Common Council — Minutes

Page 1 of 2 The Common Council met at City Hall in the City of Black River Falls on August 4 , 2026 at 6:0 5 P.M. Alderpersons Gearing-Lancaster, Wussow, Ammann, and Peloquin were present. Alderpersons M. Rav e, E. Rave, and Busse attended remotely via Zoom meetings. Mayor J. Eddy presided. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- It was moved by Alderpers on Gearing-Lancaster, seconded by Alderperson Wussow to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the July 7, 2026 Common Council meeting and approve as presented. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ CITIZENS IN ATTENDANCE There were five citizens in attendance. Garrett McGillivray addressed the Council on an incident that occurred at their Main Street business two days ago and a pattern of incidents that have happened with the police department. The most recent incident involved five strangers from out of town that came in to the pub and assaulted Mr. McGillivray and his father. They let all five of the people that attacked them go. He read an email he had sent to the Police Chief that detailed the incident and his interaction with the city officer. This is the third such incident that has occurred over the past year and a half. He explained an incident from several months ago that involved a female patron that had collapsed in the rest room and found to have 3-4 purses and 3-4 cell phones on her person which he presumed were stolen yet the officer sent her on her way with all the cell phones and all the purses. Another incident 7-8 months back they called the police to remove someone who refused to leave their business, and no one ever came. They feel this should be a rural police department, but they are acting like an urban police department in that they are sweeping up crimes and refusing to follow proper investigative procedures. This is very distressing and as a business owner and someone who is investing in the downtown, it really makes him question why they should be investing in the downtown when anyone can come through, tear it up, and just leave without any consequences whatsoever. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- COMMITTEE REPORTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson Wussow to place on file the minutes of the July 9, 2026 Historic Preservation Commission meeting. Motion carried. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------- It was moved by Alde rperson Gearing-Lancaster, seconded by Alde rperson E. Rave to approve the minutes of the July 15, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ The Committee of the Whole met at City Hall in the City of Black River Falls on July 15, 2026 at 6:00 P.M. Alderpersons Gearing-Lancaster, Wussow, and Peloquin were present. Alderperson E. Rave (6:09pm), Dougherty, and Busse attended remotely via Zoom meetings. Alderpersons M. Rave and Ammann were excused. Mayor J. Eddy presided. 1. Mayor Eddy advised those in attendance that there was not a quorum present so no action can be taken, but discussion only. 2. There was one citizen in attendance. 3. Nick Goeman from Baker Tilly presented an overview of the 2025 financial audit. 4. Mayor Eddy advised those in attendance that Alderperson E. Rave had joined remotely via Zoom meetings, and a quorum was now present to act on the remaining agenda items. 5. The Department Head monthly reports were reviewed. Department heads present were Darryl Nelson, Travis Brown, Jarod Meyer, Mark Nordahl, and Brad Chown. Cara Hart was excused. 6. The City Administrator advised the initial data received on municipal courts was from Mauston and it was not very encouraging. It is not self-sustaining; it is subsidized with tax dollars so not the revenue source we were hoping for. Plan to meet with one or two more municipalities. 7. The Parks & Recreation Director advised Festival in the Park on Saturday was a great event overall! He also commended Jon Wussow from Municipal Utilities for his efforts repairing a fuse at the Aquatic Center for the drop chutes and play features. Co-op Credit Union’s Summer Bash at the Aquatic Center on Tuesday drew 301 attendees and total pool attendance for that day was 429. Council members commended Parks & Recreation staff for their efforts related to Festival in the Park and they are hearing great reviews. 8. The Fire Chief advised the new Sprinter ambulance is scheduled to be delivered to Antigo, WI next week or the following week and it will be a month or so for graphics and the power load cot install, but hope to have it in service in September. 9. The Street Superintendent advised SC Swiderski has started construction on 5 new homes in Lallapalooza. He also advised street paving was completed on North 8th Street on Monday, and the street was re-opened on Tuesday. Mathy was working at Forrest Street School and asked to pave early, and we were ready, so Page 2 of 2 we are way ahead on paving. The two parking lots at City Hall should be ready for paving by next Friday and hope to get them paved and painted before the August 11th election. 10. The Police Chief advised today he travelled to Double Dutch Kennels to look at a K-9. This would be a single purpose K-9 for sniffing drugs and would be considered a no-bite dog. More information will be shared next month. 11. It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson Wussow to approve the vouchers for June 2026 Check #77095 - #77237 Totaling $448,907.14. Motion carried. 12. It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to approve the City Treasurer’s Report for June 2026. Motion carried. 13. It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Peloquin to approve the Revenue & Expense Reports for June 2026. Motion carried. 14. It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson Dougherty to adjourn. Motion carried at 6:41pm. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Busse to place on file the minutes of the July 27, 2026 Utility Commission meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Al derperson Peloquin to pay for half of the cost to establish a midblock crosswalk on North Third Street not to exceed $3,025.00. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson Peloquin to approve RESOLUTION 2026-02 – a resolution to approve Amendment #3 to the lo ng term power supply contract. Motion carried . The full resolution is available at City Hall. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to approve RESOLUTION 2026-03 – a resolution authorizing the City’s incentive package for Make My Move T alent Recruitment Program and delegating the authority to extend offers to the Ma yor and the City Administrator. Motion carried 4-3 with Alderpersons M. Rave, E. Rave, and Peloquin voting no. The full resolution is available at City Hall. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to approve the Police Department’s request to purchase a K -9 from Double Dutch Acres at a cost of $6,000 using funds f rom the K-9 fund. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Peloquin to approve the Supplemental Letter Agreement with SEH, Inc related to engineering s ervices at a lump sum cost of $104,800 for the Forrest Street Reconstruction Project. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson Ammann to approve the Mayor’s appointment of Jennifer Hatleli to the City Housing Authority replacing Alderperson Wussow and serving the remainder of her term. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Peloquin, seconded by Alderperson Wussow to convene in to closed session for the purpose of deliberating the purchasing of public properties related to an Offer to Purchase Vacant Land in Lallapalooza Estates where competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session wh ich is authorized under Section 19.85(1)(e) of the Wisconsin Statutes. Motion carried at 6:46pm. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Peloquin, seconded by Alderperson Gearing -Lancaster to reconvene in to open session to take or announce action, if any and if appropriate. Motion carried at 6:52pm. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson Peloquin, seconded by Alderperson Wussow to reject the Offer to Purchase Vacant Land in Lallapalooza Estates as discussed in closed session. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alde rperson Wussow, seconded by Alderpers on Gearing-Lancaster to adjourn. Motion carried at 6:58 pm. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. Brad Chown City Administrator