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August 25, 2009 Common Council Minutes
August 25, 2009
The City of Owen Common Council met in regular session on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor Timothy Swiggum presided and City Clerk/Treasurer Terri Ernst served as secretary. Present Alderpersons: Tolzmann, Lulloff, Shelton, Lorence, Riihinen and Heggemeier. A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order. Also present were Deputy City Clerk/Treasurer Cindy Cardinal and Police Officer Brad Tatro.
Approve Minutes
A Lorence/Tolzmann motion and subsequent vote approved the minutes for the 8/11/09 meeting.
Public Opinion
Present: Bill Benschawel, Brian Reilly with Ehlers and Tony Suda. Comments were made about how nice the walking trail looks and the Crowley Park Campground after the upgrades. Comments were made about making known as public information where the City is sitting financially, where is the money going to come from for the Agribusiness Park development and is there any guarantee that this project will work.
Finance Update
Brian Reilly with Ehlers Financial Advisors was present to discuss the changes to the City’s equalized value. The equalized value in 2008 was $3,471,800 and 2009 is $5,923,000 which results in an increase of $2,451,200. This is a definite advantage for the City as it is heading into the Agribusiness Park Project. Discussion took place about restructuring of TIF 3 and 4 debt to create a positive cash flow situation.
Finance Proposals
Brian Reilly with Ehlers provided a bid tabulation sheet of proposals received for the financing of the 71 acre County land purchase. Bids were received from: Abby Bank, Forward Financial, Community Bank of Central WI and Mid-Wisconsin Bank. Pioneer Bank was unable to meet the deadline. A Shelton/Heggemeier motion and subsequent vote approved to reject all bids and pursue financing with the State Trust Fund Loan Program and an interim proposal be brought back to the 9/8/09 meeting.
Engineering Costs
Engineering costs will be brought back to the 9/8/2009 meeting.
CDA Update
Minutes for the 8/19/09 CDA meeting were presented. Kelly Hanson was present as the newly appointed CDA member replacing Rick Koplitz. Three street names were approved by the CDA and will be brought back to the Council for approval at the 9/8/09 meeting. Those names are: Agribusiness Blvd. and Innovation Drive for the South side of Hwy 29 and Heartland Drive for the property on the North side of Hwy 29.
Annual Conference
A Tolzmann/Lulloff motion and subsequent vote approved to send Gary Smith and Dennis Looker to the Annual Wisconsin Wastewater Operator’s Association Conference October 6-9, 2009.
Signage Workshop
A Heggemeier/Lulloff motion and subsequent vote approved to send Council member Bernie Shelton to the Sign Retro Reflectivity Workshop on September 2, 2009 in Eau Claire.
OMI Property
The City is moving toward an application of a Brownfield Grant to clean-up any possible contamination and to hopefully redevelop the property for an interested party. A necessary testing for asbestos needs to be performed. A proposal has not yet been received. Also a new survey of the property is estimated to cost from $1600 to $2,000. The current owner, Marvin Matejka has asked the City to pay for the asbestos testing and new survey, which he would then reimburse the City for. A Lulloff/Tolzmann motion and subsequent vote approved to have Mr. Matejka submit in writing that these costs would be reimbursed to the City upon sale of his property or within 2 years, whichever occurs first. The Council would like the interested company to attend a meeting.
Urban Forestry Grant
A Shelton/Lorence motion and subsequent vote approved the preliminary application for an Urban Forestry Grant to complete a tree planting project along the railroad to provide a noise barrier to the Crowley Park Campground. The Emerald Ash Borer has now been located in Green Bay and Minnesota.
Employee Handbook
A Tolzmann/Shelton motion and subsequent vote approved adding to the section for funeral leave, employee and spouse grandparents.
Railroad Crossing
There have been a few complaints from citizens regarding the roughness of the railroad crossings and if anything can be done about it. Evidently, the railroad is planning to remove the entire second rail line and that no work will be conducted on the crossings until that is complete. Council asks that the Public Works Director find out a timetable for completion of this work.
Functional Exercise
A functional exercise will be conducted in Owen on Saturday, August 29th by the Clark County Emergency Mgmt. Department. City Council members are encouraged to attend.
Parks & Rec. Committee
Chairperson Dennis Lulloff reported that the Friends of the Old School has given the City permission to mow the walking trail on their property. The new campground site posts and fire rings have been installed. There has been traffic traveling through the back property of the Old School and T&C Auto to get to the Creekside Convenience Store. This area is not a street and something needs to be done to indicate that, such as installing a sign stating “no thru street”. The spraying of the goose repellent has been completed. The product was found to be corrosive resulting in the plastic tank on the back of the four wheeler needed to be replaced. An invoice for the tank can be turned into City Hall for reimbursement and a plan for next years application will need to be considered such as purchasing a stainless steel tank. The message boards at the Longwood Park were brought up and that someone should contact them as to who built them. The burned railroad bridge and property is currently in the hands of the attorney. The next Parks and Rec. meeting will be held September 2, 2009.
Vouchers
Question was raised and answered regarding check #40697. Chief Poirier should be asked if a separate battery could run the I-Cop system, instead of the truck’s battery. A Heggemeier/Riihinen motion and subsequent vote approved paying the following vouchers: City Pooled 40662-40703, City Total $90,970.38, Water Total $3,052.20, Sewer total $346.57.
Adjourn
A Lulloff/Lorence motion and subsequent vote approved to adjourn the 8/25/09 open session meeting at 9:00 p.m.
Archive:
January 24, 2012 City Council Minutes
January 10, 2012 City Council Minutes
December 13, 2011 Common Council Minutes
November 22, 2011 Common Council Minutes
November 8, 2011 Common Council Minutes
October 25, 2011 Common Council Minutes
October 11, 2011 City Council Minutes
October 4, 2011 City Council Minutes
September 27, 2011 City Council Minutes
September 13, 2011 City Council Minutes