City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM NOVEMBER 9, 2021 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met 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 Friemoth reported on two burials at the Cemetery, winterizing park restrooms, mulching leaves, patching pot holes, picking up leaves, leaf vac maintenance, helping out around the new City Hall, Water Department-daily testing and maintenance, utility locates, winterizing fire hydrants, exercising generators, preparing buildings for winter and pulling seasonal meters, Sewer Department-lift station maintenance, preparing buildings and equipment for winter, replaced check valves in the Industrial Park lift stations, removed UV lights for the season and completed Fall sludge hauling and curb and gutter replacement on West Street between W. Fourth Street and W. Fifth Street. Motion Murphy, second Perrine, to adjourn. All Aye. ________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair _________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM NOVEMBER 9, 2021 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 meetings were declared approved. City Attorney Wachsmuth reported on the November 6, 2021 meeting of the Police and Fire Commission regarding a closed session to interview applicants for full-time and other part- time police officer positions – the meeting adjourned in closed session. Council Member Clough reported on the November 9, 2021 of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities. Mayor Murphy declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Chief of Police Mankowski reported on attending Leading Police Organization (LPO) and Trauma-Informed Leadership training, personnel openings (two full-time and two part-time police officers), the Police and Fire Commission selecting three applicants for full-time and one applicant for part-time background checks, speaking on the officer’s use of force at an Optimist Club meeting, Office Imm receiving a commendation from Sheriff Scott Haines in response to an incident at the Neillsville School and October citations, complaints, business checks and activity news. City Clerk Roehl presented a 2021 Budget Amendment Transfer Request to transfer from Health Insurance (savings because of Police Officers vacancies) to Police Department Administration (uniforms and equipment), Police Auto (a vehicle), Fire Department Administration (clothing and equipment) and Public Safety-Fire Department-Vehicles (new fire truck fund). This is a one-time opportunity to adjust these funds without impacting either the 2021 or 2022 budget negatively. Discussion followed. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to authorize a 2021 Budget Amendment Transfer from Account No. 51973 Hospital Insurance Expense ($-52,000) to Account No. 52100 Police Department Administration ($+9,500), Account No. 52150 Police Auto ($+16,500), Account No. 52200 Fire Department Administration ($+21,400) and Account No. 57220 Public Safety-Fire Department-Vehicles ($+4,600). All Aye. City Clerk Roehl presented the 2022 dental insurance quotes from Heather Gardner, Tricor Insurance Agent for: Renewal Plan-2022 New Plan-2022 Humana Delta Dental Single $ 43.87 $ 38.50 Employee + Spouse 87.74 77.00 Employee + Child 121.12 78.50 Family 166.99 128.52 Per Month $ 1,974.99 $ 1,491.66 x 12 x 12 Total $ 23,699.88 $ 17,899.92 + 8.9% - 17.75% (2-year lock) Motion Neville, second Perrine, to approve the 2022 Dental Insurance contract with Delta Dental as presented. All Aye. Mayor Murphy presented a request from the CART Center to hang banner on the Gazebo for the “Ugly Sweater Fun Walk” on Saturday December 4, 2021. The banner would be hung from November 10 through December 4, 2021. City Clerk Roehl reported that the telephones remain a challenge. Our IT people have been working with TDS and Fortinet representatives to resolve the issues and have done all their troubleshoot requests without resolution. We are hoping when the Police Department upgraded router is installed it fixes the problems. However, the upgrade of the Police Department router cannot be done until the old City Hall server is decommissioned and network removed. We are close, as Phase 4 has been completed; Phase 5 is the testing time to ensure the entire City network continues to function properly. Chief of Police Mankowski stated the Police Department telephones were shut off with the move, the first week was a fast busy signal, if you select #1 on the voice mail it goes to the Clark County Sheriff’s Department, we can’t answer the telephones live and messages are very choppy. With outgoing calls, it shows as being called from the City Clerk’s number. The Police Department has been using their cell phone, the internet and fax are also down. Council Member Perrine stated that he is proposing a change to the 2022 City Budget for the City Attorney’s Salary to her proposal of $30,300. Council Member Counsell stated that Wachsmuth is not taking into consideration that as an employee she gets retirement and social security, which she doesn’t get anywhere else. Based on the payroll numbers, received from the City Clerk, Wachsmuth’s total compensation was $153 per hour in 2020, $159 per hour estimated in 2021 and $153 per hour proposed in 2022. Council Member Counsell stated looking at other communities with somewhat similar situations they have outside attorneys who serve them and they do not get benefits. Wachsmuth is getting $150+ per hour with employee benefits. 