City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM NOVEMBER 28, 2023 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Chair Clough presiding. On roll call: Council Members Petkovsek and Rochester absent, all other members present. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Director of Public Works Friemoth reported on three burials at the Cemetery, mulching leaves, working on Arboretum bridges (part of TIF District No. 4 project), installed Storybook Trail arch, snow removal from highways, sanding and salting side streets, hauling brush, equipment maintenance, leaf pick-up, Water Department – daily testing and well rounds, meter change outs and installing, radio reads, water main valve exercising, water treatment plant panel repairs, repaired water main break on W. Twelfth Street, Sewer Department – daily testing and lift station rounds, lift station maintenance, winterizing the Sewer Plant. 6:50 PM – Council Member Petkovsek now present. Director of Public Works Friemoth reported that the combined wells PFAS sample collected on April 3, 20234 at the Water Plant tap came back below DNR actionable levels. Our attorney Nathan Miller, Weld Riley, reviewed the information for both the 3M PFAS Settlement and DuPont PFAS Settlement. The City is not eligible for the 3M PFAS Settlement so it makes sense to opt out. Under the DuPont PFAS Settlement we would be a Phase 2 class member and any allocated dollar amount most likely would be small, their recommendation is to opt out, the deadline to opt is December 11, 2023 for the 3M PFAS Settlement and December 4, 2023 for the DuPont PFAS Settlement. By opting out of both, the City would still have a cause of action against them in the future if the City were to find higher levels of PFAS in the future. Motion Petkovesk, second Counsell, to recommend to the Common Counsil to opt out of both the 3M PFAS Settlement and DuPont PFAS Settlement. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Poeschel, that the Water Bills Nos. 320 to 351 in the amount of $65,814.35 and Sewer Bills Nos. 188 to 201 in the amount of $24,308.18 be paid. All Aye. Motion Poeschel, second Counsell, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM NOVEMBER 28, 2023 7:00 P.M. The Common Council met in regular session, Mayor Poeschel presiding. On roll call: Council Member Rochester absent, all other members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes of the previous meetings were declared approved. Council Member Neville reported on the November 14, 2023 meeting of the Library Board regarding: 1) Librarians’ reports, 2) discussion on rotten tree removal, 3) discussion on exterior building painting, 4) discussion on and approval to replace interior lights with LED at a cost not to exceed $5,300, 5) WLA Conference report, 6) Storybook Trail arch has been installed in Schuster Park, 7) report on the Clark County Board increasing the County Library Aid reimbursement to 85%, 8) payment of bills and 9) update on donation and carryover funds. Council Member Petkovsek reported on the November 20, 2023 meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding: 1) discussion on and approval of flower choices for 2024, 2) discussion on and approval of adding Military banners on the northside, 3) discussion on Fall 2023 decoration feedback and a card complimenting the City. City Clerk Roehl reported on the November 28, 2023 meeting of the Illegal Tax Committee regarding discussion on and recommendation that the former Scott H. Davis property, 305 E. Fifth Street (Parcel No. 261.0604.000), delinquent special charges in the amount of $13,573.75 be written off. All Aye. Council Member Clough reported on the November 28, 2023 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities, regarding: 1) current activities, 2) discussion on and recommendation to opt out of both the 3M PFAS Settlement and DuPont PFAS Settlement and 3) payment of bills. Mayor Poeschel declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Illegal Tax Committee item. Motion Neville, second Clough, to accept the recommendation that the former Scott H. Davis property, 305 E. Fifth Street (Parcel No. 261.0604.000), delinquent special charges in the amount of $13,573.75 be written off. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities (item 2). Motion Clough, second Petkovsek, to accept the recommendation to opt out of both the 3M PFAS Settlement and DuPont PFAS Settlement. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl presented a letter from Bauernfeind Technologies giving the City notice that they will no longer be offering managed IT network services effective July, 1, 2024. They provide both the City Hall and Police Department services. They have provided a list of five reference of providers who provide services for the City’s review (The Dirks Group, 3 RT Networks, Priority Business, WIN Technology and Norfinity/PC Doctor). Council Member Counsell stated our attorneys at Weld Riley have the Dirks Group, we need someone more than a one-man shop. Mayor Poeschel stated that he, Chief of Police Mankowski and Assistant IT Clerk Barb Boyer will be looking into this and come back with a recommendation. Motion Clough, second Neville, to table the managed network services provider issue. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl presented a letter from Statewide Services, Inc., administrator for the League of Wisconsin Mutual Insurance Company, which provides the City’s insurance coverage. They have denied Karen Kennedy’s vehicle damage claim from a fallen tree limb on July 8, 2023. Kennedy has submitted a formal notice of claim directly with the City for repair. Chief of Police Mankowski stated that Kennedy filed a Self-Reporting Incident Report on August 15, 2022 over a month after the alleged incident, which makes it impossible to investigate. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to disallow the claim. All Aye. Council Member Clough stated that the City’s official tree lighting with Santa Claus coming to town is Friday, December 1, 2023 beginning at 5:30 P.M. Motion Clough, second Neville, that the City Bills Nos. 1089 to 1126 in the amount of $609,041.87, TIF District No. 4 Account Bills Nos. 15 to 17 in the amount of $2,461.01 and ARPA – Local Recovery Fund Bill No. 2 in the amount of $126,073.27 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Clough, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************