Common Council — Minutes

CITY OF DARLINGTON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS MAY 19, 2026 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Dave Roelli at 7:00 PM. Present at roll call were : Kevin Andrews, Joe Boll, Cindy Corley, John Sonsalla, Steve Pickett, and Kerry Black. Absent: None. Also present were: Attorney Jacob Gardner, Jeff McCarthy, Jared and Kelley McGranahan, Leona Havens, and Amy Johnson Motion by Pickett, seconded by Corley, the meeting notice and agenda were properly posted . Motion carried. Motion by Pickett, seconded by Sonsalla, to approve the minutes of previous meetings. Motion carried. Under new business, discussion was held concerning a request from the Driver Opera House to amend their Liquor License premises to include a fenced -in section on West Ann Street for a one -day event on July 25, 2026. Leona Havens attended the meeting to present information and answer questions. Leona stated that they are requesting to use a n area on West Ann Street for their event, Driver Fest. It will be fenced in, with access from the north door of the business facing Ann Street. This will cover the street but not encroach on the sidewalk/crosswalk on Main Street. After discussion and consideration, motion by Corley, seconded by Sonsalla, to approve the amendment of the Liquor License for the Driver Opera House to include the use of an area on West Ann Street for a one-day event on July 25, 2026. All ayes. Motion carried. Leona Havens then left the meeting. Under new business, discussion was held concerning the following recommendations of approval from the Finance and Personnel Committee: • Approve the hiring of an applicant for the Public Works position. Mayor Roelli reported that the committee is recommending the hiring of Jared Bennett for this position, with a starting wage of $2 5.00 an hour and two weeks of vacation. After discussion and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Corley, to accept the Committee’s recommendation of hiring Jared Bennett as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. • Approve the hiring of an applicant for the Head of Maintenance position. Mayor Roelli reported that the committee is recommending the hiring of Casey Lange for this position, with the starting wage of $24.00 an hour, increasing to $25.00 an hour after the completion of the six-month probationary period, and two weeks of vacation. After discussion and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Corley , to accept the Committee’s recommendation of hiring Casey Lange as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Discussion was also held concerning the following recommendation for approval from the Plan Commission: • Zoning change request from Darlington Mutual Insurance for their property located at 116 East Street, Darlington, WI 53530, parcel 216.0082.0000. The Plan Commission is recommending a zoning change from the Central Business District to the Residential District. After discussion and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Sonsalla, to accept the Plan Commission recommendation and approve the zoning change for Darlington Mutual Insurance for their property located at 116 East Street, Darlington, WI 53530 as presented. Black Abstained. Motion carried. Jeff McCarthy then left the meeting. Discussion was then held concerning the Conditional Use Permit renewal requests from Amy Prine for her business, The Cut Above, located at 1239 Hillside Lane, Darlington, WI 53530, and from Hahn Thi Ngoc Wick for her business, Eternal Nails, located at 1218 Madison Street, Darlington, WI 53530. After discussion and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Black, to approve the renewal of the conditional use permit request s for Amy Prine for her business, The Cut Above, located at 1239 Hillside Lane, Darlington, WI 53530, and Hahn Thi Ngoc Wick for her business, Eternal Nails, located at 1218 Madison Street, Darlington, WI 53530. as presented, for a two-year period. Motion carried. No action was taken on the bid received for patching the parking lot at City Field. Discussion was then held concerning the bid received to asphalt the parking lot by the basketball court and City Field. A copy of the bid received was included in the agenda packet . One bid for the amount of $46,800.00 was received from Blackstone Limited to prep and overlay the parking lot with new asphalt. Alderperson Joe Boll informed the Council that $30,000.00 is available in the Parking Lot Outlay account for allocation to this project. The remaining amount will be added to the list the City is compiling for borrowing, along with the amount needed for the Walnut Ridge Subdivision project. After discussion and consideration, motion by Corley, seconded by Black, to approve the bid received from Blackstone Limited in the amount of $46,800.00, allocating $30,000.00 from the Parking Lot Outlay account and adding the remaining $16,800.00 to the project list amount for the borrowing. Motion carried. Discussion was also held concerning the bid received to install/update the fire alarm system at the Municipal Building. One bid for $38,196.43 was received from Fire Incorporated to install and update the current system. Johnson stated that there was an issue with the system before Al retired, and Fire Incorporated inspected it and found the entire system needed updating. After discussion and consideration, motion by Boll, seconded by Sonsalla, to approve the bid received from Fire Incorporated in the amount of $38,196.43 and add it to the project list amount for the borrowing. Motion carried. Discussion was then held concerning bids received for the replacement of the rubber roof over the locker room area at the Municipal Building. Copies of the bids received were included in the agenda packets. Two bids were received: Ubersox Construction LLC for $49,985.00, and Giese Roofing for the amount of $59,626.00. There were questions asked concerning whether they both offer a warranty. Giese Roofing listed a 20- year warranty in their bid, and Ubersox Construction did not list a warranty. After discussion and consideration, motion by Boll, seconded by Sonsalla, to approve the bid received from Ubersox Construction LLC for $49,985.00, contingent on a warranty being included. Motion carried A discussion was held concerning the proposed Lease Agreement between the City of Darlington and Southwest Wisconsin Technical College for space leased on the second floor of the City of Darlington Municipal Building. Motion by Pickett, seconded by Black, to approve the lease agreement as presented. Motion by Pickett, seconded by Black, to go into closed session in accordance with Section 19.85 (1)(e) for 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, and allow Jared and Kelley McGranahan to remain for a portion of the closed session. Roll call vote: All ayes. Motion carried. Motion by Pickett, seconded by Corley, to reconvene to regular session in accordance with Section 19.85 (2) Wis. Stats. to take possible action regarding the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business. Roll call vote: All ayes. Motion carried. Jared and Kelley McGranahan left during the closed session. Motion by Boll, seconded by Black, to authorize Attorney Gardner to draft a proposed lease agreement between the City of Darlington and Jared and Kelley McGranahan for them to lease a 500 - square-foot area of the city-owned parking lot north of their business, Kelley’s Riverside, located at 300 Washington. Motion carried. Motion by Pickett, second by Sonsalla, to accept the proposed gift of real property from Sarah Lundy, parcel 216.0452.0000, upon approval of all transaction documents by Attorney Gardner, and to authorize the Mayor, City Clerk, and Attorney Gardner to execute and deliver all documents necessary to complete the conveyance , record the deed, and set up the City’s ownership of the property. Motion carried. Under reports of Committees, Alderperson Corley shared that the American Legion Auxiliary would begin their annual poppy donation drive. Alderperson Black reported on the recent Chamber Board meeting and noted that construction of the stage in Veterans’ Park will begin in June. Alderperson Pickett gave an update on the Lion’s Shelter project. Alderperson Joe Boll reported that all the splashpad features have been installed. There being no further business for this meeting, motion by Corley, seconded by Pickett, to adjourn the meeting at 8:08 PM. Motion carried. CITY OF DARLINGTON Amy L. Johnson, Clerk-Treasurer