City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM NOVEMBER 12, 2019 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Chair Quicker presiding. On roll call: Mayor Glassbrenner absent, all other members present. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Director of Public Works Flynn reported on two burials at the Cemetery, equipment maintenance, mulching leaves and weed trimming at the Cemetery and Parks, finished the Schuster Park pathway lights, winterized park restrooms, removed Fall decorations, started placing Christmas decorations, snow removal from sidewalks, installed sanders on trucks and the wing on the grader, trimming and pruning trees, maintaining street lighting, filling potholes, hauling brush and compost, burned the brush pile, street sweeping, finished mowing the landfill, Industrial Park and road shoulders, leaf pickup is in progress, the Sewer Department has a contractor hauling sludge and had to unplug the Sewer main backed up from grease on Ferguson Street by the hospital/assisted living, the Water Department is winterizing fire hydrants and a contractor did a robotic inspection of the water tower by the high school as required by the DNR, in October we had three traffic signal poles breakoff at the Hewett Street/Division Street intersection, individuals have been going to training and using up vacation time, the DNR has placed a dumpster at the old Cenex location on Division Street for disposal of deer carcasses by hunters this season. Director of Public Works Flynn request that Ordinance Section 4-2-7(a) Snow and Ice Removal be updated to change old outdated language and timeframe as the City cannot meet the timeframe for clearing sidewalk snow. Flynn recommended “within 24 hours after the snow has stopped”. Discussion followed removing the 10:00 A.M. and three hour language and adding within 24 hours of the end of a snow event. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to recommend to the Common Council that the City Attorney be directed to draft an update to Ordinance Section 4-2-7 Snow and Ice Removal for the next meeting. All Aye. Chair Quicker reported that the regular meeting date of Tuesday, December 24, 2019 is also Christmas Eve Day. Motion Weiers, second Counsell, to reschedule the regular Tuesday, December 24, 2019 meeting to Monday, December 23, 2019 at 6:45 P.M. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Weiers, to adjourn. All Aye. _____________________________________ Jerry L. Quicker, Chair ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM NOVEMBER 12, 2019 7:00 P.M. The Common Council met in regular session, President of the Council Quicker presiding. On roll call: Mayor Glassbrenner absent, all other members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. President of the Council Quicker reported on the November 5, 2019 meeting of the Library Board regarding: 1) Librarians’ reports, 2) discussion on and acceptance of Library Director Cara Hart’s Letter of Resignation effective November 29, 2019, 3) discussion on and approval to advertise the vacant Library Director’s position, 4) discussion on an author’s visit-no action taken, 5) discussion on and authorized use of a collection letter for items and fines, 6) discussion on an estate donation-no action taken, 7) payment of bills, 8) update on donation and carryover funds, 9) discussion on community events, and 10) discussion on a book written by former Neillsville resident. Council Member Counsell reported on the November 6, 2019 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding: 1) discussion on and denial of a demolition request from Lisenby Properties, LLC, Mark Lisenby, for 551/549 Hewett Street and 2) discussion on and recommendation to appoint Natalie Erpenbach as Commission Chair. President of the Quicker reported on the November 12, 2019 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, 2) discussion on and the recommendation that the City Attorney be directed to draft an update to Ordinance Section 4-2-7 Snow and Ice Removal and 3) rescheduling the regular Tuesday, December 24, 2019 meeting to Monday, December 23, 2019 at 6:45 P.M. President of the Council Quicker declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. President of the Council Quicker asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities items (2). Motion Neville, second Counsell, to accept the recommendation that the City Attorney be directed to draft an update to Ordinance Section 4-2-7 Snow and Ice Removal. All Aye. The City Clerk reported that the regular meeting date of Tuesday, December 24, 2019 is also Christmas Eve Day. Motion Counsell, second Weiers, to reschedule the regular Tuesday, December 24, 2019 meeting to Monday, December 23, 2019 at 7:00 P.M. All Aye. The City Clerk presented the CliftonLarsonAllen 2019 Audit Service Agreement in the amount of $22,400. This is the first year of a three year proposal. Motion Clough, second Neville, to approve the 2019 Audit Service Agreement with CliftonLarsonAllen in the amount of $22,400. All Aye. The City Clerk presented the Associated Appraisal 2020 Assessor Services Agreement in the amount of $7,450. This is the first year of a three year agreement and doesn’t include a revaluation cost amount. Motion Counsell, second Weiers, to approve the 2020 Assessor Service Agreement with Associated Appraisal in the amount of $7,450. All Aye. The City Clerk reported on the 2020 dental insurance renewal from Humana Dental. The Employee plan premium is increasing from $36.21 to $38.20 or $1.99 per month (5.5%). The Employee and Spouse plan is increasing from $72.42 to $76.40 or $3.98 per month (5.5%). The Employee and Child plan premium is increasing from $101.58 to $106.65 or $5.07 per month (5.0%). The Family plan premium is increasing from $139.79 to $146.85 or $7.06 per month (5.1%). The monthly overall increase is 5.2%. Motion