City Council

************ COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM MAY 28, 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, picking up branches, mowing and trimming, Cemetery and parks preparing for Memorial Day, preparing ballfields, stump grinding, poured the concrete floor for the new Schuster Park South restroom, picked up and hung hanging baskets, trimming and pruning trees, removed six dead flowering trees on Hewett Street, maintaining street lighting, replaced two decorative street lights with bases, filling potholes, repairing spring thaw road breakups, rebuilt the E. Seventh Street road base (Willow Street to Center Street), hauling brush and compost, the Water Department repaired a leaking shut off on River Avenue, the Sewer Department is doing lift station and plant maintenance, street sweeping, opening storm drains, cleaning and digging out ditches along the railroad bed west of Willow Street and assisting Cemetery with trimming around headstones for Memorial Day. Director of Public Works Flynn stated that the Water Department’s 2008 Chevy pickup truck has 107,000 miles on it, a bad timing chain and the frame is cracked on both sides of the cab and can no longer be driven. A quote from Gross Motors for a 2019 Chevy Colorado pickup in the amount of $23,629 was received, but there could be additional fees with the model year change. Motion Counsell, second Glassbrenner, to accept and recommend to the Common Council the quote from Gross Motors for a 2019 Chevy Colorado pickup in the amount of approximately $24,500. All Aye. Director of Public Works Flynn reviewed the Sewer Department 2018 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report (CMAR) and Resolution. There were no major changes. Our overall grade point average is 3.25 puts us in the voluntary range. Our rate structure and replacement fund was reviewed in 2017. Future projects are upgrading panels at the treatment plant and raw pump station, replacing manholes on Clay Street and Willow Street and Twenty-First Street lift station upgrade. I & I remains a major concern. Motion Neville, second Clough, to accept the Compliance Maintenance Annual Report and recommend to the Common Council that Resolution No. 596 be adopted. All Aye. Motion Weiers, second Clough, that Water Bills Nos. 124 to 152 in the amount of $32,640.54 and Sewer Bills Nos. 83 to 109 in the amount of $53,582.38 be paid. All Aye. Motion Glassbrenner, second Counsell, to adjourn. All Aye. _____________________________________ Jerry L. Quicker, Chair ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************  COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM MAY 28, 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 Weiers reported on the May 15, 2019 meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding: 1) reviewed the stored decorations available, 2) discussed banner replacement, designs and selection, 3) approved replacing the banners and having a design contest asking for submission of two designs, 4) discussion on and consensus on contest guidelines, 5) a flyer will be designed to advertise the contest, 6) flowers will be delivered on May 22, 2019 and the Committee will plant the pots, 7) the Parks crew will hang the flowering baskets and 8) the Rotary flower bed will be planted once the Gazebo water system is fixed. Mayor Glassbrenner reported on the May 15, 2019 meeting of the Commission on Economic Development regarding discussion on incentives to encourage new residential housing and industry development. Council Member Neville reported on the May 16, 2019 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) financial report, 2) Miss Neillsville update, 3) discussion on new events, volunteers for children’s games, food vendors layout and setup, golf outing, tent and fence layout and setup, the poster and pottery. Mayor Glassbrenner reported on the May 20, 2019 meeting of the Board of Review regarding: 1) examination of the City’s 2019 Assessment Roll for errors and omissions and to hear assessment objections and 2) no property owners appeared in objection to their assessments. Council Member Quicker reported on the May 21, 2019 of the Library Board regarding: 1) librarian’s report, 2) discussion on the WLA conference and a Board Member attending, 3) discussion on and denial for request for use of the library basement for a Kids Zumba Class, 4) discussion on repairs-front steps, a concrete block above the basement entrance and a AC unit-there will be a special meeting after estimates and information is received, 5) payment of bills, 6) updates on Donation Fund and Carryover funds and 7) discussion on Community activities. Mayor Glassbrenner reported on the May 21, 2019 meeting of the Police and Fire Commission regarding a closed session on Neillsville Police Department employees-the meeting adjourned in closed session. Council Member Quicker reported on the May 28, 2019 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, 