City Council — Minutes

Common Council Minutes – November 19, 2025 Clerk’s Initials _________ PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES NOVEMBER 19, 2025 A public hearing was held in the Community Room of the Shullsburg Community Townsend Center, 190 N. Judgement Street, Shullsburg, Wisconsin, on November 19, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of hearing all interested parties in the matter of amending the zoning map, which is part of the official zoning ordinance of the City of Shullsburg. The following described land, currently zoned R-5 Multi-Family Residential District, will be rezoned to PUD – Planned Unit Development District: Parcel 281.0590.1000; Sec. 14, T1N, R2E; Lot 1 CSM 1000. The parcel is located at 4900 CTH U, Shullsburg. Those in attendance were Mayor Verne Jackson; Council Members Cheryl Mulcahy, Emmett Reilly, Dan Morrissey, and Duane Wedige. Also in attendance were Melody Mayne, Mark Doyle, Stan Woodworth, Nathan Russell, and Janelle Schumacher. Mayor Verne Jackson opened the hearing by reviewing the ordinance change, followed by asking for questions and comments from the public regarding the proposed change. Having asked for questions or comments three times, and there being none, Jackson asked for a motion to close the public hearing. Motion by Morrissey, second by Wedige, to close the public hearing. All aye, motion carried. COMMON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 19, 2025 A regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Shullsburg was held November 19, 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 6:30 p.m. Notice of the meeting was posted at the Townsend Center, Shullsburg Post Office and Turpin’s Home Town Grocery. Roll Call- Duane Wedige, Emmett Reilly, Cheryl Mulcahy, Dan Morrissey - Present. Others present- Mark Doyle, Melody Mayne, Stan Woodworth, Nathan Russell, Andy Foley, Scott Jelle and Janelle Schumacher. Pledge of Allegiance Approval of Minutes – Motion by Reilly second by Mulcahy to approve the minutes of the October 15, October 22, October 27 and November 6, 2025 Council Meetings. All aye, motion carried. Committee Reports – Morrissey gave an update on the Highway 11 bridge project that it would be completed in the next few days, before Thanksgiving. Reilly gave an update on the Electric Utility moving ahead with the electrical work on the tie yard parking lot. Police Chief Report – Chief Jerry emailed the report; there were no questions. Approve Bills – Jackson questioned what department a locator was purchased for, Clerk Schumacher reported it was for the Water Department. Motion by Wedige second by Reilly to approve the bills for General, Water, Sewer, Electric, Pool, Museum, Library & TIF Funds. All aye, motion carried. Public Comment – None Ordinance No. 327 –Mayor Jackson confirmed this ordinance amendment was open to discussion during the public hearing earlier in the evening. He read the ordinance which changes the zoning of a parcel of property owned by the Lafayette County Housing Authority to be zoned as a Planned Unit Development. Motion by Morrissey second by Reilly to approve Ordinance No. 327 amending the zoning map to rezone parcel 281.0590.1000 as discussed. All aye, motion carried. Motion by Reilly, second by Morrissey to move agenda item #14 to be item #10. All aye, motion carried. Certified Survey Map to Dedicate Property to the City of Shullsburg – Reilly gave an update on the purpose of the CSM and the work that had been done by the Lafayette County Housing Authority to have the survey completed. Motion by Reilly, second by Wedige to approve Certified Survey Map to dedicate a portion of 208 Heller Court to the City of Shullsburg for public street purposes. All aye, motion carried. Closed Session – At 6:40 p.m. a motion was made by Wedige second by Mulcahy to convene into closed session. Roll Call - Morrissey-yes, Wedige-yes, Reilly-yes, Jackson-yes, Mulcahy-yes. Motion carried. Closed Session is Pursuant to Wis. Stat 19.85(1)(g) for the purpose of conferring with legal counsel Common Council Minutes – November 19, 2025 Clerk’s Initials _________ 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; specifically, regarding Water Street Property Zoning Violation. Open Session – At 7:46 p.m. a motion was made by Morrissey second by Wedige to reconvene into open session. Roll Call- Morrissey-yes, Wedige-yes, Reilly-yes, Jackson-yes, Mulcahy- yes. Motion carried. Action on Closed Session – Motion by Morrissey, second by Reilly to authorize legal counsel to make a counter offer to the opposing party’s legal counsel as discussed. All aye, motion carried. 2026 Infrastructure Improvements Project – Mark Doyle, representing Delta 3 Engineering, presented a grant agreement from the CDBG-PF/Department of Administration program for a $945,333 grant to be used for infrastructure improvements in the southeast part of Shullsburg. Motion by Reilly second by Wedige to approve the CDBG-PF/DOA Agreement as presented. All aye, motion carried. Doyle then presented a Grant Administration contract for Delta 3 Engineering to manage the CDBG-PF/DOA Grant, as well as additional grants expected to be awarded from the DNR for the same project. Motion by Reilly, second by Wedige to approve the grant administration contract with Delta 3 Engineering. All aye, motion carried. Doyle gave an update on the Safe Drinking Water grant funds awarded through the DNR. Shullsburg has tentatively been awarded a maximum of $801,858, with additional DNR