City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM APRIL 14 2020 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, streets and sidewalks snow and ice removal, salting and sanding, raking road shoulders, trimming and pruning trees, picking up branches, all parks and City playgrounds have been ordered closed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19), chipping brush, maintaining street lighting, filling potholes, hauling brush and compost, picking up brush curbside, opening storm drains, street sweeping in downtown area and highways, Spring clean-up week is April 27 through April 30, 2020, the Sewer Department is doing lift station, plant and bar screen maintenance (issues with people flushing wipes, paper towels, rags, etc.), the Water Department is doing meter change outs and adding radio read readouts. The old landfill No. 4 monitoring well has been having issues and the DNR is requiring it to be replaced-estimated cost $5,000. Motion Clough, second Counsell, to adjourn. All Aye. _____________________________________ Jerry L. Quicker, Chair ___________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM APRIL 14, 2020 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 March 29, 2020 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) discussion on and approval to scale back the Heritage Days event to three days (July 10, 11 and 12) at Schuster Park and 2) discussion on scheduling of events. Mayor Glassbrenner reported on the April 6, 2020 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) discussion on and recommendation that the Clerk-Treasurer office personnel receive a $2.00 per hour hazardous pay increase, effective March 16, 2020 through the end of the payroll period in which the Governor’s “Safer at Home” directive is lifted and 2) discussion on and recommendation that the Neillsville Emergency Order-Election Poll Workers pay be extended until the Governor’s “Safer at Home” directive is lifted. Council Member Quicker reported on the April 14, 2020 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities. Mayor Glassbrenner declared the reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Jerilyn St. Amand, Sunset Place, thanked Council Member Quicker and Mayor Glassbrenner for their service to the City, stated that Officer Hintze will be missed and questioned why the City is constantly having officers leave the Department, and thanked the City Clerks’ office personnel and poll workers for their work on the April 7, 2020 election. Mayor Glassbrenner asked if there were any questions on the Personnel Committee items (1 and 2). Motion Quicker, second Neville, to accept the recommendation that the Clerk-Treasurer office personnel receive a $2.00 per hour hazardous pay increase, effective March 16, 2020 through the end of the payroll period in which the Governor’s “Safer at Home” directive is lifted. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Weiers, to accept the recommendation that the Neillsville Emergency Order-Election Poll Worker Pay be extended until the Governor’s “Safer at Home” directive is lifted. All Aye City Clerk Roehl reported that Clark County has purchased and donated our new election equipment (DS200 Counter and Express Vote Marking Device) at a combined cost of $7,856 for each municipality within the county. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to accept the election equipment valued at $7,856 and thank Clark County for its donation. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl opened and read the following four bids received for the demolition and site clearance of the former Scott Davis property at 305 E. Fifth Street (Parcel No. 261.0604.000). Goetz Excavating, LLC, Neillsville, WI $ 12,690.00 Elmhorst Excavating & Trucking, Neillsville, WI 15,500.00 Opelt Sand & Gravel, LLC, Neillsville, WI 16,850.00 Ed Rusch, General Services, Lublin, WI 36,189.00 Discussion followed. Motion Counsell, second Neville to accept the low bid from Goetz Excavating, LLC in the amount of $12,690.00 for the demolition and site clearance of the property at 305 E. Fifth Street. All Aye. Mayor Glassbrenner presented a request from Brittney Lowry to put banners and cutouts to honor spring sports high school seniors on the Library lawn, since they will not be having a season due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic for the month or couple of weeks in May. Motion Clough, second Weiers, to grant the request to put banners and cutouts to honor spring sports high school seniors on the Library lawn for the month of May. All Aye. Mayor Glassbrenner read Police Officer Benjamin S. Hintze’s resignation from the Neillsville Police Department effective April 16, 2020. Chief of Police Mankowski stated Hintze started shortly before he did and has served well doing an excellent job, he is leaving for personal reasons. Motion Clough, second Quicker, to accept Officer Hintze’s resignation. All Aye. Discussion followed on the Police Officer position vacancy. Motion Quicker, second Neville, to authorize Chief of Police Mankowski to proceed with the hiring process to fill the police officer position vacancy. All Aye. Chief of Police Mankowski reported on March 2020 complaints, citations, warning, investigations and business checks. The Department is following the Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines with minimal contact. Mayor Glassbrenner reported that in light of the COVID-19 pandemic the Neillsville Shared Ride Taxi has discontinue the second taxi for the time being until ridership picks up again. City Clerk Roehl reported that the annual Common Council Reorganizational meeting will be Tuesday April 21, 2020 at 4:00 P.M., the Open Book will be Monday, April 27, 2020 from 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. and the Board of Review will be Monday, May 18, 2020 from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. Motion Neville, second Quicker, that City Bills Nos. 328 to 393 in the amount of $276,078.52 be paid. All Aye. Mayor Glassbrenner presented Jerry L. Quicker with a plaque for dedicated service to the City of Neillsville as Third Ward Council Member for 10 years (2010 - 2020) and as President of the Council for 1 year 8 months (August, 2018 - April, 2020). President of the Council Quicker presented Charles W. Glassbrenner with a plaque for dedicated service to the City of Neillsville for 17 years (2003 - 2020), First Ward Council Member for 15 years 4 months (April, 2003 - August, 2018), President of the Council for 6 years 4 months (April, 2012 - August, 2018) and Mayor for 1 year 8 months (August, 2018 - April, 2020). Mayor Glassbrenner stated he has appreciated his time on the Council and thanked everyone he dealt with over the years as Council Member, President and Mayor. The Mayor is the guide, the Council Members are the boss, you keep the City running, you vote on the issues. Glassbrenner thanked the various department heads and their staff. Motion Neville, second Counsell, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Charles W. Glassbrenner, Mayor _______________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************