City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM DECEMBER 14, 2021 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Chair Clough presiding. On roll call: Council Members Counsell and Harnisch absent, all other members present. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Director of Public Works Friemoth reported on one burial at the Cemetery, snow removal, set up for the Christmas Tree Lighting, picking up leaves, Christmas decorating, sanding, hauling brush, equipment maintenance-trucks and snowblowers, Water Department-daily testing and maintenance, utility locates, filter plant maintenance-valve replacement of filters and chemical feed pump, meter reading, restrung lights on water tower Christmas star, repaired water break on Grand Avenue and W. Eighth Street, Sewer Department-lift station maintenance, serviced generators at both old and new sewer plants, getting quotes to replace water pumps, hoses and belts, changed from Commercial Testing Labs in Eau Claire to VAS Labs in Marshfield, met with A-1 Excavating on the hospital lift station to go over issues (the hatch is too small to remove pumps, genset is not level and the Flygt control panel work-the City will not accept until in good functioning condition), getting quotes on lining the Black River Road lift station to prevent water infiltration, the City should think about looking into purchasing the private road to the Sewer Treatment Plant. Motion Perrine, second Murphy, to adjourn. All Aye. ________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair _________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM DECEMBER 14, 2021 7:00 P.M. The Common Council met in regular session, Mayor Murphy presiding. On roll call: Council Members Counsell and Harnisch absent, all other members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes of the previous meetings were declared approved. Mayor Murphy reported on the December 6, 2021 meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding: 1) review of and discussion on the 2022 flowers and plants proposals, 2) accepted the Reif’s Garden Center proposal in the amount of $2,814.00 and 3) discussion on the 2021 Holiday decorations. Mayor Murphy reported on the December 9, 2021 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) financial report, 2) discussion on and approval of Rock Tailgater event and Wisconsin Pineries event, 3) discussion on entertainment for 2022, 4) approved the Country Line Band for Sunday afternoon downtown tent, 5) approved the Dueling Pianos for Thursday night downtown tent, 6) discussion on children’s games and activities, 7) discussion on banners and yard signs, 8) discussion on security, 9) discussion on and approval of adding Michelle Friemoth as a signer on The Heritage Days checking account and debit card. City Clerk Roehl reported on the December 14, 2021 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) a closed session on contract negotiations with the Neillsville Police Association, 2) reconvening into open session with the recommendation to approve the Police Union letter of Agreement modifying Article 13-Vacations, Section B-Scheduling and Section C-Carry Over. Council Member Clough reported on the December 14, 2021 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 (2). Chief of Police Mankowski stated the Letter of Agreement addresses vacation blackout dates for officers, with the reason being for scheduling, so that the lower man on the totem pole doesn’t have to work all the holidays. Motion Clough, second Perrine, to accept the recommendation to approve the Police Union Letter of Agreement modifying Article 13-Vacations, Section B-Scheduling and Section C-Carry Over. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving a League of Wisconsin Municipalities Mutual Insurance 2021 Parks and Recreation Grant in the amount of $3,189.00. Motion Neville, second Clough, to accept and appropriate $3,189.00 to Account No. 57620 Parks Outlay and to thank the League for its donation. All Aye. Mayor Murphy presented the following nomination list of polling place officials and voting registration deputies: Ward I – Jana Marden, Janice Mayer, Gayle Vatne Ward II – Denise Clough, Dorothy Counsell, Corrine Witte Ward III – Carol Harnisch, Mary Hartung, Brent Shoup Ward IV – Sharon Bjerke, Natalie Erpenbach, Mary Nauertz Ward V – Lynda Hilliard, Joan Hubing, Karen Venne This represents eight Republicans and seven Democratic representatives in the polling place. Their terms of office will be two years, from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023. Voter Registration Deputies – Kathy Brugger and Debbie Tlusty This represents one Republican and one Democratic voter registration deputy. Their terms of office will be two years, from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023. Motion Neville, second Perrine, to accept the Mayor’s nominations as presented for polling place officials and voter registration deputies and appoint them to two-year terms 2022- 2023. Council Member Clough abstained. Council Members Counsell and Harnisch-absent. Council Members Neville and Perrine and Mayor Murphy-Aye. No-Nay. 3-Aye, 0-Nay, 1-Abstained, 2-Absent. Motion carried. Chief of Police Mankowski reported on attending Leading Police Organization (LPO) and Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement trainings; personnel openings, recent equipment and vehicle purchases, November citations, complaints, business checks and activity news. Council Member Clough reported that lawsuit referred to at the October 26, 2021 Common Council meeting regarding the recreation trail has been dismissed by the Court for a second time, this time with prejudice. Mayor Murphy reported that the Tree Lighting on December 2, 2021 was very successful with 135 children’s treat bags handed out and families enjoying the horse drawn wagon rides. City Clerk Roehl presented a thank you letter from the Clark County Livestock Committee on behalf of the Clark County 4-H and FFA livestock youth for the City’s contribution to the new livestock barn/show arena. Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Farron R. Dignin and Dale R. Ladd Motion Clough, second Perrine, to grant all the listed licenses. All Aye. Hotel/Motel Room Tax Permit Applications: Corey R. Krueger Rental House, 401 W. Seventeenth Street Tuft’s Mansion, LLC, James A. Voss, Agent, 26 Hewett Street Agoda International USA, LLC, d/b/a Avalara My Lodge Tax, Craig Schickles, Agent, City-wide DAHI Hospitality, Inc., d/b/a Super 8, Bhupendra A. Patel, 1000 E. Division Street Motion Neville, second Clough, to grant all the listed permits. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Clough, that City Bills Nos. 1116 to 1191 in the amount of $261,387.70 and CBDG Housing Escrow Account Bill No. 8 in the amount of $121.55 be paid. All Aye. Motion Perrine, second Clough, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Diane L. Murphy, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************