City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM JANUARY 23, 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 three burials at the Cemetery, equipment maintenance, snow and ice removed from streets, sidewalks and hockey rink, removing Christmas decorations, trimming and pruning trees, maintaining street lighting, filling potholes, cleaning up brush and compost, work on the Emerald Ash Borer Tree Grant project will begin again, picking up and chipping Christmas trees, repaired a water main break on W. Twenty-First Street, the water main break on E. Fifteenth Street by Listeman Park has been isolated and will be repaired when WI Rural Water can assist, two of the three offers to purchase the FEMA floodplain houses on Grand Avenue have been signed and returned, bid documents have been sent out to contractors and the ad has been placed for demolition of the FEMA floodplain houses, and ad for demolition has been placed for the 1710 Black River Road house, the Merchants Hotel has been inspected and a packet has been forwarded to the Chief of Police for further action and Flynn stated that he would be off for the next six weeks for surgery, but can be reached by telephone if needed. Abby Bernhagen, Engineer, MSA Engineering presented a Task Order to prepare a letter to retract the previously submitted Individual Hardship (Economic) Variance submitted to the Wisconsin DNR and prepare a “Statewide Multi-Discharger Variance” (MDV) application and submit the same to the Wisconsin DNR at a cost of $3,500. Bernhagen stated that the City is meeting its current permit limit (.5) which expired on September 30, 2017. The City is currently at .47. With the MDV option the City has to pay a fee amount based on $50/lb. for effluent (about $17,700) to the County. This is the cheapest alternative currently available. The payment would be due in March each year. MDV has been approved by the EPA. The County is charged with enforcement. If the County does not participate, the DNR would have to come up with someone. With the next permit the limit goes to .2 for the next five years, then it drops every five years to .08, .06 and .05 respectively unless the requirements are changed. Motion Counsell, second Mabie, to recommend to the Common Council to authorize the Mayor to sign the MSA Task Order in the amount of $3,500 to retract the previously submitted Individual Hardship (Economic) Variance and submit a “Statewide Multi- Discharge Variance” (MDV) phosphorus compliance application to the Wisconsin DNR. All Aye. Director of Public Works Flynn presented the current Memorial Medical Center (MMC) proposal and the January 18, 2018 Planning Commission recommendation to allow MMC to connect to the City sewer system in accordance with the MMC proposal. Motion Clough, second Glassbrenner, to accept the Planning Commission recommendation as presented and recommend the same to the Common Council to allow MMC to connect to the City sewer system in accordance with MMC proposal. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Counsell, that Water Bills Nos. 1 to 32 in the amount of $63,382.38 and Sewer Bills Nos. 1 to 20 in the amount of $128,319.79 be paid. All Aye. Motion Mabie, second Glassbrenner, to adjourn. All Aye. _____________________________________ Jerry L. Quicker, Chair ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk  ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM JANUARY 23, 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. Council Member Quicker reported on the January 16, 2018 meeting of the Library Board regarding: 1) librarians’ reports, 2) discussed increasing the 2019 budget for Board Members to attend the annual library conference, 3) discussed Linda Garrett-Holets resignation from the Board, 4) welcomed Joy Abel as the new Board Member, 5) discussed and allowed reinstatement of Arthur Anderson’s library internet privileges on computers #1 and #2 under staff’s supervision, 6) discussed and approved continuation of After Hours Apps (appetizers) program as funding by the Library Foundation is available, 7) discussed fundraisers to bring author, William Kent Krueger, to the Library-approved a wine glass painting activity and silent auction, 8) discussed and approved doing a story/story walk based on “Chatty Belle” and focused on homeschooled children, 9) payment of bills, 10) update on donation and carryover funds and 11) discussed community activities-story hour, cheese making, mug making and adult coloring. Council Member Counsell reported on the January 18, 2018 meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding: 1) discussion on 2018 decorations, the 1710 Black River Road property and Grand Avenue FEMA properties, 2) authorized putting together and mailing bid letters to nurseries, 3) approved color and plant ideas for summer, along with purchasing pots and materials for surrounds, 4) discussed and approved new banners for Hewett Street and Division Street-looking for designs that include an image of the Jail Museum and our City’s founder James O’Neill. Mayor Mabie reported on the January 18, 2018 meeting of the Planning Commission regarding: 1) discussion on extending a City sewer main outside of the municipal boundaries to Memorial Medical Center