City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM MAY 18, 2020 10:10 A.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities meeting in regular session, Chair Clough 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, raking road shoulders, trimming and pruning trees, picking up branches, mowing cemetery and parks, cleaning up and filling flower pots, chipping brush, maintain street lighting, filling pot holes, hauling brush and compost, picking up brush curbside, opening storm drains, street sweeping, started street construction on W. Fourth Street (Sunset Place to Ferguson Street) digging up the base, reconstructed base, will replace 40 feet of curb and gutter and a driveway approach, dug up a bad area (125 feet) on W. Sixth Street and replaced the base, the Street Department is doing plant maintenance and bar screen maintenance (issues with people flushing wipes, paper towels, rags, etc.), a contractor is cleaning and televising sewer mains at various locations, the Water Department is doing meter changes and adding radio readouts and booster plant compressor maintenance, working on the Health Tour and noting that the feral cats are a bigger problem in the mobile home park than the feed mill, the house at 305 E. Fifth Street is now down and Advanced Disposal has started picking up bulk items again. Council Member Weiers stated that the flowers will be here Wednesday and placed in the pots Friday in time for Memorial Day. Motion Counsell, second Murphy, to adjourn. All Aye. ___________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM MAY 18, 2020 10:15 A.M. The Common Council met in regular session, Mayor Murphy presiding. On roll call: all members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Mayor Murphy reported on the May 5, 2020 meeting of the Police and Fire Commission regarding: 1) a closed session on interviewing a candidate for part-time officer position, 2) reconvening into open session to extend a conditional offer of employment to Chris Kile pending successful completion of testing and 3) discussion on cancelling the 2020 Heritage Days event. Mayor Murphy reported on the May 7, 2020 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) financial report, 2) discussion on and cancellation of the 2020 Heritage Days event, 3) discussion on the Miss Neillsville Queen coronation and 4) discussion on and removal of Daniel Herbrand as a signer on the Heritage Days checkbook. Mayor Murphy reported on the May 13, 2020 meeting of the Commission on Economic Development regarding: 1) received an email announcing that 3M is partnering with Cummins to produce 3M designed high efficiency particulate filters for use in 3M’s powered air purifying respirators (PAPR), Cummins will be using existing equipment used to produce diesel engine filters, PAPRs are used by front-line health care workers and 2 million filters will be made by the end of 2020, Neillsville is the only plant making them, 2) discussion on a grant program for local businesses who have closed or are struggling during this state-wide COVID-19 shutdown and 3) a closed session on an economic development loan request from BMAA Enterprises, LLC – adjourned in closed session, no action taken. City Clerk Roehl reported on the May 18, 2020 meeting of the Board of Review regarding: 1) examination of the City’s 2020 Assessment Roll for errors and omissions and to hear assessment objections, 2) no property owners appeared in objection to their assessment and 3) discussion on and recommendation to do a full city-wide revaluation assessment in 2021. City Clerk Roehl reported on the May 18, 2020 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding the recommendation to place all the Other Part-time employee applicants as presented in a pool for the Cemetery, Parks, Public Works and Recreation Departments to draw from as needed. The Applicants are: Issaac Balderas, Andrew Brown, Samantha Cappardora, Christopher Cortez, Catrina Craig, Abbigail Elmhorst, Luke Reinhardt, Art Stiemke and Josiah Ziebell. Council Member Clough reported on the May 18, 2020 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities. Mayor Murphy declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Mayor Murphy asked if there were any questions on the Personnel Committee item. Motion Counsell, second Clough, to accept the recommendation to place all the Other Part- time employee applicants in a pool for Cemetery, Parks, Public Works and Recreation Departments to draw from as needed. All Aye. Chief of Police Mankowski stated that while he was doing the liquor/beer license renewal checks he was asked about extending their service area because of the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. City Clerk Roehl stated that Class B liquor and Fermented Malt Beverage holders have two options after talking with the Chief of Police regarding their plans: 1) they can amend their 2020-2021 license application to add the extended service area without an additional cost or 2) if they wait until after the Council grants their 2020-2021 license at the June 9, 2020 meeting – the City permit for an extension of the service area costs $10.00. Discussion on length of time – a renewal license is for one year, the City Permit has to have specific beginning and ending dates. Chief of Police Mankowski reported on April 2020 complaints, citations, warnings, investigations and business checks. They have one squad in the repair shop. The Friends of the Black River cleanup group has reported that people are dumping trash by the boulders at the O’Neill Creek/Black River connection. People are asked to pick up after themselves. Council Member Weiers stated that the businesses are very appreciative of the business checks the Police Department is doing. Council Member Counsell asked about parking permits – how many are given out, what is the cost and how do you qualify. There is a vehicle with a flat tire and an expired permit. Chief of Police Mankowski stated that the ordinance was adopted April 26, 1994. The cost has always been $15.00 per quarter. The ordinance calls for two separate permits – a daytime and a nighttime. The permit is meant to control traffic, not bring in revenue. Permits are not being enforced currently because of COVID-19. Director of Public Works Flynn stated that people buy a permit and just don’t move them, they store them and it makes it hard to do snow removal. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated you can’t just refuse to give someone a permit, they have to have notice, issue them a citation. Discussion followed on being different rules for different parking lots, having notice that their vehicles have to moveout for events (Farmers Market, painting, etc.), parking permits for on street parking and not wanting business people parking in front of their business or someone else’s business. Motion Neville, second Weiers, that City Bills Nos. 434 to 491 in the amount of $199,030.53 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. ___________________________________ Diane L. Murphy, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************