January 12 (public hearing)

COMMON COUNCIL – Public Hearing – January 12, 2021 Page 1 CITY OF OCONTO FALLS PUBLIC HEARING Regarding the CDBG-CLPF program / Park Avenue reconstruction project Council Chambers – Municipal Building 500 N. Chestnut Avenue – Oconto Falls, WI 54154 TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 – 6:30 PM MINUTES Public Hearing called to order at 6:30 PM by Mayor Brad Rice Mayor Rice read the Public Hearing Notice and indicated the notice was given to the public and mailed to property owners on Park Avenue at least 14 days prior to this hearing; published in the Oconto County Times Herald on December 24 and December 31, 2020; and posted at the City Municipal Building, Oconto Falls Public Library and on the City’s website. Public Notice: Notice is hereby given, that the City of Oconto Falls Common Council will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed Community Development Block Grant CLOSE - Public Facilities (CDBG-CLPF) project on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 beginning at 6:30 pm. This hearing is open to the public and the public is encouraged to attend and provide comments on the proposed project. The agenda for the hearing is as follows:  Overview of the CDBG-CLPF program  Presentation of Park Avenue reconstruction project  Public Comment  Adjourn public hearing Additional information on the CDBG-CLOSE project can be obtained by contacting Eve Wallace, Deputy Treasurer at 920-846-4505. Any person wishing to attend the public hearing who requires special accommodations because of a disability should contact the Clerk’s office at 920-846-4505 with adequate notice so appropriate accommodations can be made. Roll Call was taken: Council present: Mayor Brad Rice, Aldermen: Devin Wirtz, Jeff McDonald, Marty Coopman, Mathew McDermid, Kevin Rusch, and Tim Holman Also present: City Attorney Larry Jeske, Deputy Clerk Nancy Brye, Deputy Treasurer Eve Wallace, Street Superintendent Terry Magnin, Utility Manager Greg Kuhn, Paul Ehrfurth (OCEDC), Ashley Bahrke (OCEDC), Michelle Tester, Anastasia Cameron, Pauline Grundman, and Chique Tousey-Tabar DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC INPUT ON THE FOLLOWING: COMMON COUNCIL – Public Hearing – January 12, 2021 Page 2  Overview of the CDBG-CLPF program Oconto County Economic Development Corporation (OCEDC) Director Paul Ehrfurth presented the history of the CDBG Close. Communities in Wisconsin operated Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) programs which were overseen by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA). With the recent close of these RLF programs, unused funds and receivables were returned to the state. Approximately $1.7 million was sent back to the DOA from the City of Oconto Falls. The DOA is giving communities an opportunity to apply for grants to receive these funds back; however funds are limited to specific eligible projects. Ehrfurth explained eligible projects are: areas that have individuals with 51% low to moderate income; areas with slum and blight; and areas with an urgent need. It was determined the proposed project for reconstruction of Park Avenue qualified for application as this area would benefit citizens with low to moderate income.  Presentation of Park Avenue reconstruction project Utility Manager Greg Kuhn explained details of the proposed project for Park Avenue. The project is contingent on the City receiving grant approval. The project would be complete reconstruction from curb to curb. This will include sanitary sewer, storm sewer, water main, roadway, and new curb and gutter replacement. The entire project is anticipated to take approximately 90 days to complete. If the grant application is approved, the project will be paid for using grant funds with the exception of any pipe replacement that needs to be done from the curb to house; this portion will be the responsibility of the homeowner. Homeowners will be offered an option to replace any pipe from curb to house at their expense. Kuhn indicated that he does not currently see any lead services on Park Avenue. If any lead services are found at time of construction, they will have to be replaced.  Public Comment A few basic questions were asked by the public in attendance and answered by Kuhn. o Would the road be made any wider? Answer: No, it will remain the same width as it is now. o Would sidewalks be put in or any removed? Answer: Only two properties currently have older sidewalks. These two will be removed and will not be replaced. No additional sidewalks will be put in. o A resident has two driveways on her property; one of which is a gravel driveway. She wanted to make sure both driveways will remain in place after construction. Answer: Yes, all existing driveways will remain and be given a curb cut-out. There will be a small apron approach put in by the gravel one.  Adjourn public hearing Mayor Rice asked (three times) if there were any further questions or comments. Hearing none, he declared the Public Hearing closed and adjourned at 6:44 pm. ________________________________ City Administrator Vicki A. Roberts *A quorum of the Common Council was in attendance of this Public Hearing