City Council — Minutes

PUBLIC HEARING – CITY BUDGET FOR 2025 6:30 P.M. – Augusta City Hall Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held in the Council Chambers of the City of Augusta, 145 W. Lincoln Street, Augusta, WI at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at which time any resident or voter of the City of Augusta will be heard in regard to the budgets for 2025. Mayor Jason TePaske called the Public Hearing to order at 6:30 p.m. Present were council members Sue Troxel, Patricia Wessel, Robert Chaffee, and Brian Leslin. Also present: Scott Williamson, Kasandra Thompson, and Cynthia Anderegg. PUBLIC COMMENT Jane Walsh addressed the council about transparency and community participation in the City’s budget process. She had been in contact with the League of Wisconsin Municipalities (“League”) to get some insight on the budgeting process’s procedures. She stated that the City is incompliance with the required notifications. She also sighted the key points about the municipal budget public hearing according to the League: Citizen engagement, Transparency, Feedback collection, and Accountability. Mrs. Walsh would like more transparency and community participation in the future. The following library patrons sent comments via email expressing their concerns about the proposed reduction of funds allocated to the library’s 2025 and to give support in maintaining the same amount that was allocated in 2024: Karen Winter Norris, Janice Hoh, Nancy Forseth, Marjorie Stauft, and Charles Stauft. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chaffee seconded by Wessel to adjourn. Motion carried. Cynthia Anderegg, Clerk SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2024 6:38 P.M. Mayor Jason TePaske called the special meeting of the Augusta City Council to order at 6:38 p.m. Present were council members Sue Troxel, Patricia Wessel, Robert Chaffee, and Brian Leslin. Also present: Scott Williamson, Kasandra Thompson, Leslie LaRose, and Cynthia Anderegg. Absent: Gordon O’Brien. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to approve the agenda. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT None APPROVE SENIOR CENTER FACILITY FUNDING AGREEMENT AND TITLE III-C FUNDING AGREEMENT Motion by Chaffee seconded by Wessel to approve the 2025 Senior Center Facility Funding Agreement from Eau Claire County for $32,000 and the ADRC Title III-C Funding Agreement for $7758. Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: Vacant, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. REVIEW AND DISCUSS SEWER UTILITY RATES FOR 2025 Motion by Wessel seconded by Leslin to adopt Resolution 2025-1126a Approving Sewer Rate Adjustments. The Resolution is to increase the Sewer rates by 2.5%, which is the 2025 Cost-of-Living Adjustment as determined by the Social Security Administration. The rates are presented as follows: • Increase the volume usage rate by $0.30 per 1,000 gallons bringing the volume charge to $12.10 per 1,000 gallons. • Increase the REU charge by $0.58 per unit per month bring the REU charge to $23.58 per unit per month. • The new rates will take effect starting on December 20, 2024, with the first billing period being December 20, 2024 to Jan 19, 2025. Roll Call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, Vacant; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: Vacant, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND APPROVE GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR 2025 Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to approve the 2025 General Fund budget. Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: Vacant, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ADOPTING SEWER FUND OPERATING BUDGET FOR 2025 Motion by Leslin seconded by Chaffee to approve the 2025 Sewer Fund Operating budget. Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: Vacant, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ADOPTING WATER FUND OPERATING BUDGET FOR 2025 Motion by Wessel seconded by Troxel to approve the 2025 Water Fund Operating budget. Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: Vacant, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. ADOPT THE 2024 LEVY AND AUTHORIZE CLERK TO CALCULATE MILL RATE Motion by Chaffee seconded by Wessel to adopt the 2024 Levy in the amount of $462,866 and to authorize the Clerk to calculate the mill rate. Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: Vacant, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. APPROVE TAX BOND COLLECTION RESOLUTION Motion by Leslin seconded by Chaffee to approve the tax bond collection resolution. Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: Vacant, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. AUTHORIZE PLACEMENT OF DELINQUENT UTILITIES, SPECIAL ASSESSMENT CHARGES AND SPECIAL CHARGES INCLUDING EAU CLAIRE COUNTY RECYCLING CHARGE ON THE TAX ROLL Motion by Chaffee seconded by Wessel to authorize placement of delinquent utilities ($72,893.15 which includes a 10% County fee), special charges, special assessment charges ($350 lawn mowing, $1,750.55 Street assessment Rolling Hills Dr.), and Eau Claire County Recycling charge ($17/unit) on the tax roll. Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: Vacant, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. ANNOUNCE AND DISCUSS UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS a. Regular December City Council meeting – December 10th at 7:00 pm ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to adjourn. Motion carried. Cynthia Anderegg, Clerk