directory, but what about the businesses who chose not to be a Chamber member, maybe the City needs to hire someone to maintain the City’s website. Council Member Clough states another connection is the community calendar. Council Member Counsell stated it is not bad to have things listed in two different places. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated there has been no mention of cost sharing and you could be discriminating if you let one party on and not another. Council Member Clough stated an example would be the Clark County Parks and Trailhead Area Resources Guide. It was extremely hard for the Parks Department to keep an updated list of all business in existence, so they turned to the area Chambers. Some businesses are missed, nothing’s perfect. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated that it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing equation – cost savings to the Chamber – labor savings to the City. The Chamber could only manage the Chamber businesses. Council Member Counsell stated that we need to do this right the first time, if we are going to do this – who is doing what, who pays for what and who can join. Motion Counsell, second Quicker, to table this request and send it back to the Commission on Economic Development. All Aye. Mayor Mabie presented a request from the Neillsville Optimist Club for use of the Sniteman Town Square Park (Gazebo) for Halloween on Monday, October 31, 2016 from 4:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Optimist members would distribute decorated cinch bags children can use for Trick-or-Treating. The bags are sponsored by Jim Ollech, Schuster Campman Abstract and Title Company. Motion Counsell, second Clough, to grant the Neillsville Optimist Club request for use of Sniteman Town Square Park (Gazebo) on Monday, October 31, 2016. All Aye. Council Member Clough presented a draft of the City of Neillsville Street Tree Inventory Summary & Urban Forestry Plan for the Council’s review. The Council needs to adopt a plan including finalized recommendations, so a DNR grant application can be submitted. We will need a Resolution at the next meeting. Clough stated with the Emerald Ash Borer you have three options: 1) Remove all the Ash trees from the public urban forest 2) Save all Ash trees through the use of chemical treatments 3) Chemically treat a portion of the Ash trees deemed significant and remove the remaining Ash trees Clough stated that the chemical treatment could cost $14,000. The DNR grant would be 50/50 – so the City budget portion would be $7,000. If we want to save half of the Ash trees – we could use a size of 17 inches and under. Council Member Counsell stated these are strictly street trees – not park trees. Clough replied there are Ash trees in the parks, but they are not a part of this plan. Council Member Glassbrenner stated that if we start cutting trees in 2017, when would treatment start. Council Member Clough stated treatment would only start if there is an infestation within 15 miles, right now the closest infestation is in Black River Falls (25 miles away). The more trees removed the fewer to treat. The DNR grant request is due in October. The DNR has trees that the City can purchase for replacement (cost $200 to $300 for bigger ones), the beetles will travel a mile or two per year unassisted. Council Member Counsell requested a cost breakdown per tree – take down, replanting, etc. City Clerk Roehl presented a letter from Kathy Brugger, Clark County Treasurer, notifying the City that the County is in the process of tax deeding the former Amy Symington property at 303 W. Fifteenth Street (Parcel #261.0194.000). Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Elizabeth C. Austin, Nancy L. Curtin, Carol L. Mashin Motion Neville, second Quicker, to grant all the listed licenses. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Quicker, that the City Bills Nos. 900 to 949 in the amount of $108,598.91 and CDBG Housing Escrow Account Bill No. 13 in the amount of $2,586.00 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. _____________________________________ Steven J. Mabie, Mayor __________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk