City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM FEBRUARY 27, 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, snow and ice removal from streets, sidewalks, and hockey rink, setting up and taking down for Winter Carnival, trimming and pruning trees, maintaining street lighting, filling potholes, cleaning up brush and compost piles, working on the Emerald Ash Borer Tree Grant project, ordered more sand and running low on salt, the Water Department had main breaks on E. Twelfth Street and E. Division Street by the Fairgrounds and a lateral leak on Grand Avenue, the iron/removal backwash control panel at the water booster plant is having major issues, parts are no longer available, the cost to replace and upgrade the controls are approximately $39,500, the Sewer Department had to replace the furnace at the old sewer plant, the auto samplers have been failing and evaluating replacements is in process, MSA Engineering has the Multi-Discharge Variance (MDV) application ready to submit to the DNR. City Clerk Roehl opened the following bids for demolition on the 1710 Black River Road property: Hawks Island Excavating & Landscaping, Black River Falls - $17,000 Goetz Excavating, LLC, Neillsville - $ 7,000 Dale Ladick, Inc., Vesper - $21,000 Joe Cepress, Pittsville - $39,130 Elmhorst Excavating & Trucking, Neillsville - $14,900 Opelt Sand & Gravel, LLC, Neillsville - $22,000 Melvin Companies, Abbotsford - $19,810 Discussion followed. Motion Neville, second Counsell, to recommend to the Common Council to accept the low bid from Goetz Excavating, LLC, Neillsville in the amount of $7,000 for demolition of the 1710 Black River Road property. All Aye. Director of Public Works Flynn stated that FEMA does not deal directly with private entities, therefore the City has to own the properties. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated that two of the properties have been scheduled for closing. The 822 Grand Avenue property is still in negotiations. All bid awards should be contingent on the sale closings completed. City Clerk Roehl opened the bids for demolition of the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Project-4276-DR-WI properties on Grand Avenue: 810 822 __823__ Goetz Excavating, LLC, Neillsville $ 6,940.00 $ 7,558.00 $11,920.00 Jaenke Concrete & Excavating, Inc., Eau Claire $13,989.00 $13,989.00 $13,721.00 Elmhorst Excavating & Trucking, Neillsville $ 8,282.50 $13,945.00 $ 8,737.50 Opelt Sand & Gravel, LLC, Neillsville $14,000.00 $20,500.00 $13,500.00 Discussion followed. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to recommend to the Common Council to accept the low bid on the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Project for demolition on the: 810 Grand Avenue property from Goetz Excavating, LLC, Neillsville in the amount of $6,940.00 contingent on the sale closing completion; 822 Grand Avenue property from Goetz Excavating, LLC, Neillsville in the amount of $7,558.00 contingent on the sale closing completion; and 823 Grand Avenue property from Elmhorst Excavating & Trucking, Neillsville, in the amount of $8,737.50 contingent the sale closing completion. All Aye. Motion Glassbrenner, second Mabie, that Water Bills Nos. 33 to 59 in the amount of $27,168.97 and Sewer Bills Nos. 21 to 35 in the amount of $21,918.52 be paid. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Counsell, to adjourn. All Aye. _____________________________________ Jerry L. Quicker, Chair ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM FEBRUARY 27, 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 Neville reported on the February 15, 2018 joint meeting of the Heritage Days Committee and Parks and Recreation Board regarding: 1) presentation and discussion on Joseph Anason Eagle Scout Project-Bandstand at Schuster Park, 2) the Heritage Days Committee recommendation to the Parks and Recreation Board that the Bandstand be constructed in the middle area of Schuster Park by the white (south) pavilion, 3) acceptance of the Heritage Days Committee recommendation by the Parks and Recreation Board and recommendation of the same to the Common Council, 4) discussion on the use of Listeman funds and recommendation to designate $7,000 from the Parks Outlay Account for the Anason Eagle Scout Project-Bandstand at Schuster Park, 5) the Parks and Recreation Board adjourned and the Heritage Days Committee continue its meeting, 6) discussion on bands, 7) updates on scholarships and 8) update on Miss Neillsville activities. Council Member Counsell reported on the February 22, 2018 meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding: 1) opening and discussion on 2018 decoration bids and options for hanging baskets north of O’Neill Creek, 2) accepted the Mill Creek bid of $1,459 with addition of 18 pink flowers for planters and possible reduction of hanging baskets north of O’Neill Creek and 3) talking to the City crew on what options we have for hanging baskets, north of O’Neill Creek to include installation of poles, etc. Council Member Counsell stated that the City was notified by Xcel Energy that we cannot hang anything on their poles with power lines attached (South Hewett Street is okay, but none on North Hewett Street). Director of Public Works Flynn stated the City owns the poles on South Hewett Street and the poles on Division Street cannot have anything on them as they belong to Xcel Energy. Council Member Quicker reported on the February 27, 2018 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, 2) opening and discussion on 1710 Black River Road property demolition bids with the recommendation to accept the low bid from Goetz Excavating, LLC, Neillsville, in the amount of $7,000, 3) opening and discussion on FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Project bids for demolition of the three Grand Avenue properties with the recommendation to accept the low bids on the: 810 Grand Avenue property from Goetz Excavating, LLC, Neillsville in the amount of $6,940.00 contingent on the sale closing completion; 822 Grand Avenue property from Goetz Excavating, LLC, Neillsville in the amount of $7,558.00 contingent on the sale closing completion; and 823 Grand Avenue property from Elmhorst Excavating & Trucking, Neillsville in the amount of $8,737.50 contingent on the sale closing completion and 4) payment of bills. Mayor Mabie declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Lyndsey Boon Brunette introduced herself-she is running for Clark County Judge. She was born and raised in Clark County, she reviewed her professional and legal experience in the County since 2010. Bonnie Wachsmuth stated that it is important for voters to know that Boon Brunette is competent, has the demeanor, experience and ties for the job and is the superior candidate. