City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Chair Quicker presiding. On roll call: Ward I Council Member position-vacant, all other 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, mowing and weed trimming cemetery and parks, cleaning up storm damage, watering flowers, working on cleaning Listeman Arboretum trails, summer help is done for the season, trimming and pruning trees, maintaining street lighting, filling potholes, cleaning brush and compost sites, street sweeping, mowing the landfill, the FEMA house at 822 Grand Avenue demolition is complete and the yard cleaned up-awaiting final bills, doing storm sewer inlets and adjacent sinkholes, took down hazardous storm damaged trees, repairs to the O’Neill Creek floating fountain were completed, the fountain was installed, then removed due to the storm and will not be reinstalled this season, demolition on the Schuster Park south restroom has begun, the Joseph Anason Schuster Park bandstand is done and one of the part-time workers hit a truck ($4,500 damage) with the Kubota (which is inoperable). Motion Neville, second Clough, to adjourn. All Aye. _____________________________________ Jerry L. Quicker, Chair ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 7:00 P.M. The Common Council met in regular session, Mayor Glassbrenner presiding. On roll call: Ward I Council Member position-vacant, all other members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Mayor Glassbrenner stated that the first item is appointment of a First Ward Council Member, to fill the First Ward Council Member vacancy. Council Member Counsell asked if anyone else was interested in the position. Daniel Edelson introduced himself having recently moved in at 202 W. Twelfth Street. Joseph Weiers introduced himself. Weiers previously served as Second Ward Council Member, before moving to 1702 Prospect Street. Discussion followed. Motion Quicker, second Clough, to appoint Joseph F. Weiers as First Ward Council Member for the remainder of the term (2019). All Aye. City Clerk Roehl swore in Joseph F. Weiers as First Ward Council Member. Mayor Glassbrenner stated the next item is appointment of a President of the Council. Discussion followed. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to appoint Council Member Quicker as President of the Council for the remainder of the term (2019). All Aye. Mayor Glassbrenner reported on the August 28, 2018 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding a closed session on non-union employees, re-convening into open session, with a recommendation of a non-union employee Wage Schedule for 2019 to the Finance Committee. Council Member Counsell reported on the August 30, 2018 meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding: 1) discussion on 2019 decorations bids, 2) accepted the Mill Creek bid of $1,656 including burlap and fertilizer for 2019 and 3) work on and referral of proposed 2019 Beautification budget to the Finance Committee. Mayor Glassbrenner reported on the September 5, 2018 meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board regarding: 1) 2018 activities of the Recreation Department, 2) 2018 activities of the Park Department, 3) work on and referral of proposed 2019 Recreation Department budget to the Finance Committee and 4) work on and referral of proposed 2019 Parks Department budget to Finance Committee. Council Member Counsell reported on the September 6, 2018 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding: 1) tabling discussion on 2019 calendars, 2) discussion on 2018 Christmas Tour-not able to get houses this year, but there are homeowners interested in the future, 3) discussion on Fall State meeting-no interest and 4) work on and referral of proposed 2019 Historic Preservation budget to the Finance Committee. Council Member Quicker reported on the September 11, 2018 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities. Mayor Glassbrenner declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Jerilyn St. Amand stated that with all the people who attended the last meeting the City should have a training course on how citizens can get up and speak before the Council and how to become more involved in City government. 7:15 P.M. - Mayor Glassbrenner declared the Public Hearing on the Curb and Gutter Special Assessment Levy for E. Sixth Street now open. Director of Public Works Flynn reported on the June 12, 2018 Preliminary Resolution adoption, notification of property owners and the public hearing notice in the Clark County Press. Three of the affected property owners have signed waivers of assessment notices and public hearings. The fourth, Sheila Hubbard, 510 E. Sixth Street, has not. City Clerk Roehl read Hubbard’s letter stated that the curb and gutter has not benefitted her property, as she has lost parking space, storm water builds up behind the curb causing a wet yard, dust control was never an issue and questioned safety issues. Flynn stated that Hubbard lost no property, she had been parking in the street right-of-way. Mayor Glassbrenner called three times for appearances, there being no appearances. 