1.27.2025 Common Council Meeting Minutes

COMMON COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 1/27/2025 The Common Council of the City of Park Falls met in regular session at 5:00 PM on Monday, January 27, 2025. Mayor Tara Tervort called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM and the following members were present: Mayor: Tara Tervort Alderman: Dan Greenwood Dennis Wartgow Terry Wilson James Corbett Anthony Thier Dixie Weidman Michael Mader Dina Bukachek City Attorney: Bryce Schoenborn - Excused City and Zoning Administrator: Scott Kluver Staff present: Shannon Greenwood, Bill Hoffman, Marvin Nevelier, Deb Hyde, Becky Michels Also present: Dwight Webb, Gary Wollerman, Victor Ambrose, Rachel Greenwood, Brenda Smetak, Charlie Hawn, and Justine Talek (virtually) There was a motion by Alderman Wilson and seconded by Alderman Mader to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried. There was a motion by Alderman Wartgow and seconded by Alderman Bukachek to approve the minutes for the Common Council meeting on November 25, 2024, Finance Committee Meeting on December 9, 2024, Committee of the Whole on December 9, 2025, Plan Commission on December 12, 2024, Plan Commission on January 9, 2025, and Committee of the Whole on January 13, 2025. Motion carried. COMMUNICATIONS – None. PUBLIC COMMENT – None. NEW BUSINESS Justine Talek, ESA Solar, discussed the Lease and Easement Option Agreement for the proposed energy storage project at the former landfill located west of the City. It would still allow necessary access to maintain the landfill area. DNR would need to review the proposed plans and decide that the development would be acceptable. Insurance and indemnification are covered in the agreement. The timeline for operation is 5 years with a proposed 50-year agreement. It was suggested that the City offers a public hearing for the adjoining property owners. There was a motion by Alderman Wartgow and seconded by Alderman Greenwood to approve the Conditional Use Permit to North Development PF, LLC recommended by the Plan Commission. Motion carried. At 5:28 Mayor Tervort opened the Public Hearing for the proposed ordinances as recommended by the Plan Commission to simplify the process for CSM’s and make the approval process less cumbersome. There was a motion by Alderman Wartgow and seconded by Alderman Greenwood to approve Ordinance 25-001 – Certified Survey Land Division Technical Requirements; Review and Approval and Ordinance 25-002 – Minor Land Division (Certified Survey Map). Motion carried, 8-0. At 5:37 Mayor Tervort opened the Public Hearing for the Lower Dam Road Certified Survey Map recommended by the Plan Commission. The CSM needs to be signed by all adjacent property owners and might need to be revised if it is not. Motion by Alderman Mader and seconded by Alderman Wilson to approve Lower Dam Road CSM. Motion carried, 8-0. Discussed the statutory requirement for permitting and establishing charges for pawnbrokers and secondhand jewelry dealers. There was a motion by Alderman Wartgow and seconded by Alderman Mader to approve Ordinance 25-003 – Pawnbroker and Secondhand Article and Jewelry Dealers. Motion carried, 8-0. Reviewed the proposed ordinances that were drafted to accomplish the desired outcome for council meeting structure. There was a motion by Alderman Weidman and seconded by Alderman Mader to approve Charter Ordinance 25-001 – Meeting of the Common Council. Motion carried, 8-0. There was a motion by Alderman Wilson and seconded by Alderman Weidman to approve Ordinance 25-004 – Order of Business. Motion carried, 8-0. Discussed the draft budget amendment for the Water and Sewer Utilities related to the STH 13 highway project, essentially splitting the cost for the utility portion of the project and putting it in the appropriate expense categories and reducing the amount of revenue that will go into the retained revenues. There was a motion by Alderman Weidman and seconded by Alderman Mader to approve Resolution 25-001 – Amendment to the 2025 Water and Sewer Utility Budgets. Motion carried, 8-0. COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance – There was a motion by Alderman Thier and seconded by Alderman Bukachek to approve paying the bills in the amount of $83,793.05. Motion carried, 8-0. Board of Public Works – Director Hoffman reported that Janke has pulled their construction trailer out and Pieper Electric has installed the light posts throughout Old Abe Memorial Park. The LED lights are set on automatic timers and may be adjusted. Public Services – Nothing to report. Personnel – Nothing to report. CITY OFFICIALS’ REPORTS Mayor Tervort: Mayor will be attending the League of Wisconsin Municipalities board meeting in Madison on Tuesday. Administrator Kluver: the contract for refuse and recycling was reviewed for accuracy, with attention to the number of units served. The requirement for multi-unit dwellings having receptacles for each unit could be revised to offer dumpsters. The contract will need to be reviewed prior to the next bid cycle. The copy machine in City Hall is failing, and a new machine will be delivered in a week or so. The monthly fee will be increased, but the cost per copy will be decreased. A sound system has been ordered for the Council chambers. City Clerk Greenwood: There is a nonpartisan primary for State Superintendent of Public Instruction on February 18th. Absentee ballots were mailed out today and the in-person absentee voting is scheduled for February 4-14. Treasurer Michels: The 2024 audit is underway and is on track to be completed before summer for the first time in a while. Library: January and February calendars are included in the packet. The new hours, which were recommended by the Library Board, will see the Library closing at 6 pm. Discussed the history of the very generous donor, Judith K. Lawrence, who left $300,000 in trust for the Library. DPW Director Hoffman: There has been progress on the new plow truck which is built to specifications. The truck is expected to be delivered in February. The treatment of the ash basin contents has been completed, and DPW worked with the Mill owners, the DNR, and consulted with Pat Morrow, MSA. Testing and chemical treating costs were $31,000 above the industrial rate that was calculated. Chief of Police Nevelier: The individual that was on contract with PFPD for recruitment academy has contacted the Chief to note that he will likely be looking for employment in the area he currently resides in. The costs for the security camera for Old Abe Memorial Park are higher than anticipated and the Chief is working with Forward Bank to potentially be a donor for the project. At 6:19 p.m. there was a motion by Alderman Wilson and seconded by Alderman Weidman to convene into closed session, pursuant to Wisconsin State Statutes 19.85(1)(f) Considering financial, medical, social or personal histories or disciplinary data of specific persons, preliminary consideration of specific personnel problems or the investigation of charges against specific persons except where par. (b) applies which, if discussed in public, would be likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon the reputation of any person referred to in such histories or data, or involved in such problems or investigations. (Consideration of Denied Operators License- Rachel Greenwood). Motion carried, 8-0. At 6:44 there was a motion by Alderman Wilson and seconded by Alderman Weidman to reconvene into open session, for discussion and/or to take possible action on closed session items. Motion carried, 8-0. The meeting was adjourned at 6:44 p.m. Prepared by: Shannon Greenwood, City Clerk