City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM AUGUST 17, 2020 9:00 A.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Mayor Murphy presiding. On roll call: Council Members Clough and Neville absent, all other members present. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Acting Director of Public Works Friemoth reported on one burial at the Cemetery, equipment maintenance, mowing and trimming Cemetery and parks, started tearing down the old cemetery shed, taking park shelter reservations, trimming and pruning trees, maintaining street lighting, street sweeping, hauling brush and compost, maintaining catch basins, the Water Department is doing pump maintenance, poly pigging well lines, meter changeouts, Diggers Hotline locates and started hydrant flushing, the Sewer Department is doing lift station, mixing basin and plant maintenance, flushing sewer mains and an Electronic Recycling Event is scheduled for Friday, October 16, 2020 from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. at Clark Recycling. Motion Counsell, second Weiers, to adjourn. All Aye ___________________________________ Diane L. Murphy, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM AUGUST 17, 2020 9:15 A.M. The Common Council met in regular session, Mayor Murphy presiding. On roll call: Council Member Neville absent, all other members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Mayor Murphy reported on the July 28 and August 4, 2020 meetings of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) a closed session on the Director of Public Works position applicants-the meeting adjourned in closed session, 2) a closed session to interview Director of Public Works position applicants and 3) reconvening into open session with the recommendation to hire Luke Friemoth for the Director of Public Works position at $55,000 per year, starting September 1, 2020 with a 90 day review period and job shadowing of Director of Public Works Flynn for the month of August. Council Member Clough reported on the August 17, 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 swore in Hunter M. Imm as a City of Neillsville Police Officer. Mayor Murphy swore in Isaac A. Guyer as a City of Neillsville Police Officer. Mayor Murphy asked if there were any questions on the Personnel Committee item (3). Motion Counsell, second Weiers, to accept the recommendation to hire Luke Friemoth for the Director of Public Works position at $55,000 per year, starting September 1, 2020 with a 90 day review period and job shadowing of Director of Public Works Flynn for the month of August. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl stated at the July 28, 2020 meeting the Council extended the public health leave to City Employees and raise to poll workers during COVID-19. Back on April 14, 2020 the Council authorized that the Clerk-Treasurer office personnel receive a $2.00 per hour hazardous pay increase. Does the Council wish to extent this or let it drop. Motion Clough, second Weiers, to extend the Clerk-Treasurer’s office personnel $2.00 per hour hazardous pay increase from April 1, 2020 until January 12, 2021. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl stated that the Beautification Committee has collected $3,020 in donations from area businesses and individuals for hanging flower baskets/decorations. Motion Clough, second Counsell, to accept and appropriate $3,020 in donations for hanging flower baskets/decorations to Account No. 55340 Celebrations and to thank the businesses and individuals for help in beautifying our City. All Aye. Mayor Murphy presented Debbie Drescher’s request for use of the Schuster Park North pavilion for an estate sale September 21 to 26, 2020 and to sleep at the park to watch their stuff. Mayor Murphy stated that she is not in support of this as it would set a precedence for camping in a park. Council Member Counsell questioned why have an estate sale in a park and stay there. Debbie Drescher stated that her folks lived too far out into the country down two side roads and we wanted to stay with our stuff. Heritage Days has had sales. Council Member Counsell stated that Heritage Days is a City function. Drescher stated that she had contacted Clark County about renting the fairgrounds, but we could not afford it. We need a roof and tables out of the rain. Mayor Murphy stated Heritage Days is non-profit and this would be a for profit sale. Council Member Clough stated a multi-day event with staying over is pushing the boundary to setting a precedence. Council Member Harnisch questioned why this request ever came before the Council and why it hadn’t been referred to the Park and Recreation Board for review. The Ives family was well respected in the community, City workers get paid to clean up the parks and has no concern with the overnight camping request. He is all for allowing the request, they should be able to do it. Council Member Clough asked if Drescher had checked with other businesses or the American Legion. Drescher replied she had not checked with the Legion. Motion Harnisch to have this request reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Board. Mayor Murphy called for a second, there being none. Motion died for lack of a second. Mayor Murphy stated that Council Member Harnisch discovered that State law does not allow two Council Members to be on the Library Board at the same time. The City Attorney has contacted the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and the Mayor has the discretion on which Council Member stays. Julie Counsell had been appointed by former Mayor Glassbrenner before we knew we could not have two members. Mayor Murphy’s decision is that Council Member Counsell remains on the Library Board and Council Member Harnisch is to step down. Council Member Harnisch stated that he respectfully disagrees with Mayor Murphy as he was appointed to fill the Council Member position held by former Council Member Jerry Quicker. Mayor Murphy stated it was a misunderstanding and the decision has been made. Council Member Harnisch stated it is his opinion that the legal member has been booted off. Mayor Murphy presented a letter or Resignation from Nancy Kopp, Library Board Member. Mayor Murphy stated while reviewing the Library Board ordinance it was discovered that Board Members had to be from the City or adjourning towns (Pine Valley is the only one). Kopp has moved out to the Town of Hewett. Motion Clough, second Weiers, to accept Nancy Kopp’s resignation as member of the Library Board and to thank her for her 12 years of service (2008-2020) to the City of Neillsville. All Aye. Mayor Murphy recommended Logan Grap as member of the Library Board. Motion Weiers, second Clough, to accept the recommendation and appoint Logan Grap (2023) as a member of the Library Board. All Aye. Mayor Murphy presented a request for use of the Gazebo for a Women’s Suffrage Centennial Celebration from Mina Ozturk. Mayor Murphy stated that the City could allow the use, but would not be doing the decorating. Motion Clough, second Weiers, to allow the use of the Gazebo for an organized event on August 26, 2020, but they would be responsible for decoration and take down and that anything (flower, etc.) that is already there can’t be removed. All Aye. Chief of Police Mankowski reported on July, 2020 complaints, citations, warnings and business checks. City Attorney Wachsmuth reported that the City land sale to Xcel Energy has been completed. City Clerk Roehl presented a thank you from Carl and Barb Nemitz, Carl’s Barbershop, for the Economic Development Commission COVID-19 Small Business Grant they received and a notice from the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs that the Wisconsin National Guard’s annual Northern Lighting exercise at Volk Field will bring in supersonic craft traveling in area air space from August 10 to 21, 2020. Motion Weiers, second Clough, that City Bills Nos. 765 to 821 in the amount of $176,351.72 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Clough, to adjourn. All Aye. ___________________________________ Diane L. Murphy, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk