City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 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, picking up branches, mowing and weed whacking at the Cemetery and Parks, watering flowers, trimming and pruning trees, street sweeping, cleaning storm sewer inlets, maintaining street lighting, filling pot holes, Prospect Street and E. Sixth Street are ready for the shaping crews preparing for paving within the next two weeks, painting parking spots and crosswalks, meeting with WI Emergency Management on the FEMA demolition of three floodplain houses on Grand Avenue, replaced three culverts on E. Fifteenth Street. Chair Quicker reported on the August 22, 2017 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding the recommendation to advertise for an independent part-time self-insured contractor to act as the City Sewer Department Advanced Certified Operator per Wis. DNR requirements. Discussion followed. Flynn will contact engineering firms and advertise on-line with Wisconsin Rural Water Association and Wastewater Operator Association. Motion Glassbrenner, second Mabie, to recommend to the Common Council to advertise for an independent part-time self-insured contractor to act as the City Sewer Department Advanced Certified Operator per Wis. DNR requirements. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Glassbrenner, to adjourn. All Aye. _____________________________________ Jerry L. Quicker, Chair ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 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 swore in Patrick Fehlman as a Neillsville Police Officer. Mayor Mabie reported on the August 22 and 28, 2017 meetings of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) the recommendation to the Commission of Public Works/Utilities to advertise for an independent part-time self-insured contractor to act as the City Sewer Department Advance Certified Operator per Wis. DNR requirements, 2) the recommendation to accept the 2018-2020 Wisconsin Professional Police Association (WPPA) contract as negotiated and changed and specifically to approve wage increases of $1.00 per hour in 2018, $.40 per hour in 2019 and $.50 per hour in 2020. Council Member Counsell reported on the August 24, 2017 meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding: 1) discussion on 2017 decorations, 2) discussion on 2018 ideas including FEMA properties and new banners, including banners for Division Street 3) work on and referral of the proposed 2017 Beautification budget to the Finance Committee. Council Member Quicker reported on the September 12, 2017 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, 2) the recommendation to advertise for an independent part-time self-insured contractor to act as the City Sewer Department Advanced Certified Operator per Wis. DNR requirements. 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 Neville, to accept the recommendation to accept the 2018-2020 Wisconsin Professional Police Association (WPPA) contract as negotiated and changed and specifically to approve wage increases of $1.00 per hour in 2018, $.40 per hour in 2019 and $.50 per hour in 2020. All Aye. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities item (2). Motion Clough, second Glassbrenner, to accept the recommendation to advertise for an independent part-time self-insured contractor to get as the City Sewer Department Advanced Certified Operator per Wis. DNR requirements. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving the following donation from the Listeman Foundation: $2,000.00 for Christmas Donations and $30,000.00 for the Schuster Park South Restroom. Motion Counsell, second Quicker, to accept and appropriate $2,000.00 to Account No. 55360 Christmas Decorations and $30,000.00 to Account No. 57620 Parks Outlay, and to thank the Listeman Foundation for the donations. All Aye. City Attorney Wachsmuth reported that Kevin D. German filed a claim for damages to his vehicle allegedly caused by driving over a damaged patch on E. Fifteenth Street on July 28, 2017. Statewide Services, Inc., administers the claims for the City’s insurance company, (Leagues of Wisconsin Municipalities Mutual Insurance Company), has recommended denying the claim. If the City denies the claim, he has a six-month time frame to file a lawsuit. Motion Counsell, second Clough, to deny the Kevin D. German claim for damages per recommendation from our insurance company. All Aye. Mayor Mabie read Police Detective Jeffery R. Pokallus’ Letter of Resignation. Motion Quicker, second Counsell, to accept Police Detective Jeffery R. Pokallus’ Letter of Resignation effective February 6, 2018 and to thank him for his 29 years of service (1989- 2018), to the City. All Aye. Mayor Mabie read Police Secretary Trudy J. Griepentrog’s Letter of Resignation. Motion Neville, second Clough, to accept Police Secretary Trudy J. Griepentrog’s Letter of Resignation effective February 9, 2018 and to thank her for her 39+ years of service (1978-2018), to the City. All Aye. Discussion on the Police Officer position vacancy. Motion Glassbrenner, second Clough, to refer the Police Officer position vacancy hiring to the Police and Fire Commission. All Aye. Discussion on the Police Department Secretary position vacancy. Motion Clough, second Glassbrenner, to refer the Police Department Secretary position vacancy to the Personnel Committee. All Aye. Mayor Mabie requested that the size of the Heritage Days Committee be increased by two members due to the increasing number of activities and work involved. Motion Counsell, second Clough, to increase the Heritage Days Committee from 9 members to 11 members. All Aye. Chief of Police Klueckmann reported on August, 2017 complaints, citations, warnings and investigations. Klueckmann showed the new speed signs purchased with Listeman Foundation funds. Klueckmann stated that the department will be losing a lot of experience when Detective Pokallus and Secretary Griepentrog retire in 2018. Pokallus’ last work date is January 2, 2018 and Griepentrog’s last work date is January 5, 2018. Griepentrog has served under five Police Chief’s during her 39+ years of service to the Neillsville Police Department. Council Member Glassbrenner reported on attending the Clark County Transportation Committee meeting. The current taxi contract expires on December 31, 2017. Applications are being taken for the next taxi contract. The County has appointed a five committee – three members from Clark County and two representing the City (Council Member Glassbrenner and Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Boyer). Council Member Counsell reported on the Harvest Moon Fall Tour running from September 15, 2017 through October 8, 2017. A state tourism grant was received by Clark County Tourism and a Midwest Living Magazine advertisement was placed. Council Member Clough stated that Neillsville Chamber of Commerce Autumn Harvest Fest is on Sunday, October 8, 2017. Class “A” Retail Liquor and Malt Beverages License Application: Neillsville Food Bank, Inc., Randy’s Neighborhood Market-Neillsville, Lisa F. Schey, Agent, 320 E. Division Street Motion Glassbrenner, second Clough, to grant. All Aye. Change of Agents Successor Application: For the ShopKo Stores Operating Co., LLC, ShopKo Hometown #627, 1008 E. Division Street, Timothy A. Ramer Motion Quicker, second Neville, to grant. All Aye. Combination Cigarette and Soda Water License Application: Neillsville Food Bank, Inc., Randy’s Neighborhood Market-Neillsville, Lisa F. Schey, Agent, 320 E. Division Street Motion Clough, second Neville, to grant. All Aye. Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Madison R. Betlaf Motion Quicker, second Clough, to grant. All Aye. Motion Quicker, second Clough that City Bills Nos. 836 to 892 in the amount of $132,054.69 CDBG Housing Escrow Account Bills Nos. 17 to 19 in the amount of $6,867.50 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. _______________________ Steven J. Mabie, Mayor ___________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************