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CITY OF GILLETT COMMON COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES Council Chambers – Municipal Building 150 N McKenzie Ave – Gillett, WI 54124 THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2025 AT 6:00 PM MINUTES 1. Mayor Blaskowski called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. 2. Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll Call Present: Mayor Jon Blaskowski, Deputy Clerk Treasurer Lisa Anderson, Alderpersons Nanette Mohr, Keri Hicks, Jerry Luther, David Bunker, Ashley VanStraten, and Matt Young, and Utility Operator Matt Wichman . Excused: Public Works Foreman Nate Anderson, Police Chief Shane Breitenbach, Fire Chief Kurt Hicks, City Attorney Robert Gagan, Librarian Shannon Stoner . Public: Kevin Smith and Tracy Ondik. 3. Deputy Clerk Treasurer Lisa Anderson informs the Council that the Open Meeting Law has been complied with. 4. Public Input: Tracy Ondik addressed the council on update on county board things that we will be hearing about. Discussion primarily about new highway shop facilities. Conditions of facilities are being evaluated and options of location. First there was talk of 30 million at a meeting in June. Now it has risen to around 44 million. Smaller facilities getting repairs. Talks were to leave the Oconto site and do some consolidation with maintenance from Suring. A Stiles are a was projected as a site for that. Stiles has no infrastructure, water or sewer. Tracy attended a meeting last month and he said he went on record and said that in order to support something with that price tag 40 million or more, it would need to have a referendum county wide. Possibly have an open house to inform the public at different places. 5. Discussion & possible action on Meeting Minutes from June 5, 2025 MOTION: Vanstraten/Mohr Motion to approve minutes from June 5, 2025 Voice Vote: All Voting Aye - MOTION CARRIED 6. Library Report: Library Director Report- 2025 Programming: a. Tuesday, July 8 5-6 pm: Faux Stained Glass-Bring a photo frame. b. Thursday, July 10, 6-7 pm: Joan White (Community Center) c. Friday, July 11 10:30-11:30 am: Pablo Picasso d. Monday, July 14 10-11 am: Play Dough 1.w/ CMGB e. Tuesday, July 15 6-7 pm: Travelogue: Alaska f. Friday, July 18 10:30-11:30 am: Frida Kahlo g. Friday, July 25 10:30-11 am: Andy Warhol, 11:30 am-12:30 pm: Safe Kids Oconto County Storytime h. Tuesday, July 29 10:30-11:30 am: Travelogue: Jamaica i. National Night Out plans are coming together. (Tuesday, August 5, 5:30-7:30 pm at Gillett Elementary School) 2 7. Tourism & Marketing Commission/Gillett Area Chamber of Commerce: Alderperson Luther a. Discussion and possible action on donation to Oconto Youth County Fair. The Tourism and Marketing meeting prior to the council meeting approved a donation of $500. MOTION: Mohr/Hicks Motion to approve $500 donation to the Oconto Youth Fair from the City of Gillett Roll Call Vote: All Voting Aye - MOTION CARRIED b. Discussion and possible action on wayfinding signs. Alderperson Luther stated that it is going to be delayed temporarily. We have a quote to put new signage up for directions in and around the city, some of the signs are unreadable. Discussion was had about waiting until the construction was finished but with the delay of road project signs that are unreadable have to be replaced. It is not a good look for the city. Tourism is very important. The Roy Hubbard Truck Show brought in a lot of business for Main Street. Keri Hicks discussed what was going on Gillett Are Chamber of Commerce. The Forever Fund applications are now out for the $3000 grant that’s being offered this year, anyone who will beautify or do things to improve Gillett is out there through the month of July. They will be looked over by Chamber members and announced in November. The Chamber is working on Harvest Days and Homecoming with raffles and events planning it will be at the school again. Chamber members are working on a walking trail. Looking at something you can scan to find information on routes, distance, terrain, and duration. Those signs will be created soon. The Chamber of Commerce will be taking part in National Night Out selling slushes, popcorn, and working on selling raffle tickets. The City of Gillett Chamber of Commerce is looking to me with other community Chamber of Commerce Members. 8. Financial Report: Clerk Treasurer – a. Updated Monthly Check Register Provided MOTION: Luther/Mohr Motion to approve Financial Report Roll Call Vote: All Voting Aye - MOTION CARRIED 9. Police Department Report: Police Chief Breitenbach a. Discussion on Training, Public Relations, and Incident Summary Report -Chief Breitenbach provided the incident report: Training and Public Relations- From the Chief's Desk. This month we received several generous donations towards our National Night Out event. I wish to thank the Finnegan Lake Walleye Club and the Gillett Lion’s Club for their continued sponsorships! I have reserved a 40ft bounce house obstacle course and a cotton candy machine for all to enjoy! The announcement fliers have arrived, and we have been posting them throughout the community. Please spread the word to your family and friends! Alderperson Luther stated that the Lion’s club is donating $500 for the bounce house. The only requirement is have a sign on it stating the donation from the Lions club. Our officers participated in the 2025 Spring Tactical Law Enforcement Training event hosted by the Oconto Falls Police Department and the Oconto County Sheriff’s Office. This event took place at the Oconto Falls Firearms Range and the Oconto Falls High School campus. Topics discussed included Firearms, High-Risk Vehicle Contacts, Tactical Response (Building Searches, Room Clearing, Threshold Evaluations, Hallway/Intersection Movement). Also, our