November 10

COMMON COUNCIL – November 10, 2020 Page 1 CITY OF OCONTO FALLS COMMON COUNCIL Council Chambers – Municipal Building 500 N. Chestnut Avenue - Oconto Falls, WI 54154 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - 7:00 PM MINUTES Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM by Past President Devin Wirtz Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Present: Mayor Brad Rice (via speaker phone), Aldermen: Marty Coopman (via speaker phone), Jeff McDonald, Devin Wirtz, Mathew McDermid, and Tim Holman Also present: Administrator Vicki Roberts, Deputy Clerk Nancy Brye, City Attorney Larry Jeske, Police Chief Brad Olsen, Street Superintendent Terry Magnin, Street Foreman Gerry Lemirande, Fire Chief Tim Magnin, Utility Manager Greg Kuhn, and Utility Commissioners Christos Anastasopoulos & Bart Schindel Absent: Alderman Kevin Rusch Others: Attorney Rich Carlson, Joe Ruiz, Bart Magnin, Carissa McDonald, Andy & Jenny Mercier, Jon Spice, Dave Alsteen, Ross Engel, Jim Rieth, and Reuben Radke Approval of Minutes – Common Council Meeting on October 13, 2020. MOTION: McDermid / Holman Motion to approve the minutes as presented for the Common Council Meeting on October 13, 2020. Voice Vote: All present voting aye - MOTION CARRIED Treasurer’s Report – September MOTION: Holman / McDonald Motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented for September and place on file. Voice Vote: All present voting aye - MOTION CARRIED Bills Payable – October MOTION: McDermid / Holman Motion to approve the Bills Payable as presented for October. Voice Vote: All present voting aye - MOTION CARRIED COMMON COUNCIL – November 10, 2020 Page 2 Reports: written reports submitted  Administrator Report City Administrator informed that due to publication deadline constraints; the Public Hearing for the Proposed 2021 Budget will now take place prior to the next Council Meeting at 6:45 pm on Tuesday, December 8, 2020.  Police Department Report  Municipal Court Report  Fire Department Report  Street Department Report  Building Inspector Report Building Inspector Jane Meissner was present to meet Council.  Utility Commission Report/Minutes MOTION: Holman / McDonald Motion to place monthly reports on file. Voice Vote: All present voting aye - MOTION CARRIED DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING: Correspondence/Information Attorney Ashley C. Lehocky & Attorney Rich Carlson – Town Counsel Law & Litigation. Attorney Lehocky was unable to attend this meeting. Attorney Rich Carlson was present and thanked the Oconto Falls Police Department for a great job with their testimony during the Lange trial in which the City prevailed. Recognition for years of service: Carl Vowinkel – Oconto Falls Water & Light Commission Joe Ruiz – Oconto Falls Police Department Bart Magnin – Oconto Falls Fire Department Carl was not present at the meeting. Joe and Bart were thanked for their years of service and dedication to the city and wished the best in their future endeavors. Utility Manager Kuhn mentioned that Carl has been with the Oconto Falls Utilities for the past 51 years; first as an employee and then as a commissioner. OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL - Citizen in-put will be limited to 3 minutes. Jon Spice thanked the city for allowing the Youth Football Organization the opportunity to utilize the Memorial Park Field this past year. On behalf of the Town of Oconto Falls, Dave Alsteen asked if the City would consider a three (3) or five (5) year contract for the Town-City Fire Agreement rather than a yearly contract. Since the budget has already figured for next year; this suggestion would be considered next fall when the Finance Committee is doing the 2022 budget. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ANY OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: COMMON COUNCIL – November 10, 2020 Page 3 Old Business: A. Ambulance Update. Council President Marty Coopman gave an ambulance update last month but wanted to inform the Council of major equipment purchases the Oconto Falls Ambulance Service has made. Approximately $83,116 has been spent to upgrade equipment to include: $15,390 for a Lucas automatic CPR chest compression device; $30,000 for a power cot; and $37,726 for two (2) life- pack patient monitoring defibrillators. No action taken - informational only New Business: A. Operator’s License Applications: One year: Carissa A McDonald. This applicant has completed the Beverage Server Class and filed application with the City to obtain a one year operator’s