City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM MAY 26, 2020 6:45 P.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, mowing and weed trimming Cemetery and parks, preparations for Memorial Day at the Cemetery, cleaning up planters, planting and watering flowers, mowing the residential properties, trimming and pruning trees, chipping brush, maintain street lighting, filling pot holes, hauling brush and compost, opening storm drains, street sweeping, street construction on W. Fourth Street (Sunset Place to Ferguson Street) replaced sections of curb and gutter, W. Sixth Street replaced sections of curb and gutter, paving will be done in late June, the Street Department is short one operator due to elective surgery, having problems finding parts for the floating fountain in O’Neill Creek, the Sewer Plant is doing plant and lift station maintenance, the Water Department is doing meter change outs and adding radio read outs, repaired a water service leak on Hewett Street, Health Tours have been completed and twenty letters of cleanup have been sent out, had a meeting with the mobile home park on issues that need to be cleaned up and corrected, hand delivered 27 lawnmowing letters and received many fire pit complaints about smoldering fires all night instead of being put out, park bathrooms are now open. Motion Neville, second Counsell, that Water Bills Nos. 131 to 151 in the amount of $30,115.28 and Sewer Bills Nos. 93 to 107 in the amount of $31,864.21 be paid. All Aye. Motion Murphy, second Weiers, to adjourn. All Aye. ___________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM MAY 26, 2020 7:00 P.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. Council Member Harnisch reported on the May 19, 2020 meeting of the Library Board regarding: 1) librarians’ reports, 2) the front steps replacement is completed, 3) the Library will be reopening in phases and 4) an update on the summer reading program changes. Council Member Harnisch reported on the May 20, 2020 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding: 1) reviewed the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance, 2) discussed historic preservation promotion, funding and inventory of fundraising sale items, 3) discussed forms, updating the historic property listing, creating informational materials and annual reporting requirements and 4) discussed possible grants and other funding for historic property improvements, facade programs and history of historic properties. Council Member Clough reported on the May 26, 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 presented Joan Hubing with a plaque for 13 years (2007-2020) as a member of the Transit Committee and thanked her for her service to the City of Neillsville. Mayor Murphy presented Gregory Foster with a plaque for 8 years (2012-2020) as a member of the Tourism Commission and thanked him for his service to the City of Neillsville. City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving the following donations from the Listeman/Naedler Foundation: Fireworks – 4th of July $3,500.00 Heritage Days 2,000.00 Dog Park 2,500.00 Motion Counsell, second Neville, to accept and appropriate $5,500.00 to Account No. 55340 Celebrations and $2,500.00 to Account No. 57620 Parks Outlay, and thank the Listeman/Naedler Foundation for their donations. All Aye. 7:15 P.M. – Mayor Murphy declared the Public Hearing on the Discontinuance of Clay Street Alleys Pursuant to §66.1003(4) Wis. Stats., Clark County, applicant, now open. Mayor Murphy stated that the Planning Commission at its March 17, 2020 meeting discussed and recommended the abandonment of these alleys. Director of Public Works Flynn stated that the Common Council at its March 24, 2020 meeting discussed and adopted preliminary Resolution No. 602 to Discontinue Clay Street Alleys, public notice of this public hearing was in the Clark County Press and area landowners were notified. City Attorney Wachsmuth read the following resolution. RESOLUTION NO. 604 DISCONTINUANCE OF CLAY STREET ALLEYS PURSUANT TO §66.1003(4) WIS. STATS. WHEREAS, the City of Neillsville Common Council, on the 24th day of March, 2020, did introduce and adopt a preliminary resolution, under §66.1003(4), Wis. Stats. for the purpose of discontinuing the below described Clay Street alleys in the City of Neillsville, and, WHEREAS, a proper Lis Pendens, pursuant to §840.11, Wis. Stats, has filed by the City of Neillsville in the Office of the Register of Deeds, Clark County, providing notice of the proposed discontinuance of the below noted Clay Street alleys; and, WHEREAS, a proper notice has been served, by the City of Neillsville, pursuant to §66.1003(4), Wis. Stats., on the owners of the frontage of lots and lands abutting the below noted Clay Street alley; and, WHEREAS, a proper Class 3 Notice has been published by the City of Neillsville in the official newspaper stating the time and location where the resolution will be acted upon for discontinuance of the Clay Street alley by the Common Council of the City of Neillsville, and describing the below noted Clay Street alley proposed for discontinuance; and,  WHEREAS, the hearing for the discontinuance of the Clay Street alleys by the Common Council was scheduled to be held and was held at the City of Neillsville City Hall on May 26, 2020, at 7:15 p.m.; and, WHEREAS, the date and location proposed for enactment of a resolution by the City Council of the City of Neillsville to discontinue the below noted Clay Street alley was scheduled to be adopted on May 26, 2020, at City Hall in Neillsville at a time after the public hearing on this matter by the Common Council of the City of Neillsville; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that it is in the public interest that the below noted Clay Street alley be discontinued, and that the above noted notice and hearing procedures have been followed to insure compliance with §66.1003(4) and §840.11, Wis. Stats. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the description of the alley which is discontinued and vacated is corrected from the preliminary resolution and Lis Pendens, and is described as: The alley located in Blocks 46 and 47 of S.F. Hewett’s Addition to the City of Neillsville, west of Clay Street, and between Clay Street and Grand Avenue. PASSED this 26th day of March, 2020, at Neillsville, Wisconsin. ___________________________ Diane L. Murphy, Mayor _____________________ Rex R. Roehl, City Clerk Mayor Murphy called three times for appearances. 7:21 P.M. – Mayor Murphy declared the Discontinuance of Clay Street Alleys Public Hearing closed. Motion Counsell, second Clough, that Resolution No. 604 be adopted. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl presented a thank you from the Neillsville Senior Citizen’s Group for the City’s continued support of the Senior Center and notice from the Census Bureau that census field operations would resume in Wisconsin beginning May 26, 2020. Council Member Counsell asked the status of the Lloyd Meyer case. City Attorney Wachsmuth replied that the case against Lloyd Meyer for refusing to sign off on the City’s paid off land contract with him is scheduled for hearing on June 22, 2020. Motion Neville, second Clough, that City Bills Nos. 492 to 517 in the amount of $48,240.52 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. ___________________________________ Diane L. Murphy, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************