loan funding secured at an interest rate of 1.58% for the project. A Clean Water fund grant application is also still pending for the same project. The project total is estimated to cost $1.5 million. Motion by Reilly second by Mulcahy to authorize Delta 3 Engineering to proceed with the Safe Drinking Water Grant application process. All aye, motion carried. Gardiner Appraisal Maintenance Contract–The Council reviewed the maintenance contract with Bruce Gardiner Appraisal. There is no increase in fees from the previous contract. Motion by Reilly second by Wedige to approve the maintenance contract with Bruce Gardiner Appraisal. All aye, motion carried. Resolution #2025-27 Authorizing Borrowing – The Council considered a resolution to approve borrowing $242,000 for general fund purposes. Motion by Morrissey second by Reilly to approve Resolution #2025-27 Authorizing Borrowing. All aye, motion carried. Ordinance No. 328 Amending Section 18-43 – The Council considered an amendment to the Code of Ordinances to allow a reduction in the frequency of Fire Inspections within the City. Clerk Schumacher confirmed the amendment had been reviewed by legal counsel to fit with, and not contradict, the existing Fire Prevent ordinance. Motion by Reilly second by Wedige to approve Ordinance No. 328 Amending Section 18-43 to allow for a reduction in the frequency of fire inspections within the City. All aye, motion carried. Badger Park Fundraising Campaign –Motion by Mulcahy second by Reilly to approve a bulk mailing informational letter regarding the Badger Park Fundraising Campaign. All aye, motion carried. Weekend Burning Ground Dates – Motion by Wedige second by Morrissey to approve Burning Ground Seasonal Closing Date as December 13, 2025, weather permitting. All aye, motion carried. Compost Grizzly Screen – The Council discussed either purchasing or making a compost grizzly screen to be used to screen and sort larger plant materials out of the compost pile, which helps produce finer soil. The cost to order a screen is estimated at $10k. Morrissey had requested that Dave Turpin create an estimate of what it would cost for Turpin to buy the materials and make one himself. This was estimated at $2100. Motion by Morrissey second by Wedige to authorize Dave Turpin to make a compost grizzly screen at a cost that does not exceed $2500. All aye, motion carried. Police Department Garage Door Opener – The Council reviewed an estimate to replace the garage door opener in the police department garage with a new one. Motion by Reilly second by Morrissey to approve the estimate from Carey’s Seamless Gutters to replace the garage door opener in the police department garage for $1461.00. All aye, motion carried. Park Lawn Mower Trade-In – The Council reviewed a cost proposal from Blackbourn & Son’s to trade-in a Park Department lawn mower for a new one. The cost after trade-in is $13,600. Morrissey commented that a new mower had already been purchased in 2025, so the trade-in should wait until 2026. Wedige confirmed that he spoke with Blackbourn’s regarding the price and they would honor the price if it Common Council Minutes – November 19, 2025 Clerk’s Initials _________ was purchased in Spring 2026. Motion by Morrissey second by Reilly to approve the purchase of a new lawn mower from Blackbourn & Sons with a trade-in at a price of $13,600. All aye, motion carried. Clerk/Treasurer Report – Monthly financial reports were emailed; no questions. Closed Session – At 8:20 p.m. a motion was made by Mulcahy second by Reilly to convene into closed session. Roll Call - Morrissey-yes, Wedige-yes, Reilly-yes, Jackson-yes, Mulcahy-yes. Motion carried. Closed Session is Pursuant to Wis. Stat 19.85(1)(c) for the Purpose of Considering Employment, Promotion, Compensation or Performance Evaluation Data of any Public Employee over which the Governmental Body has Jurisdiction or Exercises Responsibility- Discussion of 2026 Employment Contracts. Open Session – At 8:45 p.m. a motion was made by Reilly second by Mulcahy to reconvene into open session. Roll Call- Morrissey-yes, Wedige-yes, Reilly-yes, Jackson-yes, Mulcahy- yes. Motion carried. Action on Closed Session – Motion by Morrissey second by Reilly to approve the Employment Contracts with Union Employees and City Clerk. All aye, motion carried. Closed Session – At 8:46 p.m. a motion was made by Mulcahy second by Reilly to convene into closed session. Roll Call - Morrissey-yes, Wedige-yes, Reilly-yes, Jackson-yes, Mulcahy-yes. Motion carried. Closed Session is Pursuant to Wis. Stat 19.85 (1)(e) for the purpose of deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session; specifically for discussion regarding Mine & Museum Building Insurance Claim Settlement; and discussion regarding the purchase of property for Industrial Park project. Open Session – At 9:01 p.m. a motion was made by Wedige second by Mulcahy to reconvene into open session. Roll Call- Morrissey-yes, Wedige-yes, Reilly-yes, Jackson-yes, Mulcahy- yes. Motion carried. Action on Closed Session – Motion by Wedige second by Mulcahy to approve the insurance settlement on the Museum building for $529,788.01. All aye, motion carried. Motion by Mulcahy second by Reilly to approve the purchase of approximately .25 acres for $2500, pending a survey, for the purpose of providing access to part of the industrial park. All aye, motion carried. At 9:03 p.m. a motion was made by Reilly second by Mulcahy to adjourn. All aye, motion carried. Janelle Schumacher Clerk/Treasurer