officers completed their state required firearms qualifications held at the Suring Gun Range and hosted by Deputy Jess Keplinger of the Oconto County Sheriff’s Office. We are very grateful for the continued support these agencies provide to us! 3 Earlier this month I visited the Sunshine Daycare Center for a meet and greet with the children. The kids had a great time investigating the squad car and all the amenities it has to offer! The highlight of the visit was the siren and emergency light show! The Police Department had 210 incidents. Mayor Blaskowski stated that when school ended, he met with Officer Breitenbach and Officer Ashley Hull. Officer Breitenbach is working 12-hour rotation, Officer Braun is on the opposite 12-hour rotation for days. To avoid childcare issues Officer Hull is on 5 days in a row night shift in the summer to cut back on county coverage. Days and hours may vary. SRO position has been evaluated by School superintendent Dr. Hansen with one minor thing to fix. Something is going to put together for the beginning of the year for the teachers, so they know what they need to call the SRO for. Officer Breitenbach is benefitting from Officer Hull at the school for instances because she can identify people. 10. Fire Department Report: Fire Chief Hicks a. Discussion on Training, Public Relations, and Incident Summary Report June 10th - Lift Assists with Gillett EMS, June 24th Lift Assists Gillett EMS, July 2nd -Lift Assists Gillett EMS, went to the Sunshine Daycare Center for a meet and greet with the children. The Fire department is working on their golf outing fund raiser at Golden Sands gulf course Cecil. They ask for hole sponsorship, there are different amounts. Example of $100 donation would have a sign by that hole. 11. Health, Protection and License Committee Report: Alderperson VanStraten a. Discussion & possible action on Operator License for Katelynn Rowell and Tracie Delzer. MOTION: Mohr/Hicks Motion to approve the Operators License for Katelynn Rowell and Tracie Delzer. Voice Vote: All Voting Aye - MOTION CARRIED b. Discussion & possible action on Short Term Rental Ordinance MOTION: Young/Bunker Motion to approve the Short-Term Rental Ordinance. Voice Vote: All Voting Aye - MOTION CARRIED c. Discussion & possible action on Dwelling Size Ordinance MOTION: Luther/Hicks Motion to approve the Dwelling Size Ordinance. Voice Vote: All Voting Aye - MOTION CARRIED d. Discussion & possible action on Fire Protection Costs Ordinance- Leave Lay. 12. Board of Public Works Committee Report: Alderperson Hicks- Public Works Foreman Nate Anderson written report: The month of June was busy. In the old city landfill, there are six test wells. The DNR requires identification numbers to be on each well. We made up some identification tags and welded them on. We also helped take down and chip the trees that the fair wanted down in the park. There is not much shade left. We put a new keyed water spicket by the pavilion so our lovely children in Gillett cannot waste water. We did maintenance on some street equipment, changed the oil, replaced worn out parts, washed etc. We also fixed the door on the trailhead bathroom with new hinges. We replaced the light in the park bathroom. Helped utility with a few projects. We took down all the flags on main street and replaced the fixed mounting hardware with free spinning hardware to 4 see if it helps with the tangling problem. Then put them back up. We have replaced a lot of garbage and recycling lids this past June about 25. I hope everyone has a great 4th of July weekend. 13. Utility Committee Report: Utility Operator Matt Wichman said both pumps on the recirculation tanks went out. One is in right now. We haven’t got an answer on quote to rebuild it. The other pump keeps tripping the reset. Matt said he got the flushing tap fixed in the fairgrounds with the help of Public Works. Getting that fixed they were able to turn water on for the fair barns. 14. Park and Cemetery Report: Alderperson Luther stated weeds have been sprayed in the park. The Mayor asked Alderperson Luther to talk to Public Works about watering the flowerpots in the park, he stated they are not getting watered. The Mayor also said that the front of City Hall looks rough with the landscaping not being finished Alderperson Luther to talk to Public Works about that also. 15. Finance and Personnel Committee Report: Alderperson Mohr went over it in Finance and Personnel Report. 16. Planning Committee Report: Alderperson Bunker discussed trying to get rid of the Scout cabins in the park. The historical society doesn’t want them. School doesn’t want them. Alderperson Hicks stated she heard that the scouts still use them and want them, this came from a Mr. Davis. 17. Clerk Treasurers Report: Written Report: Form SL-305 Maintenance of Effort was filed with the Dept of Revenue. Form PA-521 Statement of Assessment was filed with Dept of Revenue. Form AT-827 Municipal Retail License/Alcohol and Tobacco licenses were with Dept of Revenue. Home Occupancy Permits and Invoices were sent out after last month’s council approval. Jon Ross Reality is no longer a home occupation. RL Hall is still providing USDA with title commitments for their attorney to review. We are still over a month away from the start of the project. July 3 and 4 Celebrations have started. Parade at 2pm on the 4th. Heroes Day off is planned for July 12th. 18. Attorneys Report: Conway, Olejniczak, and Jerry S.C. Attorneys at Law- City Attorney Robert Gagan -No report. 19. Mayor's Report: Mayor Blaskowski stated in June we got our check from the school for SRO. The money from the check was put in a CD for 90 days at 4.35%. 20. Adjourn at 6:57 PM MOTION: Luther/Hicks Motion to adjourn. Voice Vote: All Voting Aye - MOTION CARRIED Respectfully submitted by Deputy Clerk, Lisa Anderson