City Council Meeting - June 3, 2026

City of Amery COMMON COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA The City of Amery does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or provision of services, programs or activities. NOTE: Upon reasonable notice, the City of Amery will accommodate the needs of disabled individuals through aids or services. For additional information or to request this service, contact the Clerk-Treasurer’s office at (715) 268-3410 by Noon the previous day so that arrangements can be made. Pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.84, Notice is hereby given to the public that a meeting of the Common Council of the City of Amery will be held on: June 3, 2026 at Amery City Hall - 104 Maple St. W, Amery, WI at 5:00 PM. Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Adoption of Agenda Consent Agenda Items: Minutes – City Council (May 6, 2026), City Council (May 20, 2026), Board of Review (May 20, 2026), Plan Commission (May 28, 2026), Finance Committee (May 12, 2026), Arts, Parks, and Recreation (March 5, 2026) and Recycling Committee (April 8, 2026) Items under the consent agenda may be acted upon by one motion. If in the judgment of any Council Member, a consent agenda item needs discussion, the item can be removed and discussed. *Although the public may speak on any item that is not included on this agenda as a “Public Hearing or Forum” the Council will not respond or discuss the issue brought forward at this time. In accordance with open meeting laws the Council must notice an item on the agenda to take action on that matter. Your comments will be considered and may be placed on a future agenda for further discussion. Any person wishing to submit a public comment digitally may email them to Cityhall@amerywi.gov until noon of the day of the meeting. Although your comments will be presented to the Council they may or may not be read aloud or discussed during the meeting. The Public Comment Portion will be limited to 3 minutes total per speaker with the total duration to be at the Chair’s discretion. The council may act on any item that is noticed on the agenda. Taylor Larson Clerk/Treasurer **Posted: May 28, 2026 on the City Website (www.amerywi.gov); and at Amery City Hall, Amery Public Library, and the Amery Police Department. Order of Items Agenda Item 1 Public Comment 2 Department Head Reports –City Administrator, Clerk-Treasurer, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Library Director, and Director of Public Works 3 Swearing in of Officer Duane Stine 4 Possible removal of sidewalk in the 100 block of Harriman Ave N 5 Ordinance 07-2026 an Ordinance Amending Section 226-2(C) of the Municipal Code of Ordinance Relating to Fire Inspection Frequency 6 Council Comment 7 Adjournment. 104 Maple Street W., Suite A Office: 715.268.7486 Amery, WI 54001 Fax: 715.268.4870 TO: The Common Council of Amery FROM: Alex Mansfield, City Administrator DATE: May 28, 2026 RE: Amery Congregational Church – Request to Remove Sidewalk on Harriman Ave. N. Summary. The Amery Congregational Church has requested that the City allow removal of an approximately 175 ft. section of sidewalk along Harriman Ave. N. adjacent to church-owned property. The removal is proposed in lieu of replacement due to concerns about damage to mature maple trees whose roots are causing sidewalk buckling. Background. The Amery Congregational Church is undertaking a sidewalk repair and replacement project on portions of sidewalk that are the Church’s responsibility. As part of that project, some members of the Church have requested that an approximately 175 ft. section of sidewalk along the Harriman Ave. N. right- of-way be removed rather than replaced. The request is driven by concern that replacement work could damage the root systems of mature maple trees that line the right -of-way in that location, as tree ro ots are currently causing buckling of the existing sidewalk. The cost of replacement or removal of the sidewalk would be borne entirely by the Church. City staff met with Church representatives to discuss the project. Staff identified the following concerns with approving the removal request: 1. City sidewalk goals. The City of Amery has an established goal of enhancing and expanding its sidewalk network. Approving the permanent removal of existing sidewalk infrastructure is inconsistent with that goal. 2. Technical feasibility of replacement without tree removal. Staff believes the sidewalk can be replaced without removing the trees. Installing rebar reinforcement within the replacement sidewalk can significantly reduce susceptibility to future root -related buckling and extend the service life of the pavement, allowing both the sidewalk and trees to be retained. 104 Maple Street W., Suite A Office: 715.268.7486 Amery, WI 54001 Fax: 715.268.4870 3. Precedent. Approval of this request could establish a precedent for sidewalk removal at other locations in the City where similar tree-root conditions exist, incrementally undermining the City’s sidewalk network over time. Additionally, the City will need to replace the non -ADA-compliant crosswalk at the intersection of Harriman Ave. N. and Birch St. W. as part of this project. That work is the City’s responsibility and will be at City expense, separate from the Church’s sidewalk project. Funding for this project would come in the 2027 budget. Fiscal Impact. The cost of sidewalk repair, replacement, or removal along the Church’s portion of Harriman Ave. N. will be borne entirely by the Amery Congregational Church, with no direct cost to the City for that work. The City will incur expense for the replacement and ADA upgrade of the crosswalk at Harriman Ave. N. and Birch St. W.; the cost of that work has not yet been estimated and will be subject to a separate appropriation. No general fund or TID expenditure is associated with the Church’s sidewalk project. Staff will coordinate with the Church’s contractor to determine the feasibility of having the west side of the crosswalk completed by the Church and reimbursed by the City at a later date. Recommendation. City staff recommends that the Common Council deny the Amery Congregational Church’s request to remove the approximately 175 ft. section of sidewalk on Harriman Ave. N. and direct the Church to proceed with sidewalk replacement. Staff further recommends that the replacement be constructed with rebar reinforcement to mitigate future root-related damage, and that the City proceed with budgeting for ADA -compliant crosswalk improvements at the Harriman Ave. N. and Birch St. W. intersection to be coordinated with the Church’s project timeline. 