City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM JANUARY 9, 2018 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, snow and ice removal from streets, sidewalks and hockey rink, maintaining Christmas decorations, trimming and pruning trees, maintaining street lighting, working on decorative light pole bases, filling potholes, cleaning up brush and compost, hauling chips, work on the Emerald Ash Borer Tree Grant project is on hold for Christmas decoration removal, removing Christmas decorations, picking up and chipping Christmas trees, repaired two waterline breaks (a three inch line went to the Courthouse on E. Fifth Street and a line on E. Fifteenth Street by Listeman Park), FEMA has given the go ahead to make offers of purchase on the three floodplain houses on Grand Avenue, the Merchants Hotel is due for reinspection on January 12, 2018, the new owner has not been responding to the City’s letters he knew the problems when he purchased the property (the front landing is a safety hazard, the building is full of stuff and a fire hazard). Motion Counsell, second Mabie, to adjourn. All Aye. _____________________________________ Jerry L. Quicker, Chair ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM JANUARY 9, 2018 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 January 3, 2018 meeting of the Police and Fire Commission regarding: 1) a closed session to interview police officer candidates and 2) reconvening into open session authorizing Chief of Police Klueckmann to proceed with the hiring process for the vacant police officer position. Mayor Mabie reported on the January 4, 2018 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) a closed session on the vacant police officer position wages and 2) reconvening into open session with the recommendation that the starting wage for the new officer position be $22.26 per hour. Mayor Mabie reported on the January 8, 2018 meeting of the Commission on Economic Development regarding: 1) a closed session on a proposal to purchase property, 2) reconvening into open session with the recommendation to accept the agreed upon offer of $13,500 plus closing costs on the property at 1710 Black River Road to close on or before February 28, 2018, 3) discussion on the demolition of property at 1710 Black River Road and 4) the recommendation to turn it over to Director of Public Works Flynn to handle demolition of the property at 1710 Black River Road once the closing has occurred. City Attorney Wachsmuth asked if the purchase of this property went through the Planning Commission, under City Ordinance the purchase or selling of property has to go through the Planning Commission. Council Member Quicker reported on the January 9, 2018 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities. Mayor Mabie declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Jerilyn St. Amand, Neillsville, stated City Council meetings should be on the website, technical colleges have students who would do that. Mayor Mabie stated that would be another charge, since we don’t have the equipment or personnel needed to do that. St. Amand stated that City meeting agendas and minutes should be on the website. City Clerk Roehl stated that agendas are being posted and the minutes are posted after they are approved. St. Amand stated that at the last Council meeting, Council Members Glassbrenner and Clough mocked her and were disrespectful while she was speaking. Both Council Members apologized. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Personnel Committee item (2). Motion Neville, second Quicker, to accept the recommendation that the starting wage for the new officer position be $22.26 per hour. All Aye. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Economic Development items (2 and 4). Council Member Clough asked what the purpose of the property purchase is. Mayor Mabie stated that the place has not been kept up and the both the Beautification Committee and Commission on Economic Development have waited to buy it for a long time to take it down. Council Member Glassbrenner asked where the money was coming from. Council Member Counsell stated from Economic Development, we want to get rid of an eyesore and have a better presentation for people coming into Neillsville, more welcoming. Council Member Glassbrenner asked about demolition costs. Director of Public Works Flynn stated that we would go out for bids, but he would guess somewhere between $8,000 and $10,000. Council Member Glassbrenner stated that it would around a $20,000+ project. Motion Counsell, second Quicker, to accept the recommendation to accept the agreed upon offer of $13,500 plus closing costs on the property at 1710 Black River Road to close on or before February 28, 2018 pending the Planning Commission review and approval recommendation. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Counsell, to accept the recommendation to turn it over to Director of Public Works Flynn to handle the demolition of the property at 1710 Black River Road once the closing has occurred. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl stated that currently all the Regular Full-Time employees, Regular Part- Time employees and Council Members are on direct deposit. The Other Part-Time employees are not (Firefighters, Election Board Members, seasonal and Recreation workers). Mayor Mabie stated that everyone should be on direct deposit. Discussion followed on high schoolers having to have an account, just mandating it for Firefighters who are paid on a quarterly basis, having only a few people who are not cashing their checks and having to chase after them, it’s a convenience for the employee, etc. Motion Clough, to require the Other Part-Time Firefighters to be on direct deposit of their payroll checks. No second received. Council Member Neville asked what is the difference between firefighters and other part- time employees. Director of Public Works Flynn stated that one of his summer college students went back to school and his check laid at home for two months until he came home to cash it. Motion Neville, second Clough, to mandate that ALL City employees be on direct deposit of employee paychecks. All Aye. Council Member Quicker, Library Board Chair, recommended the appointment of Joy Abel as member of the Library Board to fill the unexpired term of Linda Garret-Holets who had resigned. Mayor Mabie recommended that Abel’s appointment be accepted. Motion Glassbrenner, second Clough, to accept the Mayor’s recommendation to appoint Joy Abel as a member of the Library Board (2018). All Aye. Chief of Police Klueckmann reported on December 2017 complaints, citations, warning and investigations and totals for 2017 with a summary of activities. Mayor Mabie introduced Scott Schultz, the new editor of the Clark County Press. Schultz introduced himself, he is originally from the Veefkind area between Loyal and Greenwood. City Clerk Roehl reported that MaryAnn Lippert, Director, Northern Region Office, Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Intergovernmental Relations will be stopping by City Hall on Thursday, January 11, 2018 after 2:30 P.M. Council Member Counsell read the following email Director of Public Works Flynn received from Ryan Neville, President and CEO of Memorial Medical Center (MMC) dated December 27, 2017: “I am at the point that the annexation process will likely take 6-12 months minimum. It may be best for the council for us not seek annexation and explore options to become Pine Valley residents or elsewhere. I am calling the board together to discuss options to include…not to build, downsize project and place on a site the city requests or seek other municipalities. We are holding bidding documents and financing until we decide. I informed Mayor last night. Our medical staff is very anxious as they all have plenty of options to leave this community… Let’s hope we can utilize sewer and become Pine Valley residents.” Mayor Mabie stated that he certainly hopes they do not decide to leave. He doesn’t know why all the road blocks are being made. The talk all around the City and County is what is wrong with the City Council that they will not approve the hospital. Council Member Counsell stated that we are not throwing road blocks, we are trying to do what is right and lookout for our citizens. Council Member Glassbrenner stated that the Planning Commission is meeting Thursday, January 11, 2018 let’s wait and see what they do. Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Miranda L. Blum and Noelle E. Fitzmaurice Motion Neville, second Quicker, to grant all the listed licenses. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Quicker, that City Bills Nos. 1 to 42 in the amount of $1,258,949.16 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Clough, to adjourn. All Aye. _______________________ Steven J. Mabie, Mayor ___________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************