property in the Town of Pine Valley and their developer’s proposal, 2) recommendation to the Commission on Public Works/Utilities to allow Memorial Medical Center to connect to the City sewer system in accordance with the Memorial Medical Center proposal on a 4 to 1 split vote, 3) discussion and recommendation to proceed with the demolition of the house at 1710 Black River Road. Council Member Neville reported on the January 18, 2018 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) financial report, 2) discussion on Sunday band, 3) discussion on scholarships, 4) discussion on Miss Neillsville at the at the Winter Carnival at the Legion Hall on Thursday, February 22, 2018 and 5) discussion and authorization to update the Miss Neillsville Float. Council Member quicker reported on the January 23, 2018 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, 2) discussion on and recommendation to authorize the Mayor to sign the MSA Task Order in the amount of $3,500 to retract the previously submitted Individual Hardship (Economic) Variance and submit a “Statewide Multi-Discharge Variance” (MDV) phosphorus compliance application to the Wisconsin DNR, 3) discussion on the January 18, 2018 Planning Commission recommendation, accepted and recommended the same to the Common Council to allow Memorial Medical Center to connect to the City sewer system in accordance with the Memorial Medical Center proposed and 4) 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 Planning Commission item (3). Motion Counsell, second Neville, to accept the recommendation to proceed with the purchase and demolition of the house at 1710 Black River Road. All Aye. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities items (2 and 3). Motion Clough, second Quicker, to accept the recommendation to authorize the Mayor to sign the MSA Task Order in the amount of $3,500 to retract the previously submitted Individual (Economic) Variance and submit a “Statewide Multi-Discharger Variance” (MDV) phosphorus compliance application to the Wisconsin DNR. All Aye. Motion Clough, to accept the recommendation to allow Memorial Medical Center to connect to the City sewer system in accordance with the Memorial Medical Center proposal. Council Member Neville asked is the connection a private line. Director of Public Works Flynn said “Yes.” City Attorney Wachsmuth stated that it cannot be a sewer main; it has to be a sewer lateral. No one else can hook into it. If it is a main they do not have to own it, the City could require them to maintain it via an ordinance and developers’ agreement. We have to clarify this, so we don’t set precedence by giving a reason why this is an extension. Council Member Clough stated that it is a lateral, they own, they maintain it. Wachsmuth stated that if you are going to call it a lateral, then it could be done by resolution instead of an ordinance. Clough amended his motion by adding “subject to the Resolution wording.” Second Glassbrenner. All Aye. Fire Chief Matt Meyer reported on the last quarter Fire Department activities: monthly firemen meetings, work nights and practice training; participating in Community and area events: Firemen’s steak feed, Halloween crossing guards, Autumn Harvest Fest, taking Santa to the tree lighting, fire prevention week tours of the Fire Hall for school children, attending the Clark County Emergency Services meeting in Loyal, a control structure burn, yard clean up assistance for retired or widowed firemen; the Fire Hall building is in good shape; we received a $1,500 donation to purchase a heavy duty wash machine so the firemen can clean their gear; the Merchants Hotel was the only problem inspection for the second half of the year; the City needs to continue to set money aside for a new truck, the City trucks are a 1995 and 1978; and we are still in need of two or three firefighters, they must live within the fire protection area. Bob Bell, 303 State Street, asked if the house at 1710 Black River Road could be burned down. Fire Chief Matt Meyer stated that we just can’t go in and burn a building. It can be used as a training burn, but it would have to be a slow burn, because a main electric power line runs pass it, the slate siding is a concern, as the ashes would have to be hauled to a certified landfill, the collapse zone has to be 1 ½ times the height of the building, another concern is traffic flow on State Highway 73. Council Member Counsell suggested that the FEMA house on Grand Avenue might be possible. Director of Public Works Flynn stated that he would have to check into it, the asbestos would already be removed and the 822 Grand Avenue property is back in its own world. Council Member Clough asked the Fire Chief to keep checking into the 1710 Black River road property. Fire Chief Meyer stated that the Fire Department could use it as a practice without a burn. We have a smoke machine and fires axes. Motion Neville, second Clough, that City Bills Nos. 43 to 106 in the amount of $1,391,265.05 and CDBG Housing Escrow Bill No. 1 in the amount of $468.00 be paid. All Aye. Motion Quicker, second Counsell, to adjourn. All Aye. _______________________ Steven J. Mabie, Mayor ___________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************