City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM NOVEMBER 22, 2022 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Mayor Poeschel presiding. On roll call: Council Member Clough 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, putting up Christmas decorations, leaf pickup is ongoing, equipment maintenance, snow removal and salting, street sweeping, hauling brush, Water Department-daily testing and well rounds, utility locates, finished winterizing hydrants, valve exercising, repaired a curb stop at the school, Sewer Department-daily testing and rounds, Sunburst and W. Second Street lift stations maintenance, repaired a leaking manhole on E. Fifteenth Street, snow removal around the plant, mixing basin maintenance, the Sewer Department is moving ahead with purchasing the Ring-O-Matic 550VX Vac Trailer for $79,000 (they have been trying it out the last two months and that rental fee of $13,500 will be applied against the total cost). Our last sewer rate increase had included a money set-aside for this and a sewer jetter in the future. Motion Perrine, second Neville, that Water Bills Nos. 276 to 297 in the amount of $36,625.57 and Sewer Bills Nos. 189 to 210 in the amount of $119,972.44 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Perrine, to adjourn. All Aye. ________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor _________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM NOVEMBER 22, 2022 7:00 P.M. The Common Council met in regular session, Mayor Poeschel presiding. On roll call: Council Member Clough absent, all other members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Council Member Counsell reported on the November 15, 2022 meeting of the Library Board regarding: 1) librarians’ reports, 2) discussion on the WLA conference, 3) discussion on Officer slate with the consensus for President-Julie Counsell, Vice-President-Logan Grap and Secretary-Maggie Gelhaus, 4) discussion on a Library credit card, 5) discussion on and approval to reach out to an ill Board Member and 6) update on donation and carryover funds. Mayor Poeschel reported on the November 16, 2022 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding: 1) discussion on the 2022 and 2023 Historic Preservation Action Plans, 2) discussion on grant and loan assistance programs and contact information, 3) discussion on the role of the Grants Committee as related to funding opportunities, 4) reviewed fund balances, 5) discussion on the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum, 215 E. Fifth Street, historic property, 6) discussion on and approval to request the City Council to allow unused annual budgeted lapsing funds (beginning in year 2023) to be moved to the Historic Preservation non-lapsing fund to support the mission and goals of the Historic Preservation Commission as outlined in City Ordinance Chapter 3, Section 1-3-1, 7) discussion on and approval of Wisconsin Association of Historic Preservation Commissions membership ($40), 8) discussion on materials from the October Conference and 9) discussion on and approval of the expense reimbursement for Natalie Erpenbach for attending the conference. Council Member Neville reported on the November 17, 2022 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) financial report, 2) discussion on and approval to open a checking account for Miss Neillsville with account signers the Chairman, Miss Neillsville Coordinator, Treasurer and a Committee Member, 3) discussion on entertainment, 4) discussion on Children’s events, 5) reviewed a donation letter and 6) discussion on food stands and Grand Marshalls. Mayor Poeschel reported on the November 22, 2022 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities and 2) payment of bills. Mayor Poeschel declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Pam Kernan, Clark County Department of Social Services Director, stated that the five-year Request for Proposals for the Clark County Taxi/City of Neillsville Taxi was put out back in September. The City of Stanley is offered rides through the Clark County Taxi. Both the City and portions of the taxi services are funded through their levies. Kernan stated that only one proposal was submitted and it was from Abby Vans. Before the proposal could be open an Evaluation Committee consisting of a City representative, County Supervisor and herself had to hold an open public meeting to review the proposer’s (Abby Vans) qualification using the State of Wisconsin Source Selection Guide and checklist, this has to be done prior to opening the price proposals. Abby Vans received all excellent remarks, everyone agreed that Abby Vans met the guidelines. Kernan stated the Abby Vans proposal was opened showing a +44% increase in price. Proposal comments stated how much the cost of gas went up, how hard it is to find employees and how long it takes to get vehicles. Costs have more than doubled since the last time proposals were requested five years ago. Kernan stated that she reached out to Joe Turchi, Wisconsin Department of Transportation Transit Procurement Manager, to tell him that the +44% increase was quite a shock and what if anything can be done. Kernan stated that Turchi responded with Clark County is not alone, all Transit Systems are seeing this sort of increase in rates due to inflation and current market conditions. The +44% increase is similar to what others have been experiencing. Unfortunately, Clark County cannot pursue a Best and Final Offer when only one proposal is received. The Best and Final Offer is used when two or more proposals are very closer after evaluation. With only one proposal a single bid