license but did not meet the criteria set forth by Council to pass a background check. Applicant had three (3) alcohol or drug convictions in the past seven (7) years. Applicant is asking for a license to be able to continue her employment at a gas station/convenience store which sells alcohol. It was discussed to do the same as what was done last month with a similar situation and grant the remainder of a one year license, which expires in 7 months. At this time, if she wishes to renew her license, she would then have to apply again and her application would come back up for review. MOTION: McDermid / McDonald Motion to approve the remainder of a one year Operator’s License for Carissa A. McDonald, expiring on June 30, 2021, in which her application would come up for review if she reapplies. Voice Vote: All present voting aye - MOTION CARRIED B. Request for flea market in 2021. Kevin Sutrick, who requested this item to be on the agenda, was not present. There was a miscommunication on when this item was to be presented to Council. No discussion made – may be rescheduled. C. Request for fat-bike race this winter. Alderman Devin Wirtz informed the Oconto Falls Area Cycling Coalition has been and will continue to improve trails around the tubing hill and near the golf course. They have been grooming the trails with a snowmobile and are now having Custom Metals build them a groomer. They would like to see these trails also be used for cross country skiing and snow shoeing. Wirtz presented plans for a Fat Bike Race on January 30, 2021. Funds raised from this event will be used COMMON COUNCIL – November 10, 2020 Page 4 to help maintain trails. River Island Golf Course is in favor of this event and has offered use of their parking lot to accommodate overflow parking. MOTION: McDermid / Holman Motion to approve the request for Oconto Falls Area Cycling Coalition to hold a Fat Bike Race on January 30, 2021 as presented. Voice Vote: All present voting aye - MOTION CARRIED D. Winter snow removal. ITEM TABLED…. until next month E. Personnel Manual. The Personnel Manual Committee started reconstruction of the City/Utility Personnel Manual last year. The manual has been reconstructed, sent to Labor Attorney Kalny for modification and approval, and approved by our City Attorney. The Committee is now recommending approval of the final draft from the Council. It was pointed out that wording on page 12 and page 24 should be changed to make the paragraphs gender neutral (his/her). MOTION: Coopman / McDermid Motion to accept the recommendation of the Personnel Manual Committee to approve the revised City/Utility Personnel Manual as presented with changes on page 12 and 24 to make the wording general neutral. Voice Vote: All present voting aye - MOTION CARRIED F. Council may go into closed session pursuant to Chapter 19.85 (1)(e) of the Wisconsin State Statue for deliberation and to discuss negotiation on sale of assets, for bargaining reasons. (RE: Sale of Oconto Falls Cable Company). MOTION: Holman / McDonald Motion to go into closed session at 7:24 pm pursuant to Chapter 19.85 (1)(e) of the Wisconsin State Statue for deliberation and to discuss negotiation on sale of assets, for bargaining reasons. (RE: Sale of Oconto Falls Cable Company). Voice Vote: All present voting aye - MOTION CARRIED Those remaining in closed session: Rice & Coopman (via phone), McDonald, Wirtz, McDermid, Holman, Roberts, Brye, Jeske, Kuhn, Anastasopoulos, and Schindel G. Council will return to open session and may take action on matters discussed in closed session. COMMON COUNCIL – November 10, 2020 Page 5 MOTION: McDermid / Holman Motion to return to open session at 7:34 pm in which Council may take action on matters discussed in closed session. Voice Vote: All present voting aye - MOTION CARRIED H. Resolution 20-009; Resolution approving asset purchase agreement for the sale of certain equipment and facilities comprising the coaxial distribution system to CCI Systems, Inc. MOTION: McDonald / Coopman Motion to approve Resolution 20-009; Resolution approving asset purchase agreement for the sale of certain equipment and facilities comprising the coaxial distribution system to CCI Systems, Inc., as presented. Roll Call Vote: McDonald-yes, Coopman-yes, Wirtz-yes, McDermid-yes, Holman-yes, Rusch-absent; - MOTION CARRIED I. Adjournment. Wirtz asked if there was any further business before the meeting is adjourned. Having no further business, he declared the meeting adjourned at 7:35 pm. ________________________________ City Administrator Vicki A. Roberts