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1 CITY OF GILLETT COMMON COUNCIL Council Chambers – Municipal Building 150 N McKenzie Ave – Gillett, WI 54124 THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2025 AT 6:00 PM MINUTES 1. Mayor Blaskowski called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll Call Present: Clerk Treasurer Chelsea Anderson, Mayor Jon Blaskowski, Alderpersons Nanette Mohr, Keri Hicks , Jerry Luther, Ashley VanStraten, Matt Young, David Bunker , Utility Operator Matt Wickman, Public Works Foreman Nate Anderson, Fire Chief Kurt Hicks, Police Chief Shane Breitenbach, City Attorney Robert Gagan, and Public Faye and William Wagner, Gerald Wendt, and Warren Bluhm Times Herald. Librarian Shannon Stoner is excused. 2. Clerk informs the Council that the Open Meeting Law has been complied with 3. Public Input: Fourth Street and Oak Avenue problem. Ferral cats everywhere. A neighbor keeps and feeds them. Most are sick. We will look into the issue. 4. Discussion & possible action on minutes from April 3 and 15, 2025 Minutes MOTION: Luther/Hicks Motion to approve minutes from April 3 and 15, 2025. Voice Vote: All Voting Aye - MOTION CARRIED 5. Library Report: Alderperson Keri Hicks read the library report. Library Director Report May 2025 Programming a. Wed. May 21 3-4 pm: Slime Time with Children’s Museum b. Thursday, May 22 from 6-7 pm: Travelogue: Alaska c. Thursday, June 5, 5-6 pm: Community Market and Randy Peterson performing. Gillett will participate in the “Jobpod” Pilot Program created by the partnership between NFLS, WI DWD, and Bay Area Workforce Development. It helps connect job seekers with libraries to provide them resources for their search. We already have the Job binder and this will allow for us more resources to help job seekers in our area. For more information. Visit www.jobpodwi.org. There are 9 locations in the state. We would be the only pod in this area. Newsletter released for May-August 2025 We’re partnering with Annie’s Angels to give away backpacks with school supplies for local children in need. Last year Annie’s Angels helped 53 kids prepare for school. Annie’s Angels will be giving away backpacks on Monday, August 11 from 4-6 pm. If you would like to make a donation, contact Ann Schultz at 920-855-6409. Our new produce stand is built and is being stained. The produce will be a place where people can take fresh produce and/or leave produce for others to take. It is our hope that this, along with our Little Free Pantry, will help fight hunger in our community. The builder prefers to remain anonymous, but the stand was financed by the Gillett Area Chamber of Commerce. The stand will be located in the drive thru area of our Community Center. Library Director Report April 2025 Programming a. Wed. May 21 3-4 pm: Slime Time with Children’s Museum b. Thursday, May 22 from 6-7 pm: Travelogue: Alaska Fund Balance accounts 2 c. I spoke with Rachel at Oconto Falls Library. Her library has two separate accounts: one at a credit union for savings (CDs and Donations) and one at Associated for her budget. The city of Oconto Falls has access to this accounts for wages and bills and that’s it. Their budget money gets deposited directly into her Associated account. d. Suring has a money market with credit union.City does accounting…set up separate account and mark it as designated funds. City transfers money when it has to pay bills/wages I called The gazette and they said that we can have digital access to 5 devices and share the account with one other person for $24.99 per month. I informed the CSR that the price is getting tight for our budget and we’re not having many readers. She brought us back to $44 a month. We could have just the Sunday paper delivered, but that in itself is $24 a month. When did the Sunday paper get so expensive??? That means it’s $6 for a Sunday paper! I wrote to Kim Pyleski and requested that the Oconto County Library Board cover the cost of the books. April brought up a good point when she said that if we’re going to be promoting Oconto County Libraries, then it can’t just be April and I every year at the table. April has volunteered to do the BOTF event with me again this year. I’ll be going to the county on May 15 to discuss funding with County admin. Newsletter released for May-August 2025 6. Tourism & Marketing Commission/Gillett Area Chamber of Commerce: Chamber of Commerce Keri Hicks stated they are preparing for spring clean up: May 3, 2025 from 10a to 2p. Volunteers will be cleaning up private home yards, the public parks, walking the streets and picking up garbage, and overall beatify the city. Forever Fund meeting May 7th at the library at 8:30 am. Planning to give out $10,000 dollars in scholarships. The previous organization was called Revitalize Gillett. Working on chamber bucks campaign: they are available at City Hall and the library, still increasing the number of businesses that will accept them. Next meeting is May 8 at 6 pm at St John’s Lutheran Church. a. Discussion and Possible action on Roy Hubbard Sponsorship MOTION: Mohr/VanStraten Motion to approve a donation of $250.00 to Roy Hubbard Memorial Truck Show. Roll Call Vote: All Voting Aye - MOTION CARRIED b. Discussion and Possible action on Fourth of July Sponsorship MOTION: Hicks/VanStraten Motion to approve $1,000.00 donation to the Gillett Civic Club 4th of July Celebration. Roll Call Vote: All Voting Aye - MOTION CARRIED c. Discussion and Possible action on Tourism and Economic Development Corporation 2025 Joint Marketing Invoice MOTION: VanStraten/Bunker Motion to approve to pay the $2,000 TEDCOR Joint Marketing Invoice. Roll Call Vote: 5 Voting Aye- Luther Abstains - MOTION CARRIED 7. Financial Report: Clerk Treasurer – Updated Monthly Check Register Provided MOTION: Luther/VanStraten Motion to approve April City and Utility Check Registers. Voice Vote: All Voting Aye - MOTION CARRIED 8. Police Department Report: Police Chief Breitenbach –Written Report: From the Chief’s Desk. Gillett Police Department / 227 incidents / April 2025 The Gillett Police Department hosted the annual National Spring Drug Takeback Day on April 26 from 10am- 2pm. Nearly 50 lbs of medications were collected. These items were delivered to the northern region drop off site located at the WI State Patrol, Wausau post. The collected medications are turned over to the United States Drug Enforcement Agency for proper disposal. This event is in addition to our daily drug takeback drop box which is located in the police department lobby. 