104 Maple Street W., Suite A Office: 715.268.7486 Amery, WI 54001 Fax: 715.268.4870 TO: The Common Council of Amery FROM: [Fire Chief Name], Fire Chief, City of Amery DATE: RE: Proposed Amendment to Chapter 226, § 226-2(C) – Fire Inspection Frequency for Downtown Zero Lot Line Properties Summary. The Fire Department recommends amending § 226-2(C) to apply a uniform annual inspection cycle to all commercial buildings, eliminating the current six -month requirement for Downtown District zero lot line properties. The semiannual schedule strains departmental capacity without a demonstrated safety benefit; the Chief retains discretion under existing code to order more frequent inspections where conditions warrant. Background. Current § 226-2(C) requires annual fire inspections for most commercial properties but mandates a six-month cycle for adjoining Downtown District properties with no lot lines. State law under § 101.14, Wis. Stats., requires only annual inspections; the semiannual Downtown requirement is a local addition. Inspection records for the affected properties show no pattern of recurring hazards that would justify the more frequent schedule, and the mid -year round adds measurable burden during peak operational months. Recommendation. Adopt Ordinance No. ___ -2026 (attached), amending § 226-2(C) to remove the semiannual inspection requirement for Downtown District zero lot line properties and apply a uniform annual cycle to all commercial buildings, while preserving the Fire Chief’s discretionary authority to order more frequent inspections where conditions warrant. § 226-2. Fire inspection duties. [Amended 5-5-2021 by Ord. No. 08-2021; 10-6-2021 by Ord. No. 13-2021] A. The Fire Chief shall be the Fire Inspector of the City of Amery and shall have the power to appoint one or more Deputy Fire Inspectors and shall perform all duties required of the Fire Inspector by the laws of the state and the rules of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, particularly § 101.14, Wis. Stats. B. While acting as Fire Inspector pursuant to § 101.14(2), Wis. Stats., the Fire Chief, or any officer or member of the Fire Department designated by the Fire Chief, shall have the right and authority to enter any building or upon any premises in the City of Amery at all reasonable hours for the purpose of making inspections or investigations which, under the provisions of this Code of Ordinances, he/she may deem necessary. Should an inspection by the Fire Inspector or their Deputy reveal a fire hazard, the Inspector or their Deputy may serve a notice in writing upon the owner of the property, giving such owner a reasonable time in which to remove the hazard. Failure of the owner to comply with said notice is a violation of this chapter. If the fire hazard is not removed within the time allowed, it shall be deemed a nuisance; the Fire Inspector, or their Deputy may have the same removed by the City, and the cost of such removal shall be recovered by an action by the City against the owner of the property and may also be entered on the tax roll as a special charge against the property. The fees for such actions are detailed in the City of Amery's Schedule of Fees. C. The Chief of the Fire Department is required, by himself/herself or by officers or members of the Fire Department designated by him/her as fire inspectors, to inspect all buildings, premises and public thoroughfares, except the interiors of private dwellings, for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to be corrected any conditions liable to cause fire, or any violations of any law or ordinance relating to the fire hazard or to the prevention of fires. Such inspections shall be made at least once every 12 months in all of the territory served by the Fire Department and oftener as the Chief of the Fire Department orders. Each twelve- month period shall begin on January 1 of each year. Exceptions are adjoining properties in the Downtown District that have no lot lines. They will be conducted every six months. The Chief of the Fire Department may require or conduct more frequent inspections than required under this subsection for other commercial buildings required by statute. Repairs or alterations necessary to remove the hazardous condition shall be made within a reasonable time as designated by the Fire Inspector at the expense of the owner. The Fire Inspector shall also investigate the storage and handling of explosives and flammable liquids within the City. D. Written reports of inspections shall be made and kept on file in the office of the Chief of the Fire Department and the office of the City Administrator in the manner and form required by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. City of Amery, WI Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/AM3868 on 2026-05-28 ORDINANCE NO. 07-2026 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 226-2(C) OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF AMERY, WISCONSIN, RELATING TO FIRE INSPECTION FREQUENCY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AMERY, WISCONSIN, DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Findings and Purpose. The Common Council finds that the current requirement for semiannual fire inspections of adjoining properties in the Downtown District that share no lot lines imposes an operational burden on the Fire Department that is not proportionate to identified fire safety risks. State law under § 101.14, Wis. Stats., establishes an annual inspection minimum for commercial properties. This ordinance brings the City’s inspection schedule into alignment with the state standard while preserving the Fire Chief’s discretionary authority to order more frequent inspections where conditions warrant. Section 2. Amendment. Section 226 -2(C) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Amery is hereby amended by deleting the following sentences: “Exceptions are adjoining properties in the Downtown District that have no lot lines. They will be conducted every six months. The Chief of the Fire Department may require or conduct more frequent inspections than required under this subsection for other commercial buildings required by statute.” and substituting in lieu thereof the following sentence: “The Chief of the Fire Department may require or conduct more frequent inspections than required under this subsection for any commercial building where conditions warrant.” All other provisions of § 226-2(C) remain unchanged. Section 3. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect upon passage and publication as required by law. Passed and adopted by the Common Council of the City of Amery, Wisconsin, this _____ day of ____________, 2026. ___________________________________ Mayor, City of Amery ___________________________________ City Clerk-Treasurer, City of Amery Published: _____________________________