City Council — Minutes

CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY OCTOBER 8, 2024 7:00 P.M. Mayor Jason TePaske called the Regular meeting of the Augusta City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were council members Sue Troxel, Patricia Wessel, Bob Chaffee, and Brian Leslin. Also present were Gordon O’Brien, Scott Williamson, Kasandra Thompson, Leslie LaRose, and Cynthia Anderegg. Vacant: Ward 2. Pledge of Allegiance ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PROPER POSTING A notice of the meeting and an agenda was posted at the three public places and the local newspaper was notified. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Troxel seconded by Chaffee to approve the agenda. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Wessel seconded by Leslin to approve the minutes for the following meetings: City Council Meeting August 20th; Personnel Committee Meetings August 20th, 29th, and September 4th. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT • Mr. Leonard Nichols Jr. (524 S. Stone St.) spoke to the Council about applying for a dog kennel license. He currently owns 5 dogs: a French bulldog, German Shorthaired Pointer, Mixed Yorkies, and 3-month-old puppy. One of the dogs is quite old and he doesn’t expect it to be around much longer. He frequently uses 3 of the dogs as therapy dogs even though they are not currently certified as such. He does plan to have them trained and certified. He has a fenced yard and has no issues with the neighbors nor has the police department been contacted for dog issues. The Council will discuss Mr. Nichols’s application at the Council’s next meeting. APPROVAL OF DEPARMENT REPORTS Motion by Wessel seconded by Troxel to receive the Treasurer’s Report. Motion carried. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Wessel to receive the Police Department Report. Motion carried. Motion by Wessel seconded by Leslin to receive the Senior Center Report. Motion carried. Motion by Wessel seconded by Troxel to receive the Library Report. Motion carried. Motion by Leslin seconded by Chaffee to receive the Public Works Department Report. Motion carried. The Augusta Bridge Creek Fire Department no Minutes were available for review (August and September should be available for the next Council meeting). CONSIDER APPOINTING WARD #2 ALDERPERSON TO FILL VACANCY An ad was placed in The Ad-Delite, posted on the city’s website and Facebook page for any eligible persons interested to contact City Hall. No names were put forward for nomination. Table until the next council meeting. ACCEPT RESIGNATION OF OFFICER LINDSAY HAYDEN Motion by Chaffee seconded by Wessel to accept the resignation of Officer Lindsay Hayden. Motion carried. Officer Hayden’s last day will be October 13th. APPROVE THE HIRING OF OFFICER BRYCE ELVAKER AS FULL-TIME POLICE OFFICER Motion by Leslin seconded by Wessel to approve promoting Officer Bryce Elvaker to full-time police officer. Motion carried. Officer Elvaker’s full-time position will begin on October 28th. UPDATE ON PARKS IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROGRESS • The signs at the disc golf course are mostly installed • The T-Mobile Hometown Grants for outdoor spaces has been submitted. Notification of awards will be emailed in late November. • Cameras have been installed at the basketball court on N. Stone St. • The fence has been ordered and it is estimated to be about 10 weeks before the material will be available to be installed. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER PURCHASING A NEW UNDERGROUND UTILITY LOCATOR Motion by Wessel seconded by Troxel to Table until a future meeting when the Public Works Superintendent is available for discussion. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER PERSONNEL COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS PERTAINING TO POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAINING POLICY The purpose of the Education Incentive Policy is to provide financial benefits to police department employees for acquiring a level of training beyond that of normal department operations or other requirements set forth by the State of Wisconsin-Department of Justice. ➢ 9-25-24 Personnel Committee Meeting: Motion by Wessel seconded by Chaffee to recommend approving the Training Policy for the Police Department to the City Council and to develop an agreement form. Motion carried. Motion by Leslin seconded by Troxel to approve the Personnel Committee’s recommendation to adopt the police department Education Incentive Policy and police personnel agreement form. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, Vacant; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER PERSONNEL COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS PERTAINING TO EMPLOYEE CDL LICENSURE TUITION POLICY AND CDL LICENSURE EDUCATIONAL EXPENSE AGREEMENT The following recommendation was made by the Personnel Committee at the meeting on September 25, 2024. ➢ 9-25-24 Personnel Committee Meeting: Motion by Wessel seconded by Chaffee not to move forward with adopting a Tuition Assistance Policy for Public Works to obtain a commercial driver’s license nor an Educational Expense Agreement for CDL Licensure. Motion carried. No Motion was made. APPROVE BARTENDER LICENSE APPLICATIONS None ANNOUNCE AND DISCUSS UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS a. Plan Commission – October 28th at 5:00 pm b. Special Budget meeting – October 30th at 1:00 pm c. Joint City Improvement & Recreation Committee meeting – February 19, 2025 at 5:30 pm d. Strategic Plan Committee Meeting – TBA ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to adjourn the meeting. Cynthia Anderegg, City Clerk