City Council — Minutes

Common Council Minutes – August 20, 2025 Clerk’s Initials _________ CITY OF SHULLSBURG, WISCONSIN PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES RE: PROPOSED WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY CLARIFIER UPGRADE PLAN AND ESTIMATED SEWER RATE IMPACTS AUGUST 20, 2025 A public hearing was held in the Community Room of the Shullsburg Community Townsend Center, 190 N. Judgement Street, Shullsburg, Wisconsin on August 20, 2025 for the purpose of hearing all interested parties regarding the proposed wastewater treatment facility clarifier upgrade plan and estimated sewer rate impacts. Mayor Verne Jackson opened the hearing at 6:30 P.M. Bart Nies of Delta 3 Engineering introduced himself and explained the Clean Water Fund grant program through the DNR. The public hearing is a requirement of the application process for grant funding. The purpose of applying for the grant is to install a second final clarifier. Nies reviewed the DNR permit requirements and explained the need for a second final clarifier. Nies reviewed the statistics concerning the current clarifier and then discussed the rate impacts. Rate impacts will be dependent on how much grant funding is awarded. Casey Fennell questioned the capacity and asked for further explanation regarding why the current clarifier is overloaded. Nies explained it’s not a capacity concern as much as a concern of the flow being overloaded. Dan Morrissey questioned what happens if the current system goes down. Nies explained that sludge would need to be hauled away by a hired outside company. Nies then explained the timing of the grant funding. At 6:47 P.M. Mayor Jackson asked twice more if there were any more questions or comments and being none asked for a motion to close the public hearing. Motion by Morrissey second by Reilly to close the public hearing. All aye, motion carried. COMMON COUNCIL MINUTES AUGUST 20, 2025 A regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Shullsburg was held August 20, 2025 in the Community Room of the Shullsburg Community Townsend Center, 190 N. Judgement Street, Shullsburg, Wisconsin. Mayor Verne Jackson called the meeting to order at 6:48 p.m. Notice of the meeting was posted at the Townsend Center, Shullsburg Post Office and Turpin’s Home Town Grocery. Roll Call- Emmett Reilly, Dan Morrissey, Cheryl Mulcahy – Present; Others present- Cassidy Mackey, Dave Leahy, Laurel Hartung, Casey Fennell, Bart Nies, Duane Wedige, Gloria Swenson, Peggy Steger, Tom Lethlean, Tom Kleiber, Darrell Morrissey, Nathan Russell and Janelle Schumacher. Pledge of Allegiance Approval of Minutes – Motion by Reilly second by Mulcahy to approve the minutes of the July 16, 2025 Council Meetings. All aye, motion carried. Committee Reports – Morrissey gave an update from the Street Committee regarding the Hwy 11 bridge closures and his discussion with Kim Ballweg from the DOT regarding issues with semi’s not following detours. He explained his concern about the semi traffic when the Judgement Street bridge gets closed and that the City is responsible for enforcement and should look into using signage to prevent traffic problems. Chief Jerry needs to be informed of this and the city needs to look into signs communicating local deliveries only. Police Chief Report – Chief Jerry emailed the report; there were no questions. Approve Bills – Motion by Morrissey second by Reilly to approve the bills for General, Water, Sewer, Electric, Pool, Museum, Library & TIF Funds. All aye, motion carried. Public Comment – Dave Leahy introduced himself as a resident who has concerns and frustrations about the Opera House. He expressed encouragement to the Council for them to continue on the course of using the legal system to remedy the situation. He explained the building has been deteriorating for 28 years and would like the City Council to stay on this issue. Duane Wedige introduced himself concerning Item #11 on the agenda and explained he is interested in the Alderperson position, has several years of experience and would appreciate the Council’s support. Common Council Minutes – August 20, 2025 Clerk’s Initials _________ Laurel Hartung introduced herself and expressed interest in the Alderperson position as well. She explained that she would bring a different perspective as a business owner, as well as bringing a position on new and innovating things. WWTP Final Clarifier Upgrade Plan – Nies addressed the Council again presenting the following items needing approval in order to submit the Clean Water Fund grant application to the DNR. Motion by Reilly second by Mulcahy to approve the Wastewater Treatment Plant Facility Plan as presented. All aye, motion carried. Motion by Morrissey second by Reilly to approve the submittal of the Clean Water Fund application. All aye, motion carried. Motion by Reilly second by Morrissey to approve Authorized Representative Resolution #2025-21. All aye, motion carried. Motion by Mulcahy second by Reilly to approve Reimbursement Resolution #2025-22. All aye, motion carried. Motion by Reilly second by Morrissey to approve the plans, specifications & estimates presented for the proposed wastewater clarifier upgrade project. All aye, motion carried. Motion by Reilly second by Mulcahy to approve the Delta 3 Engineering Contract for the project as presented. All aye, motion carried. Recognition of Gloria Swenson for years of service – Mayor Jackson addressed Gloria Swenson and presented her with a plaque recognizing her for 11 years of service as Mayor and Alderperson. Swenson addressed the room and explained the reasoning for her resignation and thanked Jackson for the recognition. Appointment of Successor to Complete the Term of Alderperson – Jackson explained that due to Swenson’s resignation, there is a vacancy on the Council until the next election in April 2026 and the Council can choose to appoint someone to fill the vacancy, leave the vacancy open, or hold a special election. Two eligible candidates were present and spoke during public comment. Morrissey commented that Wedige had contacted him prior to the meeting looking for his support and because Wedige had ran for election in the past, is interested and has prior experience, that Morrissey would support him. Morrissey questioned Attorney Russell about the nomination process. Russell explained any member of the Council can nominate a person, the nomination needs a second, and then a majority vote to pass. If a nomination is made three times without a second, then it fails. Reilly commented that Wedige had contacted him as well, and he will