8.26.2024 Common Council Meeting Minutes

COMMON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 8/26/2024 The Common Council of the City of Park Falls met in regular session at 5:00 PM on Monday, August 26, 2024. 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 - Excused Anthony Thier Dixie Weidman Michael Mader Dina Bukachek City Attorney: Bryce Schoenborn – Excused City Administrator: Scott Kluver Staff present: Shannon Greenwood, Bill Hoffman, Becky Michels, Deb Hyde, Chief Marvin Nevelier, Chief Larry Reas, Also present: Jeff Seamandel, Gary Wollerman, and Alan Newbury (virtually) There was a motion by Alderman Weidman and seconded by Alderman Mader to adopt the agenda with amendments. Motion carried. There was a motion by Alderman Weidman and seconded by Alderman Mader to approve the minutes for the Common Council meeting on July 22, 2024, the Plan Commission meeting on August 6, 2024; and the Committee of the Whole meeting on August 12, 2024. Motion carried. COMMUNICATIONS Alderman Mader appreciated the article in the Price County Review clarifying the amount of police presence and the Flambeau Rama festival. Mayor Tervort reminded everyone that the League of Wisconsin Municipalities Annual Fall Conference is October 23-25 in Madison for anyone who wants to be registered. PUBLIC COMMENT Gary Wollerman commented on the turnout numbers for the City of Park Falls primary election. NEW BUSINESS Alan Newbury presented a proposal for Parcel ID #50-271-2-40-01-25-5 05-006-70000 for the development of commercial storage units. Administrator Kluver noted that the Ordinance does not specifically state storage units as acceptable uses, but there is a precedence in place. The Chamber of Commerce requests intermittent closing of streets for the annual Tour De Flambeau bike race. There was a motion by Alderman Wartgow and seconded by Alderman Greenwood to approve the Chamber of Commerce street closure requests. Motion carried. Mayor Tervort noted that the City’s municipal code of ordinances include the fair housing ordinance, adopted on 9/10/2007, as strengthening and advertising of fair housing. Mayor Tervort proclaimed August as Fair Housing Month and encouraged all housing providers to support and affirm their commitment to Fair Housing. Finance – Alderman Weidman made a motion and seconded by Alderman Bukachek to approve paying the bills in the amount of $149,560.09. Motion carried, 7-0. Motion by Alderman Wartgow and seconded by Alderman Weidman to approve the MSA Professional Services Agreement for Land Surveying of Lower Dam Road in the amount of $5,400. Motion carried, 7-0. There was a motion by Alderman Weidman and seconded by Alderman Mader to approve the Contractor’s Application for Payment #2 to A1 Excavating in the amount of $433,004.91. Motion carried, 7-0. There was a motion by Alderman Mader and seconded by Alderman Greenwood to approve the Contractor’s Application for Payment #7 to Francis Melvin, Inc. in the amount of $189,183.99. Motion carried, 7-0. Personnel – Nothing to report. Board of Public Works – Jeff Seamandel gave the MSA updates report including the progress that Janke is making at Old Abe Memorial Park noting that installed the exterior and interior wall framing on the pavilion. They have begun grading and installing gravel base for ADA accessible ramps and concrete sidewalks and could potentially start pouring concrete tomorrow. All the sanitary sewer, watermain, and storm sewers are complete along the north portion of the project near 1st Avenue North and River Road. A-1 Excavating is currently working along 1st Avenue South and a second crew will arrive and begin reconstructing 1st Ave. South through gravel base. MSA will begin the certified survey map for Lower Dam Road, and the City Attorney has already provided MSA with the full title work required. Public Services – Nothing to report. CITY OFFICIALS’ REPORTS Mayor Tervort – Noted that we are happy to have the new Administrator on board. City Clerk Greenwood – The Primary election went well, now preparing for the November election. The new Code of Ordinances is now on the City webpage. Treasurer Michels – Just finished up the short-term borrowing a few weeks ago and gathered information for the Audit that we hope to have completed by the end of September. Library Director Hyde –The annual ‘Big Book Sale’ event was successful. The Library will have new hours on Saturdays, from 8:00 to Noon. DPW Director Hoffman – The trusses have arrived for the open-air shelter in Old Abe Memorial Park, and the crew will do the work to replicate the Boston gable on the south end. The shelter will also get a new metal roof to keep continuity throughout the park. A new catch basin was installed in a parking lot between Division Street and 1st Street North and there was 2 inches of rain the next day and it worked great. Received a notification from Xcel Energy regarding utility work taking place from September to October for some pole replacements that they need to do. Discovered a section of Saunders Avenue is not owned by the City. Chief of Police Nevelier – Summertime is usually a little busier than normal. The Flambeau Rama report noted that it was the quietest in 20 years with very few citations issued. Fire Chief Reas – The was a mutual aid call to Butternut. A trailer in the court near 7th Avenue started on fire the Saturday of Flambeau Rama and was a total loss. The Fire Stand did very well but closed earlier than ever on Saturday night, most likely due to the weather and the rain that day. The meeting was adjourned at 6:08 p.m. Prepared by: Shannon Greenwood, City Clerk