Clough, second Weiers, to approve the 2020 dental insurance contract renewal with Humana Dental as presented. All Aye. The City Clerk presented a Wisconsin Election Commission Election Security Sub-grant Program Grant for election security needs-a computer ($600), IT Support ($500), and Training ($100) – Total $1,200. Motion Counsell, second Clough, to accept and appropriate $1,200 to Account No. 51600 City Hall Building-Computer & Network. All Aye. The City Clerk reported that City Hall Custodian James Rakovec has taken on more responsibilities at his main job and can no longer continue with us. Discussion followed. Motion Neville, second Counsell, to authorize advertising for a custodian. All Aye. The City Clerk presented Interim Chief Fehlman’s report on October, 2019 complaints, citations, warnings and investigations. Council Member Weiers reported that the Beautification Committee is sponsoring a tree decorating contest in the flower pots downtown. There are still trees available to sponsor. A gift certificate will be awarded to the winner. Council Member Clough reminded everyone who has posters for community events should drop them off at the Thirsty Bookworm for posting in the Kiosks. City Attorney Wachsmuth reported that the tri-party agreement with Memorial Hospital, Inc. d/b/a Marshfield Medical Center-Neillsville (MMC), the Town of Pine Valley and the City of Neillsville regarding access along River Avenue my require a joint meeting to talk things out. Currently the Town of Pine Valley is willing to wave initial fees, but they are not willing to agree that “they will not charge any fees in the future”. City Attorney Wachsmuth reported that MMC’s subcontractor installing a water line for the new hospital dug through the Brunette property to connect to the City of Neillsville water main without permission from the Brunette’s. A “Cease and Desist Order” has been issued as no permission had been given to MMC. The City has no authority to let someone else hookup on Brunette’s property. Director of Public Works Flynn stated the City’s water main is on the Brunette property and the City can access it with our easement. The City cannot give permission to someone else. Our employee was on site, just in case something happened. Our crew has been told not to assist or help MMC or any subcontractor in any way whatsoever. They need to work it out with the Brunette’s. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated that if MMC and the Brunette’s cannot work it out the installation will have to be taken out. The City Clerk reported on a Marshfield Clinic Health System Community Forum schedule for November 18, 2019 at 5:30 P.M. at the Neillsville American Legion Hall and the 2020-2021 Clark County Visitor and Community Guide prepared by the Clark County Economic Development Corporation and Tourism Bureau is now available. 7:20 P.M. – President of the Council Quicker declared the Public Hearing on the Proposed 2020 Budget for the City now open. CITY OF NEILLSVILLE 2020 CITY BUDGET EXPENDITURES AND CONTINGENCY Operations and Maintenance General Government – 51000 $ 1,050,585 Public Safety – 52000 752,994 Public Works – 53000 784,816 Health & Human Services – 54000 80,606 Culture, Recreation, Education – 55000 306,363 Conservation & Development – 56000 35,125 Total Operations and Maintenance $ 3,010,489 Capital Outlay – 57000 71,454 Debt Service – 58000 432,618 Contingency – 34000 87,864 Total Expenditures and Contingency $ 3,602,425 LESS: REVENUES OTHER THAN FROM PROPERTY TAXES  Taxes – 41000 $ 261,951 Special Assessments – 42000 9,417 Intergovernmental Revenues – 43000 1,267,443 Licenses & Permits – 44000 10,880 Fines, Forfeits & Penalties – 45000 28,000 Public Charges for Services – 46000 278,074 Intergovernmental Charges for Services – 47000 78,301 Miscellaneous Revenues – 48000 37,706 Other Financing Sources – 49000 129,700 Total Revenue $ 2,101,472 General Funds Applied 349,803 Total Revenue and Funds Applied $ 2,451,275 Proposed City Levy $ 1,151,150 Less: Computer State Aid <4,113> Net City Levy Before TIDs $ 1,147,037 PLUS: Tax Incremental Districts (TIDs) 57,300 Net City Levy $ 1,204,337 Proposed Local Tax Rate for 2019 Tax Roll $10.70383 per thousand. The City Clerk reported that the proposed 2020 General Fund Budget of $3,602,425 is lower than the Consumer Price Index (1.9%) and lower than the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Expenditure Restraint Program (1.9%) guidelines. The proposed 2019 tax levy of $1,147,037 without TIDs exceeds the State’s levy limit requirement of 0% plus net new construction (0.000%) of $-0-; however the Finance Committee has recommended approving levy limit adjustment increase: Section D, Line E ($80,618) for Debt Service Levy for general obligation debt authorized after July 1, 2005 - this would bring the City into compliance with the allowable levy limit for the City. President of the Council Quicker called three times for appearances, there being none. 7:25 P.M. – The Budget Hearing was declared closed. Motion Counsell, second Clough, to approve the Levy Limit Section D, Line E adjustment for Debt Service Levy for general obligation debt authorized after July 1, 2005 ($80,618). On roll call: All Aye. Motion Neville, second Weiers, to adopt the 2020 City Budget of $3,602,425 with $1,204,337 to be placed on the 2019 Tax Roll. On roll call: All Aye. President of the Council Quicker thanked the Common Council members and City Clerk- Treasurer Roehl for all their work throughout the budget process. Tavern Operator’s License Application: Gay A. Flynn Motion Clough, second Neville, to grant. All Aye. Motion Weiers, second Clough, that City Bills Nos. 1038 to 1094 in the amount of $100,875.02 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Jerry L. Quicker, President of the Council _______________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************