City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM JANUARY 10, 2023 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Chair Clough presiding. On roll call: Council Member Petkovsek 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 plowing, salting, picking up snow piles, clearing brush from the Cemetery roads, equipment maintenance, shop maintenance, picking up Christmas trees, Water Department-daily testing and well rounds, WI DNR yearly inspection is done-awaiting the final report, snow removal around wells and treatment plant, shop maintenance, building cleanup, hand delivering delinquent and shut off notices, Sewer Department-daily testing and rounds, snow removal around plant and lift stations, completed phosphorus variance application for permit renewal, submitted quarterly copper and zinc reports, plant maintenance and clean up. Director of Public Works Friemoth presented equipment needs, specifications, ordering and delivery times, estimated costs for the following: Titan Leaf Vac-$88,500; John Deere 1025r Tractor-$24,000; Backhoe with hammer-$150,000 (after a trade-in credit of $30,000 on our old one); Plow Truck-$220,000; Total-$482,500. Mayor Poeschel stated that during the budgeting process borrowing for equipment needs was discussed. Jack Miller asked if the leaf vac was a pull behind. Director of Public Works Friemoth replied “Yes”. The others are extremely expensive. Jack Miller stated that he has been watching the crew and it takes three hours to dump a load of leaves and they usually time it just before lunch. Motion Poeschel, second Perrine, to adjourn. All Aye. ________________________________ Daniel Clough, Chair _________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM JANUARY 10, 2023 7:00 P.M. The Common Council met in regular session, Mayor Poeschel presiding. On roll call: Council Member Petkovsek absent, all other members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Council Member Clough reported on the January 10, 2023 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities. Mayor Poeschel declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Jack Miller stated that he researched the old hospital being turned into an apartment complex. The City’s loan payment is $107,000 and they will be taking in only $30,000. That’s a half million loss right there, that will take care of any money for equipment. The rents they are charging are sky high. The public doesn’t know that the taxpayer’s pay when a TIF District goes broke. The apartments have electric heat. You can buy a house for the amount of rent they are charging. Jack Miller stated that there are no sidewalks along the road in front of City Hall, the Police Department does not have a handicapped parking spot out front and their door is not accessible. The City doesn’t care. Businesses downtown are not accessible-bathrooms need a five-foot wide area. He knows the code. Jack Miller stated don’t play big shots, tax the people fairly, he is going to get a petition started as the property assessments are not fair, the State will step in and people will pay their fair share. Jack Miller stated that people don’t know they are paying taxes for an airport, yet the Town of Grant is getting the tax money, because the City cannot have an island in another jurisdiction. City Clerk Roehl presented the State of Wisconsin Local Road Improvement Grant for 2022 in the amount of $7,903.36 for Hewett Street (W. Eighteenth Street to W. Nineteenth Street) project. Motion Clough, second Counsell, to accept and appropriate for 2022 the Local Road Improvement (LRIP) Grant of $7,903.36 to Account No. 57330 Street Construction Outlay. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl presented the Clark County Health Department 2022 Big Dreams, Better Communities Grant in the amount of $2,000 for swimming pool equipment. Motion Perrine, second Neville, to accept and appropriate for 2022 the Big Dreams, Better Communities Grant of $2,000 to Account No. 57600 Parks Outlay. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl presented a request from the Public Works Department employees to carry over 2022 unused vacation time due to snow storms the last part of December. There is a total of 71 hours. Employees are Dale Zank (27 hours), Terry Stetzer (18 hours), Regan Barth (16 hours) and Jason Kuhn (10 hours). Motion Counsell, second Neville, to allow the Public Works Department employees to carryover their unused 2022 vacation hours to 2023, to be used by March 31, 2023. All Aye. Council Member Counsell stated that the City’s ATV ordinance needs tweaking to meet the State language. The State allows the operation of ATVs on State Highway 73 and US Highway 10 within the City limits where the speed limit is posted 35 mph or less. Last time when the City ATV ordinance was updated the Council’s intention was to open up the whole City. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated that Highway 10 is a US Highway and not covered by State law, he is checking into US Highway 10. When US Highway 10 is redone in 2027, they are considering changing speed limits on a portion of it within the City. Mayor Poeschel stated additional signage will be needed. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to direct the City Attorney to work on an ATV/UTV ordinance update to “authorized the operation” on highways within the City limits where the speed limit is up to 35 mph. All Aye. Chief of Police Mankowski reported on trainings, pre-employment background checks are in progress on Other Part-time Police Officer candidate, the new squad car has been picked up, in October the Town of Madison was dissolved and annexed by the Cities of Madison and Fitchburg-the City obtained about $15,000 worth of donated equipment, the Police Station now has 24/7 exterior surveillance cameras installed, squad car maintenance, December parking enforcement, citations, warnings, incidents, officer activities, business patrols, Town of Mentor patrol and spending more time at the school during the school days-the school is without a School Resource Deputy. Tavern Operator’s License Application: Barbara M. Rautenberg Motion Clough, second Neville, to grant. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Clough, that City Bills Nos. 1 to 49 in the amount of $1,425,270.35 and CDBG Housing Escrow Account Bill No. 1 in the amount of $65.00 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************