City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM JANUARY 22, 2019 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-new dump truck transmission ($3,300) and rebuilding leaf vac ($4,500), removed several dead and hollow trees at Tock and Schuster parks, trimming and pruning trees, maintaining street lighting, filling potholes, hauling brush and compost to old landfill, the Water Department is doing meter maintenance, the Sewer Department is doing lift station maintenance, picking up and chipping Christmas trees, and Dale Zank will be out six to eight weeks for surgery recovery. Flynn reported on a meeting with the Clark County Health Department on the 305 E. Fifth Street property regarding the County placarding the house for lead based paint poisoning. Once the County has finished its report, the City’s building inspector will get involved Motion Weiers, second Clough, that Water Bills Nos. 1 to 36 in the amount of $65,626.83 and Sewer Bills Nos. 1 to 20 in the amount of $78,167.93 be paid. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Glassbrenner, to adjourn. All Aye. _____________________________________ Jerry L. Quicker, Chair ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM JANUARY 22, 2019 7:00 P.M. The Common Council met in regular session, Mayor Glassbrenner 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 January 16, 2019 meeting of Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) financial report, 2) booking the inflatables, 3) update on bands, 4) discussion on new events, pottery, setup and sponsors. Council Member Quicker reported on the January 21, 2019 meeting of the Property Committee regarding discussion and approval of an advertisement for bids of the former Christie property at 514-518 Hewett Street and to submit it to the Clark County Press for publication. Council Member Quicker reported on the January 22, 2019 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities and 2) the payment of bills. Mayor Glassbrenner declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Mayor Glassbrenner stated that if anyone wishes to speak on an agenda item, they can do so now, when we get to the agenda item only the Council Members will be involved in the discussion. Jerilyn St. Amand stated that 57 people lost their jobs when Figi’s closed, what is the City going to do about jobs and affordable, accessible housing. People are working on Historic Preservation and Rails to Trails-what about housing. The City needs to be more pro-active, instead of re-active. Kevin Grap, Memorial Medical Center (MMC) Board Member, stated that it is troubling on what is being focused on, we should be focused on the possibilities. It was never MMC’s intent to get out of paying the loan money back to the City. January’s payment was made on time, which shows our intent to follow through. He could understand the concerns about the workings taking place, however these workings should not be discussed in a public forum. We should look at the importance of what is being done and not keep generating a lot of negativity. Jerilyn St. Amand stated people like living here and should not have to leave to find a doctor. MMC is a vital part of the City. Dan Kirschnik, Associate General Counsel, Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS), stated that there has been concerns expressed about the City’s loan to MMC and what is going to happen. The transaction that has occurred is a broad stroke. MMC entered into an agreement with MCHS transferring control of its legal entity only-it does not constitute a merger or purchase. MCHS has a sole corporate membership interest in MMC. MCHS appoints the Board, approves budgets and transactions. All the assets, loans, etc. remain with MMC. There were no deed transfers. For hospital license purposes the transaction had to be reported to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Dan Kirschnik stated that the legal name remains Memorial Hospital, Inc. The doing business name is Marshfield Medical Center-Neillsville. The d/b/a name is consistent with other hospitals in the MCHS system-call it “branding”. Dan Kirschnik stated the majority of the MMC contracts remain intact, since no conveyance happen. Both MMC and MCHS are 501(3)(C) entitles. Under Wisconsin law a 181 corporation can have a sole corporate member and that sole corporate member has certain rights under that corporate structure. Council Member Counsell asked who is going to build the new facility. Dan Kirschnik replied the land is owned by MMC. As part of the MCHS system, MCHS will be involved as a player, how the project funding is going to work, he would have to defer to Finance. Council Member Clough asked about the $800,000+ loan balance. Dan Kirschnik replied the loan collateral is the existing hospital building, personal property and equipment, the new facility hasn’t been constructed and when the old facility is vacated concerns will be addressed. Council Member Counsell stated that the City has an adhoc member on the MMC Finance Committee-will that continue with the new Board. Ryan Neville, CEO of MMC, stated that under the new structure, there will be a local advisory board, which will have a finance committee. Dan Kirschnik stated they would meet obligations under the loan agreement. Council Member Weiers reviewed the loan repayment schedule, payments are made twice a year. Nine payments of the twenty have been made on time, which shows good faith. Mayor Glassbrenner stated the MMC loan doesn’t cost us any money. The City receives a payment with an interest rate of 3.40% from MMC. The City’s loan payment to the bank has an interest rate of 3.25%. The 0.15% difference goes to the Economic Development account. Mayor Glassbrenner asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities item from the January 8, 2019 meeting. Motion Quicker, second Clough, to accept the recommendation to approve the Professional Services Agreement with MSA Professional Services, Inc., in the amount of $3,500 (estimated) for a Wastewater Capacity Analysis. All Aye. Mayor Glassbrenner asked if there were any questions on the Property Committee item. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to approve the advertisement for bids of the former Christie property at 514-518 Hewett Street. All Aye. City Attorney Wachsmuth reported that the Linda Montgomery trial has been scheduled for April 29, 2019. Council Member Clough reported that a second infestation of Emerald Ash Borer has been found in Clark County. Mayor Glassbrenner reported on attending a Clark County Transportation Committee meeting. The Neillsville Taxi ridership is up 700 riders in 2018 compared to 2017. Council Member Weiers asked about the Figi’s employees. Mayor Glassbrenner stated he heard about the closure on the radio, after the fact a letter was receiving by the City. The 57 full-time employees will receive two month’s pay and benefits. Seasonal employees nothing. The local job service is working with the former employees. The City did not know a thing about the closure. City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Notice for Specialty Retail Shops Holding Corp (doing business locally as ShopKo Hometown) and a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Notice for James Moore and Johanna Kor-Gruber-Moore (she has a CDBG Housing loan with the City) Tavern Operator’s License Application: Adeline B. Schoenherr Motion Quicker, second Clough, to grant. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Quicker, that City Bills Nos. 48 to 110 in the amount of $806,244.78 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. ___________________________ Charles W. Glassbrenner, Mayor ___________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************