support him. Mulcahy also expressed her support of Wedige. A motion was made by Jackson to nominate Laurel Hartung for the position of Alderperson. There was no second. Jackson asked for a second two more times; the nomination failed. Morrissey encouraged Hartung to continue to pursue the position if it’s something she is interested in by running for the election in April. Motion by Reilly second by Morrissey to nominate Duane Wedige for the position of Alderperson. Jackson requested a roll call vote. Mulcahy-yes, Reilly-yes, Morrissey-yes, motion carried. Six-Oh-Ate Food Truck Festival Application – Motion by Reilly second by Mulcahy to approve the special event application submitted by Advance Shullsburg for the Six-Oh-Ate Food Truck Festival for August 30, 2025. All aye, motion carried. Cheesefest Special Event Application – Motion by Reilly second by Mulcahy to approve the special event application submitted by Advance Shullsburg for Cheesefest on October 4, 2025. All aye, motion carried. American Legion Special Event Application – Motion by Morrissey second by Reilly to approve the special event application and extension of premise submitted by the American Legion for fundraising event on September 20, 2025. All aye, motion carried. Badger Park Renovation Plans & Fundraising Campaign – Jackson explained that the Badger Park Improvement Committee had met the night before and discussed the current renderings. Some were in favor of the proposed concession stand plan and some were not. Schumacher updated the Council that $370,000 in funds have been committed towards the project by various donors. This is in addition to the $500,000 committed by the city. Reilly reiterated this project will not impact property taxes. No action taken. Outdoor Security Camera Additions at Townsend Center – The Council considered an estimate from TC Networks to purchase additional cameras for the outside of the Townsend Center for added security to the North and East sides of the building. Motion by Morrissey second by Mulcahy to approve the estimate from TC Networks for $2455.71 as presented. All aye, motion carried. Townsend Center Janitorial Duties – Jackson announced that Kevin Einsweiler would no longer be providing janitorial services for the Townsend Center effective October 1, 2025. The Council discussed whether the position should be a contracted position or hired as an employee. Morrissey asked Attorney Russell his Common Council Minutes – August 20, 2025 Clerk’s Initials _________ opinion and Russell stated that contractors have to meet a very specific set of requirements and his opinion is that his position should be hired as an employee. Motion by Reilly second by Mulcahy to publish a job advertisement for the part time janitorial position. All aye, motion carried. Sewer Utility Vehicle Purchase – The Council considered four estimates provided by Tom Kleiber, the department supervisor. Kleiber’s recommendation to the Council was the purchase of a Ranger 4x4 Crew Cab from Virtue Motors with an estimated cost of $36,133.50. Motion by Reilly second by Morrissey to approve the purchase of the Ranger from Virtue at a cost not to exceed $37,000. All aye, motion carried. Pickleball Court Fence – The Council considered an estimate from Crist Fencing to place a fence around the Pickleball Court at Badger Park. Morrissey explained that Advance Shullsburg will donate $3000 towards the fence. Reilly will ask the Shullsburg Lions Club if they would donate towards the project as well. Motion by Morrissey second by Reilly to approve the estimate from Crist Fencing for $6102.13. All aye, motion carried. BCPL State Trust Fund Loan – The Council considered the loan that had been previously approved to accept from the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands to pass through to the Housing Authority for their housing project in Shullsburg. Morrissey gave an update from the County’s perspective of the project and stated that WHEDA has reversed their funding for the project and there is no EPA funding either. Morrissey asked Attorney Russell for his opinion on whether the previous decision to accept the BCPL loan could be rescinded. Motion by Morrissey to rescind their decision to accept the BCPL loan funds on behalf of the Housing Authority, based on legal counsel, second by Reilly. All aye, motion carried. Code of Conduct – The Council considered a code of conduct intended for members of the city council, commissions and committees. Jackson commented that it explains the responsibilities of council members. Morrissey stated he has never signed anything like this and would like to refuse, asking Attorney Russell if he is required to sign it. Russell confirmed only an Oath of Office is required to be signed by Council members. Reilly commented that they had looked at something similar before and that there was no interest in it. No action taken. Townsend Center Facility Use Agreement – The Council reviewed and discussed an agreement to be made with Lafayette County for their use of the Townsend Center kitchen and senior center for dining and distributing senior meals. Schumacher explained that a similar agreement had been in place when the program was operated by the SUN Program and since Lafayette County is now providing the programming, the agreement should be in place with them. Reilly commented that ensuring the facilities are cleaned is a concern due to staff hours being cut by Lafayette County. Schumacher questioned whether or not the agreement is enforceable. Motion by Reilly second by Morrissey to send the agreement to Lafayette County for review. All aye, motion carried. Clerk/Treasurer Report – Reports were emailed prior to the meeting. Schumacher will be attending election training conducted by the Wisconsin Elections Commission on September 30 & October 1, 2025. Closed Session – At 8:11 p.m. a motion was made by Morrissey second by Reilly to convene into closed session. Roll Call - Morrissey-yes, Reilly-yes, Jackson-yes, Mulcahy-yes. Closed Session is Pursuant to Wis. Stat 19.85 (1)(g) to confer with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved. Open Session – At 8:27 p.m. a motion was made by Mulcahy second by Reilly to reconvene into open session. Roll Call- Morrissey-yes, Reilly-yes, Jackson-yes, Mulcahy-yes. Motion carried. Action on Closed Session – Motion by Reilly second by Mulcahy to reject the settlement proposal from the defendant as discussed. All aye, motion carried. At 8:28 p.m. a motion was made by Reilly second by Mulcahy to adjourn. All aye, motion carried. Janelle Schumacher, Clerk/Treasurer