3 With the improving weather, we at the Gillett Police Department will once again be addressing the garbage, junk, and litter issues throughout the city. We have been informing citizens of local assistance resources and reminding folks about the Annual Gillett Community Spring cleanup event. Also new to the community is the electrical disposal site located at the city recycling center. Appointments for drop-off of these items can be made at city hall. Over the past few months, we at the Gillett Police Department have been partnering with New View Industries in establishing a community bridge program for their clients. Our officers have participated in several question and answer secessions with their clients and staff. These relationships are important because they allow us to establish positive relationships that are not solely based on an emergent law enforcement response. We and New View are working on future community involvement opportunities. For those who are not familiar with New View Industries; “New View Industries has been providing quality vocational services to the disabled of Oconto County since 1974. The goal of New View Industries is to enable these individuals to become productive members of society. We are able to do this through a variety of social and vocational services. Some participants can learn skills that will allow them to enter the mainstream workforce and also teach them daily living skills. By working at New View, our participants get a sense of belonging and being productive.” If anyone knows of any community interaction opportunities for the New View clients, please reach out to the police department or directly to New View Industries Vocational Services Representative Katie Jackson, 920-855- 2128. We have several training events coming up this week including the Rescue Task Force Multi-Agency Scenario Response and Firearms Qualifications. Also, this past week I attended the monthly Gillett City Library Board Meeting to discuss the planning for the 2025 National Night Out Event. The discussion was productive and positive! We are looking forward to some exciting changes! 9. Fire Department Report: Fire Chief Hicks a. Discussion on Training, Public Relations, and Incident Summary Report: 6 fire calls in April. Grass Fire, Grass Fire MABAS call Suring, lift assist Gillett EMS, grass fire on 4th Street, grass fire MABAS Suring, and structure fire Bonduel. b. Training: Please always check the DNR website to know if it is safe to burn https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/wisburn/#/ Had pump operators training, and RTF training in Suring. Chief Hicks applauded his firefighters for putting in the hours and showed his appreciation to their dedication, they have 80% participation for trainings. 10. Health, Protection and License Committee Report: Alderperson VanStraten – No Report. 11. Board of Public Works Committee Report: Public Works Foreman Nate Anderson stated they chipped many days in April, many limbs down from the ice storm. Cold patching the pot holes was completed, swept streets, built the donation thermometer park sign, garbage cans put out in park, bathrooms are open, started cutting grass, winter equipment has been put away, summer equipment pulled out, filled salt shed, and helped utility. Spring cleanup day is this Saturday from 8 to noon. 12. Utility Committee Report: Utility Operator Matt Wickman stated new motor came for booster pump at the well house. Seems to have an electrical problem, having an electrician look into it, hoping for just a lose wire. Finished flushing hydrants. Will set date to clean water tower. a. Discussion and Possible action on Septic Holding Tank for 550 E Barke and 208 W Main Street MOTION: Luther/VanStraten Motion to approve a Septic Holding Tank for 550 E Barke and 208 W Main Street. Voice Vote: All Voting Aye - MOTION CARRIED 4 b. Discussion and Possible action on 2024 Consumer Confidence Report MOTION: VanStraten/Mohr Motion to approve the 2024 Consumer Confidence Report. Voice Vote: All Voting Aye - MOTION CARRIED 13. Finance and Personnel Committee Report: Alderperson Mohr- No Report. 14. Park and Cemetery Committee Report: Alderperson Luther stated we did get awarded $45,000 from the Vibrant Spaces WEDC grant for our Zippel Park Playground Project. a. Discussion & possible action on tree removal in Zippel Park MOTION: VanStraten/Hicks Motion to approve the Fair Board to remove 5 large trees in Zippel Park near the pulling track. Public Works will limb and chip the branches and help load the wood. Voice Vote: All Voting Aye - MOTION CARRIED 15. Planning Committee Report: Alderperson Bunker -No Report 16. Clerk Treasurer’s Report: Clerk Treasurer - Clerk Anderson stated liquor, tobacco and operators licenses will be on next month’s agenda to renew. We had our reorganizational meeting 2 weeks ago and welcomed Keri Hicks to the board, Luther thanked Irene Drake for her service on the council. The Board of Review is scheduled for May 20, and the open book is May 5, 2025. Our audit will be finalized soon by Hawkins Ash CPAs. 17. Attorneys Report: Conway, Olejniczak, and Jerry S.C. Attorneys at Law- City Attorney Robert Gagan- Clerk will send updated list to Attorney of needed new ordinances. 18. Public Input: Faye Wagener noted this was fun. 19. Mayor's Report: Mayor Blaskowski reported this past week was invited by the school district to be a part of principal interviews. 20. Adjourn at 6: 46 PM MOTION: Luther/VanStraten Motion to adjourn. Voice Vote: All Voting Aye - MOTION CARRIED Respectfully Submitted, Clerk Treasurer Chelsea Anderson 5