City Council — Minutes

CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 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, and Cynthia Anderegg. Absent: Leslie LaRose. 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 • Katie Warner with the Augusta Historical Society inquired about vacant City owned property that would be large enough for a 30’ x 40’ building with water/sewer hookups. She was advised to search the Eau Claire County Beacon website to find vacant property. • Dave Hall inquired about City ordinances pertaining to lawn mowing. He stated that the apartment properties on Colfax St. and Bills St. have not been mowed regularly throughout the summer. APPROVAL OF DEPARMENT REPORTS Motion by Troxel seconded by Leslin 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 Chaffee to receive the Senior Center Report. Motion carried. Motion by Leslin seconded by Troxel to receive the Library Report. Motion carried. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to receive the Public Works Department Report. Motion carried. The Augusta Bridge Creek Fire Department did not submit Minutes as there were no meetings in June or July. CONSIDER APPOINTING WARD #2 ALDERPERSON TO FILL VACANCY An ad will be placed in The Ad-Delite, posted on the city’s website and Facebook page for any interested, eligible persons to put their forward for nomination. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER UPDATING SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTER SOUND SYSTEM The Senior Center has received donations to update and install a sound system on the East and West sides of the Center. They received a bid for $2,669.00. Motion by Wessel seconded by Troxel to approve the Senior Center’s request to update and install a sound system and have Director Kasandra Thompson facilitate the contract. Motion carried. UPDATE ON PARKS IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROGRESS • The asphalt at basketball court on N. Stone St. has been laid and the lines for both basketball and pickleball have been painted. The fence and hoops still need to be installed. Security cameras will be coming. The existing lights that are already there will be used. • Installation of the signage for the disc golf course still needs to be completed. • Pickleball nets are still needed. Temporary nets are being considered. • The school art department will, hopefully, work on the “graffiti” wall on the side on the city garage facing the basketball court on N. Stone St. CONSIDER REQUEST BY PROPERTY OWNER TO EXCEED DRIVEWAY WIDTH PER MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE 6.03 FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION 6.03(2)(a) Width: No driveway shall exceed twenty-four (24) feet in width at the outer or street edge of the sidewalk unless special permission is obtained from the City Council. Teresa Steinke & Ken Piel, 141 Rolling Hills Dr. request a 28’ driveway opening instead of 24’ width according to City Ordinance 6.03 for the new house they are building. The garage will be 28’ and they are the last house on the street. Motion by Leslin seconded by Wessel to approve the request to exceed the driveway width as described in City Ordinance 6.03(2)(a) and to allow a 28’ driveway opening at the outer or street edge. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, Vacant; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, Abstain; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER PURCHASING A NEW UNDERGROUND UTILITY LOCATOR Motion by Wessel seconded by Troxel to Table until a future City council meeting. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF CERTIFIED SURVEY MAP OF PROPERTY LOCATED ON COLFAX STREET (PARCEL SPLIT) Motion by Troxel seconded by Wessel to approve the Certified Survey Map for property located on Colfax Street, requested by Palmer Place LLC. 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 recommendations were made by the Personnel Committee at the meeting on September 4, 2024. • Motion by Chaffee seconded by Wessel to recommend to the City Council to adopt the Tuition Assistance Policy for Public Works Personnel to obtain Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Motion carried. • Motion by Chaffee seconded by Wessel to recommend to the City Council to adopt the Educational Expense Agreement for CDL Licensure. Motion carried. Motion by Troxel seconded by Chaffee to refer the matter back to the Personnel Committee for further review. Motion carried. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF NEW HIRE FOR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Motion by Troxel seconded by Chaffee to approve hiring Travis Tompkins for the Public Works Department. Motion carried. APPROVE BARTENDER LICENSE APPLICATIONS Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to approve the bartender license applications for Cortney McCormick, Sara Mayer, and Ryan Swan working for Mulligans. Motion Carried. ANNOUNCE AND DISCUSS UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS a. Board of Review – September 18th at 5:00pm – 7:00pm b. Special Budget meeting – September 24th at 9:00 am c. Personnel Committee – September 25th at 1:00 pm d. Joint City Improvement & Recreation Committee meeting – September 25th at 5:00 pm e. Strategic Plan Committee Meeting – TBA ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to adjourn the meeting. Cynthia Anderegg, City Clerk