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Parks and Recreation Board items (3 and 4). Motion Clough, second Quicker, to accept the recommendation that the Joseph Anason Eagle Scout Project-Bandstand be constructed in the middle area of Schuster Park by the white (south) pavilion. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Quicker, to accept the recommendation to designate $7,000 from the Parks Outlay Account for the Anason Eagle Scout Project-Bandstand at Schuster Park. All Aye. Mayor Mabie asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities items (2 and 3). Motion Neville, second Counsell, to accept the recommendation to accept the low bid from Goetz Excavating, LLC, Neillsville in the amount of $7,000 for demolition of the 1710 Black River Road property. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to accept the recommendation to accept the low bid from Goetz Excavating, LLC, Neillsville in the amount of $6,940 for demolition of the 810 Grand Avenue property contingent on the sale closing completion. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Quicker, to accept the recommendation to accept the low bid from Goetz Excavating, LLC, Neillsville, in the amount of $7,558 for the demolition of the 822 Grand Avenue property contingent on the sale closing completion. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Counsell, to accept the recommendation to accept the low bid from Elmhorst Excavating & Trucking, Neillsville, in the amount of $8,737.50 for the demolition of 823 Grand Avenue property contingent on the sale closing completion. All Aye. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated that the Title Insurance Company wants a motion that the City purchased the properties on Grand Avenue. The purchases are part of the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Project the City approved and signed, but the original motion does not specifically state the purchases. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to purchase the 810 Grand Avenue property as part of the FEMA project. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Neville, to purchase the 823 Grand Avenue property as part of the FEMA project. All Aye. Council Member Counsell reported that at the Clark County Tourism Committee meeting there was a discussion on renting out properties for overnight stays-Airbnb’s and Vacation Rentals by Owners (VRBO’s). People are buying properties in Clark County for these purposes and we have one within the City. Counsell stated that an informational packet was put together by the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and others. The collaborative effort explains: complying with municipal law, licensing for the public lodging, collecting and remitting state, county and local taxes, property risks, liability and obtaining insurance coverage. Counsell stated these Airbnb’s and VRBO’s have to follow the same rules as regular B&B’s (Bed & Breakfast). If they rent for less than 30 days in a row-they have to collect the room tax and state/county sales tax. The Clark County Tourism Committee has contacted Clark County Corporation Counsell to pursue this matter. Airbnb will collect and remit the tax for the property owner, if they are notified of the tax. Counsell stated a place in the City has been operating since 2014. They need to be made aware that they are still responsible for the 6% room tax on their gross, plus interest and penalty. The City Clerk’s office needs to pursue this and contact them. Mayor Mabie stated that they may not be aware that they need to collect room taxes, they did not do it intentionally, it fell through the cracks. Chief of Police Klueckmann reported on January 2018 complaints, citations, warnings, and investigations. A citation has been issued to the Merchants Hotel owner for public nuisance and safety violations. Mayor Mabie reported on representing the City of Neillsville at the Highground recognition dinner-both the City and Public Works Department received recognition plaques for their support of the Highground. Council Member Counsell reported on the January and February Clark County Tourism Committee meetings. There are a lot of job openings, employers are finding it hard to find workers. Clark County is making a pitch to get local graduates to comeback home. Council Member Clough stated that the Neillsville Improvement Corporation (NIC) group as part of the UW Extension First Impressions Program was matched with the City of Fennimore. Both cities have a group of people visit their community and report on what a stranger’s first impressions of your city are using an outline of questions from the UW Extension as a guide. The UW Extension then compiles a report on exchange of thoughts, what was seen, what could be improved and overall impressions. The Clark County CONRAD Agent Melissa Kono would like to come to a meeting to present a report on it. City Clerk Roehl reported that the Assessor will be at City Hall for Open Book on Monday, April 30, 2018 from 3:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. and the Board of Review will be here Monday, May 21, 2018 from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. Motion Neville, second Counsell, that City Bills Nos. 158 to 216 in the amount of $1,485,742.66 and CDBG Housing Escrow Bill No. 3 in the amount of $11,680.00 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. _______________________ Steven J. Mabie, Mayor ___________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************