City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Chair Clough presiding. On roll call: Ward I Council Member position – vacant, all other members present. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Director of Public Works Friemoth reported on no burials at the Cemetery, mowing and trimming and picking up sticks at the Cemetery and parks, all under slab plumbing is done on the new Cemetery building, ready for concrete, working on the 2021 budget proposals, scraping and painting sign frames for Industrial Park, installed a catch basin at W. Fifth Street and Ferguson Street, truck maintenance, installed a new composite cutting edge on a plow, hauling brush and compost, street sweeping, cutting brush, storm sewer maintenance, Water Department – monthly bacteria sampling finished, meter reading, meter change out and installing radios readouts, daily testing and maintenance, Sewer Department - lift station and plant maintenance, flushing sewer mains and the E. Second Street lift station had a new lift pipe and check valve installed. Motion Neville, second Counsell, that Water Bills Nos. 235 to 252 in the amount of $89,311.05 and Sewer Bills Nos. 155 to 170 in the amount of $88,274.25 be paid. All Aye. Motion Murphy, second Harnisch, to adjourn. All Aye ___________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 7:00 P.M. The Common Council met in regular session, Mayor Murphy presiding. On roll call: Ward I Council Member position vacant, all other members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Mayor Murphy announced that the first item is appointment of a First Ward Council Member to fill the First Ward Council Member vacancy. Motion Clough to nominate John C. Perrine as First Ward Council Member for the remainder of the term (2021). City Attorney Wachsmuth stated a second to a nomination is not needed as another nomination can be put forth and then a vote could occur. Mayor Murphy called three times for further nominations. There being none. Mayor Murphy called for a roll call vote. On roll call: Council Member Clough – Aye, Council Member Harnisch – Abstained, Council Member Neville – Aye, Council Member Counsell – Aye. 3 – Aye, 0 – Nay, 1 – Abstained. Motion carried. City Clerk Roehl swore in John C. Perrine as First Ward Council Member. Mayor Murphy reported on the September 8, 2020 meeting of the Finance Committee regarding: 1) discussion on the budget process and directions to department heads and committees, 2) discussion on and referral of non-union employee wages and benefits for 2021 to the Personnel Committee and 3) setting the budget meeting schedule. Mayor Murphy reported on the September 8 and 10, 2020 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) a closed session on Police Union contract negotiations and 2) a closed session on non-member employee wages and benefits, reconvening into open session with recommendations of a non-union employee Wage Schedule for 2021 to the Finance Committee. City Clerk Roehl reported on the September 14, 2020 meeting of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners regarding: 1) current activities and 2) work on and referral of the proposed 2021 Cemetery budget to the Finance Committee. Council Member Neville reported on the September 14, 2020 meeting of the Airport Commission regarding work on and referral of the proposed 2021 Airport operating and capital budgets to the Finance Committee. Council Member Harnish reported on the September 16, 2020 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding: 1) discussion on funds, 2) work on and referral of the proposed 2021 Historic Preservation budget to the Finance Committee, 3) discussion on the Commission’s 2020 Action Plan, 4) discussion on a draft letter to be sent to historic property owners and preparing various resources in print and/or on the City’s website, 5) discussion on future “Historic Tourism” ideas and 5) an upcoming October State level Historic Preservation virtual meeting. Council Member Counsell reported on the September 17, 2020 meeting of the Library Board regarding: 1) librarians’ report, 2) discussion on and approval of Reopening Protocol Phase 3, 3) work on and referral of the proposed 2021 Library budget to the Finance Committee, 4) payment of bills and 5) update on donation and carryover funds. Mayor Murphy reported on the September 17, 2020 meeting of the Economic Development Commission regarding: 1) work on and referral of the proposed 2021 Economic Development budget to the Finance Committee, 2) discussion on future residential development and available sites and 3) discussion on marketing available commercial and residential building sites. Mayor Murphy reported on the September 17, 2020 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) work on and referral of the 2021 Heritage Days budget to the Finance Committee, 2) discussion on the 2021 event (dates are July 8 to 11, 2021) theme ideas, prizes for events, etc., 3) Miss Neillsville will not have a 2020 event – the current Miss Neillsville (2019-2020) will continue (2020-2021) and 4) a request has been made to transfer the City 2020 budget funds and Listeman 2020 donation to the Committee’s account. Council Member Neville reported on the September 17, 2020 meeting of the Neillsville Community Fire Hall Board regarding: 1) payment of bills, 2) current activities, 3) discussion on and approval for the Firemen’s Club to use the Fire Hall for their steak feed fundraiser, 