7:20 P.M. - Mayor Glassbrenner declared the Public Hearing closed. City Attorney Wachsmuth read the final resolution for curb and gutter assessments on E. Sixth Street (Center Street to Willow Street). Discussion followed on the number of annual installments, interest rate and delinquent interest rate. Home Equity loans at Associated Bank ranged from 5% to 9% and Citizen’s State Bank is prime plus 1.5% or currently 6.4%. The Clark County tax bill delinquency rate is 18%. The last curb and gutter assessment was in 2008 (Lloyd Street) and it was for 5 years at 5 ½%. The consensus was to allow payments over 5 years at 6% per year with a delinquency rated of 18% per year. RESOLUTION NO. 592 FINAL RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AGAINST BENEFITED PROPERTY IN NEILLSVILLE, WISCONSIN WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Neillsville, Wisconsin held a public hearing at the City Hall at 7:15 P.M. on the 11 day of September, 2018, for the purpose of hearing all interested persons concerning the preliminary resolution and report of the Director of Public Works on proposed improvement and construction of curb and gutter at the following location: Installation of curb and gutter on all property fronting the north and south sides of east 6th Street, commencing on the east edge of Center Street thence running east approximately 330 feet to Willow Street. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the governing body of Neillsville, Wisconsin determines as follows: 1. The report of the Director of Public Works, pertaining to the construction of the above described public improvements, including plans and specifications therefore, was adopted and approved. 2. Payment for the improvements shall be made by assessing the entire cost to the property benefited as indicated in the report. 3. Assessments shown on the report represent an exercise of the police power and have been determined on a reasonable basis and are hereby confirmed. 4. Assessments may be paid in cash or in 5 annual installments to the municipal clerk, deferred payments to bear interest at the rate of 6% per annum on the unpaid balance. Installments or assessments not paid when due shall bear additional interest on the amount due at the rate of 18% per annum. 5. The municipal clerk shall publish this resolution as a class 1 notice under chapter 985, Wis. Stats. In the assessment district and mail a copy of this resolution and a statement of the final assessment against the benefited property together with notice of installment payment privileges to every property owner whose name appears on the assessment roll whose post office address is known or can with reasonable diligence, be ascertained. ___________________________ Charles W. Glassbrenner, Mayor ___________________ Rex R. Roehl, City Clerk Motion Counsell, second Neville, that Resolution No. 592 be adopted. All Aye. City Attorney Wachsmuth read the final resolution for curb and gutter assessment on Prospect Street (W. Fifteenth Street to W. Eighteenth Street). RESOLUTION NO. 593 FINAL RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AGAINST BENEFITED PROPERTY IN NEILLSVILLE, WISCONSIN WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Neillsville, Wisconsin in consideration of the below listed improvements the property owner signed a waiver of public hearing, hereby admitting that this improvement will benefit the property located in the above named municipality and consent to the levying of special  assessments for the cost of this improvement against the premises under §66.0703, Stats. Installation of curb and gutter on all property fronting the east and west sides of Prospect Street, commencing on the north end by 18th Street, thence running south approximately 500 feet to 15th Street. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the governing body of Neillsville, Wisconsin determines as follows: 1. The report of the Director of Public Works, pertaining to the construction of the above described public improvements, including plans and specifications therefore, was adopted and approved. 2. Payment for the improvements shall be made by assessing the entire cost to the property benefited as indicated in the report. 3. Assessments shown on the report represent an exercise of the police power and have been determined on a reasonable basis and are hereby confirmed. 4. Assessments may be paid in cash or in 5 annual installments to the municipal clerk, deferred payments to bear interest at the rate of 6% per annum on the unpaid balance. Installments or assessments not paid when due shall bear additional interest on the amount due at the rate of 18% per annum. 5. The municipal clerk shall publish this resolution as a class 1 notice under chapter 985, Wis. Stats. In the assessment district and mail a copy of this resolution and a statement of the final assessment against the benefited property together with notice of installment payment privileges to every property owner whose name appears on the assessment roll whose post office address is known or can with reasonable diligence, be ascertained. ___________________________ Charles W. Glassbrenner, Mayor ____________________ Rex R. Roehl, City Clerk Motion Neville, second Quicker, that Resolution No. 593 be adopted. Council Member Weiers-Abstained. All other members-Aye. Motion carried. City Attorney Wachsmuth read the following resolution. Resolution No. 594 Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of The Highground and Central Wisconsin Remembers Yellow Ribbon Campaign and Central Wisconsin Remembers Ceremonies I. WHEREAS, The Highground in rural Neillsville, Clark County, Wisconsin, USA is commemorating their 30th Anniversary and that of the “Fragments” Vietnam Veterans Tribute; and II. WHEREAS, The Highground has become a veterans memorial park that pays tribute to the fallen service men and women, and honors the survivors, their service and their sacrifices in times of conflict and in times of peace. It also pays tribute to the people who supported them when they were away and upon their return; and III. WHEREAS, this site which started as the Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park in 1988, has evolved into “The Highground” and is now the home to tributes to all Veterans, Legacy Stones, Learning Center, Meditation Garden, hiking trails and much more; and IV. WHEREAS, honoring the mission of The Highground to offer healing and education by bringing past lessons into our hopes for the future; and  V. WHEREAS, so many gave their lives for our freedom and The Highground is a healing and learning site for both veterans and their families; and VI. WHEREAS, as part of this historic anniversary, will mark the day of September 22, 2018 as the official anniversary with parade, ceremonies and tribute; and VII. WHEREAS, we wholeheartedly, actively and reverently participate in the recognition of our Vietnam Veterans - as this is also the midpoint of the 50th Anniversary of the United States Commemoration of the Vietnam War (1962 – 1975). VIII. NOW, BE IT RESOLVED, we, the City of Neillsville, pass this resolution as our way to honor The Highground and all our veterans and support the September 22, 2018 Central Wisconsin Remembers Those Who Served in Vietnam “Welcome Home” Ceremonies. IX. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, we show our support for the “Yellow Ribbon Campaign” adjoining the “Light Up America” national recognition campaign marking September 22, 2018 thru Veterans Day, November 11, 2018 and ask all citizens to join in this very special recognition by honorably displaying yellow ribbons to officially welcome home our veterans. ___________________________ Charles W. Glassbrenner, Mayor _______________________ Rex R. Roehl, City Clerk Motion Clough, second Counsell, that Resolution No. 594 be adopted. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving $1,000 donation from the Marquerite Listeman Foundation for Christmas Decorations. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to accept and appropriate $1,000 to Account No. 55360 Christmas Decorations and to thank the Listeman Foundation for the donations. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl presented a $30.00 donation from Jerilyn St. Amand for the Police Department Canine Fund. Motion Neville, second Quicker, to accept and appropriate $30.00 to Account No. 52100 Police Department Administration and thank Ms. St. Amand for the donation to the City. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl read Fran Barlow’s Letter of Resignation from the Beautification Committee. Motion Quicker, second Clough, to accept the resignation of Fran Barlow as member of the Beautification Committee and to thank her for her 16 years (2002-2018) of service to the City of Neillsville. All Aye. Chief of Police Klueckmann reported on August, 2018 complaints, citations, warnings and investigations. Temporary Class “B” Retailer’s License Application: Memorial Medical Center Foundation, Candace B. Marg, Agent, for the Clark County Fairgrounds, 1120 E. Division Street for October 4, 2018-Mingle event. Motion Counsell, second Quicker, to grant. All Aye. Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Dawn M. Zickert Motion Neville, second Clough, to grant. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Quicker, that City Bills Nos. 861 to 907 in the amount of $126,385.37 and CDBG House Escrow Account Bill No. 15 in the amount of $30.00 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. ___________________________ Charles W. Glassbrenner, Mayor ___________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************