2) discussion on and recommendation to accept the quote from Gross Motors for a 2019 Chevy Colorado pickup in the amount of approximately $24,500, 3) reviewed and accepted the Sewer Department’s Compliance Maintenance Annual Report and recommendation that Resolution No. 596 be adopted and 4) payment of bills. Mayor Glassbrenner declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Mayor Glassbrenner stated that the next agenda item is discussion and action on the ATV Ordinance. Anyone from the public can speak one time. Jerilyn St. Amand, Sunset Place, stated some ATVers stopped downtown to eat and someone told them that they were not on a trail and illegally parked. The ATVers left without eating, losing business income. The party had no business interfering and should have left the matter to law enforcement. Rick Dailey and Marcus Aumann, Clark County Forest & Parks Department, are applying for a DNR grant to redo the Clark County/Jackson County trail map which has the Neillsville City trails on the inside. Don Vatne, 109 E. Fifteenth Street, stated that on any weekend 10 to 100 ATVs drive down E. Fifteenth Street with no problem, they are very polite. The trail signs are hidden and hard to follow (especially the one on Grand Avenue which is covered by lilacs). The City’s website has a very clear route map and the City Ordinance has the routes listed in Section 8-3-10. The Chief of Police is in charge of signage and routes under the ordinance. Where the ordinance gets confusing is it talks about both snowmobiles and ATV, but finishes up with only snowmobiles can go from their residence or lodging establishment to a trail-ATVs cannot. Bob Petkovsek, 206 Ferguson Street, stated 12 year olds can only drive while being supervised by an adult. Consider opening the City temporarily or opening more routes, we deserve a chance. Jon Counsell, 603 East Street, to clarity Vatne’s question state law only allows for snowmobiles to go directly to a trail, it was never allowed for ATVs. Leave things the way they are with the only change being extending a route one block down Grand Avenue from W. First Street to Grand Avenue. When Petkovsek moved he chose to move to a house not on a trail. When you live in town you know some streets see higher use. Fifth Street leads out of town, by opening all streets, it will see more traffic. Leave things the way they are, tweak if a business asks. Dave Harnisch, 321 Sunset Place, introduced himself, his neighbor Richard Schleifer could not be here tonight, but he supports opening up our streets to responsible ATV/UTV owners. Harnisch stated he would like to use his ATV to pull a trailer to the City’s yardwaste site without having to load, transport and unload to access a trail four blocks away. We could sneak around, but being law abiding citizens would like our voice to be heard. Please consider approving access to all local businesses. Keep equality in mind. Don’t base decisions on an individual’s status, location or influence. Vote with your constituency and what’s best for your community. Harnisch stated that at the fact finding meeting lead by Council Member Neville he would be willing to work closely with the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association to establish a chapter here in Neillsville. Beth Darst, Black River Falls, owner of Black Water Lodges on the end of W. Fourth Street (former Sunburst) stated it is unfair when certain businesses are accessible, but others are not. Her lodges are not on a trail. Opening the entire City may mean more police work, but ATV’s bring in more people and they spend money. She doesn’t see a bit of problems in Black River Falls or Hatfield. Your residents who live here cannot get to a trail. Her three lodges hold twenty people each, initially she was told a guest could get to a trail, but she found out she was misinformed. She rents out lodges and it is a shame the City is missing out. Please consider opening up the City. Council Member Neville reported on the discussion group. Four people attended and all four were for opening the City. Neville was really not for it. The cities of Greenwood and Loyal are open. The biggest issue is people cannot get to the dump, ordinances from other cities were reviewed, signage, doing a three to six month trial. Council Member Counsell asked about having a referendum. Mayor Glassbrenner stated that there is no election until next year. Council Member Counsell asked about set times of operation. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated there is nothing in the ordinance. Council Member Quicker suggested a 90 day trial period. Council Member Weiers stated all the calls he received were in favor of opening the City. He would like to see beyond three months to get all the seasons - go six months. Can the City adopt an ordinance say you can go to the closet route. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated no, we can’t over rule state law. The Council needs to decide on requirements and get these things in line, signage etc. Council Member Clough asked if we really need requirements, we have trails and ordinances already and there has been no problems and he is fine with a six month trial. Council Member Counsell stated the ordinances have prohibited areas like parks - do we have to sign the whole City. Director of Public Works Flynn stated only the accesses to the City. ST HWY 73 and US HWY 10 signs are already there and the signs already say 10 mph. Council Member Neville stated some feel the 10 mph is actually a traffic issue and it should be raised to 15 mph or 20 mph. Do a 90 day trial and see where we are, we can change things at any time if problems occur. Interim Chief of Police Fehlman asked the Council to think about school traffic hours. Motion Clough, second Neville, to rescind Ordinance Sec. 8-3-10(a) and open up City streets for ATV use only for a trial period, with a revisit at the September 10, 2019 Common Council meeting. On roll call: Council Member Clough-Aye, Council Member Neville-Aye, Council Member Weiers-Aye, Council Member Quicker-Aye, Council Member Counsell-Nay. 4 – Aye, 1 – Nay, motion carried. Mayor Glassbrenner asked if there were any question on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities items (2 and 3). Motion Quicker, second Counsell, to accept the recommendation to accept the quote from Gross Motors for a 2019 Chevy Colorado pickup in the amount of approximately $24,500. All Aye. RESOLUTION NO. 596 COMPLIANCE MAINTENANCE RESOLUTION RESOLVED, that the City of Neillsville informs the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that the following actions were taken by the Common Council: 1. Reviewed the Compliance Maintenance Annual Report, which is attached to this resolution. ___________________________ Charles W. Glassbrenner, Mayor ___________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk Motion Counsell, second Clough, to accept the recommendation that Resolution No. 596 be adopted. All Aye. Mayor Glassbrenner present a request from the Clark County Jail Museum for use of the C.C. Sniteman Town Square Park Gazebo for History Talks on June 18 & 25 and July 9 & 16, 2019. Discussion followed. The History Talks will be from 10:00 A.M. to Noon each day. Motion Quicker, second Clough, to approve the use of the C.C. Sniteman Town Square Park Gazebo for the Clark County Jail Museum History Talks on June 18 & 25 and July 9 & 16, 2019 from 10:00 A.M. to Noon each day. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl opened and read the one bid received on the 303 W. Fifteenth Street (former Symington property) property Parcel No. 261.0194.000 from Melvin Construction, LLC, Neillsville in the amount $500. Roehl stated that the City has $5,296.00 in tax roll special charges against the property. Motion Neville, second Quicker, to accept the Melvin Construction LLC bid on the former Symington property, 303 W. Fifteenth Street in the amount of $500, contingent on the City approval of writing off of property costs against the property. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl presented the 2019 Recycling Grant Funds received from the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the amount of $9,947.27 (2018-$9,321.00). Motion Counsell, second Weiers, to accept and appropriate the $9,947.27 Recycling Grant funds to Account No. 53620 Refuse and Garbage Collection. All Aye. Mayor Glassbrenner reported on the United Communities of Clark County meeting at Withee. They voted to start the process to extend the Advance Disposal garbage and recycling collection contract for another three year term. Waste Management is in the process of negotiating a buyout of Advanced Disposal. We will learn more at the next meeting in July. Temporary Class “B” Retailer’s License (Beer Only) Application: Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce, Jose Neville, Agent, for 511 E. Division Street, (Schuster Park) for July 11, 12, 13, 14, 2019-Heritage Days Motion Quicker, second Clough to grant. Council Member Neville-Abstained. All other members-Aye. Motion carried. Soda Water License Application: Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce, Diane L. Kren, Agent, for 511 E. Division Street, (Schuster Park) for July 11, 12, 13, 14, 2019-Heritage Days Motion Clough, second Quicker, to grant. All Aye. Temporary Amendment Request to “Class B” Retail Fermented Malt Beverages and Intoxicating Liquor License Application: American Legion Post 73, Donald L. Harris, Agent, 6 Boon Boulevard-to add the east lawn to the license for the Heritage Days Mini-Rod event on July 12, 2019 Motion Counsell, second Neville, to grant. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Quicker, that City Bills Nos. 485 to 523 in the amount of $406,235.41 be paid. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. ___________________________ Charles W. Glassbrenner, Mayor ___________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk