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March 23, 2010 Common Council Minutes
March 23, 2010
The City of Owen Common Council met in regular session on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 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, Lorence, Shelton, Riihinen and Heggemeier. A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order. Also present were Deputy City Clerk/Treasurer Cindy Cardinal, DPW Gary Smith and Officer Bradley Tatro.
Approve Minutes
A Lorence/Tolzmann motion and subsequent vote approved the minutes for the 3/9/10 meeting, with one change to strike the sentence under Sale Lot #2, “availability of a Class A beer license and liquor license”.
Public Opinion
Present: Nathan LePage and Judy Vollrath with the O-W Enterprise, Mike Voss with MSA Professional Services, Jeff Hill, Dee Wells, Randy Anderson-Commissioner for Clark County Highway Dept., Matthew Riihinen, Seasha Franz, and Rick Nelson. Randy Anderson was present to advise the Council regarding the driveway location to Lot #2 of the East Side Commercial Park. In order to obtain an access permit from the County, the process will require the applicant to file request with the Highway Department and must include an engineered plan showing installation of a turning lane. Mayor Swiggum asked Randy Anderson when County Hwy X will be repaired in Owen and if Hwy X could be named Business 29 through Owen. Tolzmann reported that another semi went across the wooden bridge. Problems with GPS are routing trucks in that direction. Once a truck crosses the intersection of County Hwy X and N. West Street, it’s too late for a truck to turn around once they see the sign at the bridge. Jeff Hill suggested a big sign should be installed at the intersection at County Hwy X warning trucks of the wooden bridge ahead. Riihinen, Heggemeier, Tolzmann and Shelton have received several calls from citizens asking about how the City can afford the development on the East side of Owen and how will Owen’s taxes be affected.
New Water Wells
Mike Voss of MSA Professional Services was present to report that the two new test wells have high levels of manganese and iron. They are currently evaluating if these high levels can be treated by simply adding polyphosphate and blending of water or if a treatment facility/plant would be required. A water treatment facility plant runs approximately $1.2 million. Treatment by polyphosphate and blending could be approximately ¼ of the plant cost. Each test well is pumping at 90 gallons per minute. A question was raised if the impact of Kerry Ingredients future water reuse program was taken into consideration. No action taken.
Offers to Purchase Land
Two offers to purchase land were received from Jeff Hill, for Lots #1 and #2 of the East Side Commercial Park. Bids came in at $4,700 for Lot #1 and $18,800 for Lot #2. Presently, Dee and Jerry Wells and the City are working towards a sale agreement in their purchase of Lot #2. Hills’ intentions are not to take away Lot #2 from the Wells, but to put his offers on the table in case the Wells’ project falls through. A Lulloff/Lorence motion and subsequent vote approved to table both proposals from Hill showing both bids as presented to the Council.
3rd Reading of Ordinance
A Tolzmann/Heggemeier motion and subsequent vote approved the 3rd reading of the Sex Offender Residency Restrictions Ordinance
Sec. 11-2-19 and will take affect upon publication. The ordinance can be viewed upon request at the Owen City Hall and at www.cityofowen.com. A map will need to be created and brought to the Council for approval.
Membership
A Heggemeier/Riihinen motion and subsequent vote approved $2,000 annual membership to the Clark County Economic Development Corporation.
Conference
A Tolzmann/Shelton motion and subsequent vote approved for Deputy Clerk Cindy Cardinal to attend the Workhorse User Conference in Wausau on April 23rd plus mileage. Clerk Terri Ernst will attend next year.
Owen Mfg. Property
Deputy Clerk Cindy Cardinal reported the next step in dealing with the contamination located at the OMI Property is to drill and monitor the groundwater at an approximate cost of $13,100. A final report then needs to be filed with the DNR at an approximate cost of $6,600. A Lulloff/Shelton motion and subsequent vote approved to table the issue and to find out what the timeframe requirements for the clean up are by WDNR and to approach owner Marvin Matejka requesting a plan in paying for these costs.
Parks & Rec.-Goose Control
Parks & Rec. Chairperson Dennis Lulloff reported from the meeting minutes of 3/10/10. A recycle bin grant has been applied for to get permanent bins for Mill Pond Park and Crowley Park Campground. A sledding hill idea was asked about by a citizen. Rick Nelson had told the committee that Tennis Shoe Hill had historically been set aside for sledding purposes. The Friends of the Old School own the property and will not allow sledding because their liability insurance won’t cover it. Question was asked if the City could lease the Hill, will be looked into. Parks & Rec. have tentatively set May 12th as a meeting with representatives from all community groups that utilize the Mill Pond Park to discuss and share ideas for the Mill Pond Park Design. Bernie Shelton has volunteered for a second year to apply the goose repellent at the Mill Pond Park. The committee is recommending the City purchase 4 gallons of Migrate Goose Repellent and investigate the possibility of opening the end of the Mill Pond north of the bridge to a limited by permit hunt for Owen or possibly Owen and Withee residents. The message boards are ¾ complete. A Heggemeier/Lorence motion and subsequent vote approved to purchase 4 gallons of goose repellent. DPW Gary Smith asked if the Council wants the two signs and post to be replaced behind Creekside on the walking trail and was answered not at this time.
CDA resignation/appointment
Mayor Swiggum reported that Kelly Hanson has resigned from the CDA Committee and he would like to appoint Kim Sybers. A Tolzmann/Shelton motion and subsequent vote approved the appointment of Kim Sybers.
CDA report
CDA Chairman Steve Heggemeier reported on the March 17, 2010 meeting. Presented also were the minutes, which may be viewed from the City’s website or upon request at City Hall. The CWAIC (Central Wisconsin Agribusiness Innovation Center) organization attended the CDA meeting to give an update on their progress with raising the needed matching funds of $5.8 million for the total $9.8 million EDA Grant and the planning, design and marketing of the proposed Innovation Center.
CDA Executive Director
At the March 17, 2010 CDA meeting, the CWAIC organization reported that trying to raise the $5.8 million in pledges is a full-time job in itself and they find it difficult to give the fund raising project the full attention it deserves. The Central Wisconsin Agribusiness Innovation Center needs to break ground by March 8, 2011 with completion by December 8, 2012. Failure to meet these deadlines and match the grant in pledges, would result in termination of the award. CDA Chairman, Steve Heggemeier brought the idea to the Council of the City hiring an Executive Director, possibly a shared position between CWAIC and CDA. This position could take the lead in obtaining donations as top priority and give it the full attention that is needed. A Lorence/Lulloff motion and subsequent vote approved to table this issue until the next Council meeting.
Disbursements
One question was raised and answered for Check 41505 to SEH. A Shelton/Lulloff motion and subsequent vote approved paying the following vouchers: City Pooled #41475-#41513. City Total $56,038.53, Water Total $4,239.61, Sewer Total $1,792.94.
Motion to Convene into Closed Session
A Heggemeier/Shelton motion and subsequent vote approved to convene into closed session at 9:18 p.m., under WI S. S. 19.85(1)(e) Wells Option Agreement Lot #2 East Side Commercial Park: Deliberating or negotiating the purchase of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session.
Meeting Reconvened to Open Session at 10:12 p.m.
Consideration of Wells Option Agreement Lot #2
Discussion of the Option Agreement took place. A Shelton/Lorence motion and subsequent vote approved to forward recommendations to both Attorney’s.
Adjourn
A Shelton/Lulloff motion and subsequent vote approved to adjourn the 3/23/10 open session meeting at 10:15 p.m.
Archive:
August 24, 2010 Common Council Minutes
August 10, 2010 Common Council Minutes
July 27, 2010 Common Council Minutes
July 13, 2010 Common Council Minutes
June 22, 2010 Common Council Minutes
June 8, 2010 Common Council Minutes
May 25, 2010 Common Council Minutes
April 27, 2010 Common Council Minutes
April 20, 2010 Common Council Minutes
April 13, 2010 Common Council Minutes