7:18 P.M.-Mayor Murphy declared the Public Hearing on the Proposed 2022 Budget for the City now open. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated as a Court Commissioner she receives a $100 per hour, but she does not have the office expense, they provide a clerk and supplies, so she is paid less. It is not an apple-to-apple comparison. Other private attorneys are not paid less, the City will end up paying more. As an employer you don’t pay the Director of Public Works less because he gets retirement. Mayor Murphy stated the City Attorney contacted Nekoosa and Mondovi, communities of similar size and they are paid more. Council Member Counsell stated the big difference is as an employee the City’s insurance will get hit and not her malpractice insurance. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated her malpractice insurance could be hit. Council Member Counsell stated when taking compensation, you look at the whole package – health, dental, retirement – the whole package. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated she does not get the full amount of her salary as deductions are taken out. Council Member Counsell stated that is the difference between an employee and a contractor. Jon Counsell stated that there is distinction between employees and contractors. Being an employee, they can’t sue her, they sue the City and the City can’t sue her. He asked for further clarification on the malpractice insurance matter. Jerilyn St. Amand thanked Council Member Counsell for bringing this matter forward and she appreciates her checking things out. CITY OF NEILLSVILLE 2022 CITY BUDGET EXPENDITURES AND CONTINGENCY Operations and Maintenance General Government – 51000 $ 969,017 970,987 Public Safety – 52000 774,662 Public Works – 53000 795,074 Health & Human Services – 54000 87,080 Culture, Recreation, Education – 55000 322,011 Conservation & Development – 56000 43,805 Total Operations and Maintenance $ 2,991,649 2,993,619 Capital Outlay – 57000 98,950 Debt Service – 58000 343,221 Contingency – 34000 87,865 85,895 Total Expenditures and Contingency $ 3,521,685 LESS: REVENUES OTHER THAT FROM PROPERTY TAXES Taxes – 41000 $ 219,977 Special Assessments – 42000 1,943 Intergovernmental Revenues – 43000 1,265,753 Licenses & Permits – 44000 10,815 Fines, Forfeits, & Penalties – 45000 25,000 Public Charges for Services – 46000 96,506 Intergovernmental Charges for Services – 47000 78,861 Miscellaneous Revenues – 48000 31,918 Other Financing Sources – 49000 126,012 Total Revenues $ 1,856,785  General Funds Applied 372,807 Total Revenue and Funds Applied $ 2,229,592 Proposed City Levy $ 1,292,093 Less: Computer State Aid <4,113> Net City Levy Before TIDs $ 1,287,980 PLUS: Tax Incremental Districts (TIDs) 64,667 Net City Levy $ 1,352,647 Proposed Local Tax Rate $9.775064 per thousand The City Clerk reported that the proposed 2022 General Fund Budget of $3,521,685 is lower than the Consumer Price Index (3.0%) and lower than the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Expenditure Restraint Program (3.1%) guidelines. The proposed 2021 tax levy of $1,287,980 without TIDs exceeds the State’s levy limit requirement of 0% plus net new construction (0.093% or $1,000) of $1,000, however the Finance Committee has recommended approving a levy limit adjustment increase: Section D, Line E ($220,561) for Debt Service Levy for general obligation debt authorized after July 1, 2005 – this would bring the City into compliance with the allowable levy limit for the City. Mayor Murphy called for appearances. Mayor Murphy called three times for appearances – there being none. 7:26 P.M. The budget hearing was declared closed Motion Perrine to change the 2022 City Budget for the City Attorney’s Salary to $30,300. Council Member Neville asked if we are going to change all City employees up to a 9% increase, are we setting a precedence, the Chief of Police is underpaid too. Council Member Perrine stated this is done on an individual basis. Second Clough. On roll call: Council Member Perrine-Aye, Council Member Clough-Aye, Council Member Harnisch-Aye, Council Member Neville-Nay, Council Member Counsell- Nay. 3-Aye, 2-Nay, Motion carried. Motion Clough, second Perrine, to approve the Levy Limit Section D, Line E adjustment for Debt Service Levy for general obligation debt authorized after July 1, 2005 ($220,561). On roll call: All Aye. Motion Clough, second Perrine, to adopt the 2022 City Budget of $3,521,685 with $1,352,647 to be placed on the 2021 Tax Roll. On roll call: All Aye. Mayor Murphy thanked the Common Council Members and City Clerk-Treasurer for all their work through the budget process. Tavern Operators License Applications: Icelinn M. Castner Motion Harnisch, second Clough, to grant. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Clough, that City Bills Nos. 1025 to 1070 in the amount of $97,731.47 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Perrine, to adjourn. All Aye __________________________________ Diane L. Murphy, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************