analysis will need to be conducted. Kernan stated that single bid analysis was done and nothing disqualified the proposal. The only way to force a new proposal would be to decline the one received and issue a new Request for Proposal with reduced services and go through the whole process that was started in September. This would mean at least three months with no taxi service. The 2022 taxi rate is $28.34 per hour, increasing $12.60 per hour to $40.94 per hour in 2023. Clark County has decided to move forward and accept the proposal as others are also seeing this type of increase. The Federal and State contribute 55.25% of the funding, we are not yet sure of the final share. During COVID they increased their share, they may do it again with everyone seeing these increases. Council Member Counsell asked if we are locked in for five years. Kernan replied “No”. The County’s Local Coordination Development Plan will be updated in 2024. The rate is adjusted for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the second year and subject to negotiation and changes after that. Council Member Petkovsek stated that she understands the cost increases, however it does not balance that the State can use (CPI) and we are under a levy limit. We need to work with our legislators to get this changed if this is a service we want to provide. What would the second-year rate be. Kernan replied $41 something. Council Member Counsell asked what does the City of Stanley contribute. Kernan replied its population size. When the taxi service first started the City of Neillsville ran the program and the County co-oped with the City. Then when the City’s population dropped below 2,500 the County became the lead. The City of Stanley was the only municipality in Clark County with a population over 2,500. The Clark County Taxi services the City of Stanley in order to keep taxi service in the County and City of Neillsville co-ops with the County now. Kernan stated the total grant is about $400,000 with the City contributing $128,000 and County $60,000. For every dollar spent for $4 are return. The County Taxi does not leave the County. The Section 85.21 Specialized Transportation Grant is used to pay volunteers to take people to Marshfield appointments. Kernan stated a decision needs to be made tonight in order to meet the December 8, 2022 grant submission deadline. Council Member Petkovsek asked what populations are being served. Kernan stated that the taxi is being used by people going to and from work, children going to and from school/activities, senior going to appointments and shopping, etc. Mayor Poeschel stated that this is very short notice, but recommended going forward, working with the County, getting more information and looking into options. Discussion cutting hours, raising fares, working with our legislators, the State delays, delay in the Request for Proposal process, how the funding is calculated (Total cost less fares received and then the balance is split; so raising fares will not be a dollar for dollar offset and will hurt mostly those who need the taxi service.) and getting up to date ridership numbers. Motion Neville, second Perrine to reluctantly approve submission of the 2023 taxi grant application with Clark County and support of the City’s cost share. All Aye. Council Member Counsell asked who else provides taxi services. Kernan replied the Request for Proposal was put out through the State Transit Procurement process to over 300 vendors and we only received one submission. The City Clerk presented the Associated Appraisal Consultants, Inc. 2023, 2024 and 2025 Assessor Services Agreement in the amounts of $11,700/ $11,850/ $12,000. This is a three-year agreement. Discussion followed on the last revaluation, lack of interior inspection because of COVID, market changes and cost increases. Motion Neville, second Petkovsek, to approve the Assessor Services Agreement with Associated Appraisal Consultants, Inc. All Aye. The City Clerk presented the CliftonLarsonAllen 2022, 2023 and 2024 Audit Services Agreement in the amounts of $30,975/ $31,500/ $32,025. This is a three-year agreement. It does not include the various required TIF District audits. Discussion followed on technology charges and cost increases. Motion Perrine, second Petkovsek, to approve the Audit Services Agreement with CliftonLarsonAllen. All Aye. The City Clerk reported on receiving the following donations from the Marguerite Listeman Foundation-$2,000 for Listeman Park drain tile and $2,500 for mulch in all parks. Motion Petkovsek, second Counsell, to accept and appropriate $4,500 to Account No. 57620 Parks Outlay and to thank the Listeman Foundation for their donations. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel presented Diane Murphy’s letter of resignation from the Heritage Days Committee. Motion Neville, second Counsell, to accept the resignation of Diane Murphy as member of the Heritage Days Committee and to thank her for her service to the City. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl reported that City Hall would be closed in observance of the following holidays: Thanksgiving, November 24; Christmas Eve, December 23; and Christmas Day, December 26. The regular December 27, 2022 Common Council meeting will be held as scheduled with the agenda due out December 22, 2022. Motion Perrine, second Neville, that City Bills Nos. 1074 to 1121 in the amount of $536,031.77 and CBDG Housing Escrow Account Bills Nos. 7 and 8 in the amount of $680.00 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Perrine, to adjourn. All Aye __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************