4) discussion on and tabling a bid from Badger Basements in the amount of $86,602.80 for mud-jacking the building due to a wall crack and 5) work on the 2021 operating and capital budgets. Council Member Clough reported on the September 22, 2020 Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities and 2) payment of bills. Mayor Murphy declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Council Member Clough presented a draft proposal for parking permits and fees. The current ordinance was last updated 23 years ago (1997). Clough outlined what we currently have for parking regulation, what he proposed and points for the Council to consider. Council Member Counsell presented her proposal, which is similar to Clough’s, but looks at it a little different. With no on-street parking permits and limiting permit parking to no more than 50% of all spots, posting consistent signage (the Library front lot would be different), a listing of permit use restrictions, permit fee of $120 annually or $35 per quarter, talking about parking around the Courthouse and possibly changing it to 2 hours from 3 hours. Mayor Murphy stated that she agrees with Clough that business owners should get a free permit, that it is neat to have a parking lot available for downtown renters to park (the far east Library lot) and more handicapped parking spaces around the Courthouse would help people who need to access the Courthouse. Council Member Clough stated make all the lots the same – 3 hours without a permit. Council Member Counsell stated we should restrict who can get a permit to residents or business owners to put a stop to cheap storage spots. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated that if you have a requirement that a vehicle be moved every 72 hours, you won’t have out of town people buying the permits. Discussion on various proposal items. Mayor Murphy directed the City Attorney to draft an ordinance for the next meeting. Mayor Murphy presented a list of First Ward Council Member assignments: Committee on Finance Illegal Tax Committee Board of Review Solid Waste & Recycling Committee (Chair) Board of Health Zoning Board of Appeals (Chair) Commission on Public Works/Utilities Planning Commission (Parks & Recreation Board Chair position) Parks and Recreation Board (Chair) Board of Cemetery Commissioners Personnel Committee Murphy stated the four on the left are entire Council committees, the ones on the right are individual member positions. Mayor Murphy recommends Council Member Perrine be appointed to fill the unexpired terms (2021) of Council Member Weiers on these committees. Motion Clough, second Harnisch to accept the recommendation and appoint First Ward Council Member Perrine to fill the unexpired term (2021) on the committees and commissions as listed. Council Member Perrine abstained. All other members – Aye. Motion carried. Mayor Murphy recommended the appointment of Barb Miller as Chair of the Beautification Committee (2021) to fill the unexpired term of the former Council Member Weiers. Motion Neville, second Counsell, to accept the recommendation and appoint Barb Miller as Chair of the Beautification Committee (2021). All Aye. Mayor Murphy recommended the appointment of Council Member Harnisch as the Council Member on the Beautification Committee (2021) to fill the unexpired term of former Council Member Weiers. Motion Clough, second Neville, to accept the recommendation and appoint Council Member Harnisch as the Council Member on the Beautification Committee (2021). Council Member Harnisch abstained. All other members – Aye. Motion carried. Council Member Neville stated he put the next item on the agenda to protect our Police Officers. A letter was received regarding the conflict/bias issue of the Police and Fire Commission Member and to ask the City Attorney for an opinion on the validity of the letter’s stated concern. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated she has read the letter. The bias is not with the Police and Fire Commission, it has more to do with Jeremiah Bogdonovich’s job as a case manager for the County. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated that it is similar to her job as City Attorney. If a City Police Officer is involved in a case for the City, she would have to decline if a client is involved. The City has no standing to assert conflict. It is more in the capacity of his job. Someone could file a complaint, it could happen, but it is up to the District Attorney if a conflict charge could be made. Discussion followed – no action taken. Council Member Clough reported that the Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce Autumn Harvest Fest on Sunday, October 11, 2020 has been cancelled. On October 3, 2020 the Firemen will be holding their annual steak feed at the Fire Hall and the Clark County Sheriff’s Department Auxiliary is holding a family movie night and bike-a-thon at the Fairgrounds, on October 3, 2020. Mayor Murphy reported on touring the new hospital facility by various City representatives, the new hospital sewer line along US Hwy 10 installation is in progress and she is not getting any money from them for using her property for parking purposes. Motion Neville, second Counsell, that City Bills Nos. 898 to 952 in the amount of $133,712.67 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. ___________________________________ Diane L. Murphy, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************