VILLAGE OF ELLSWORTH, WISCONSIN BOARD PROCEEDINGS

1/9/2012

Pres. DeWolfe called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room located in Village Hall.

Members Present: Trustee Dick Hines; Rick Sweig; Kenny Manfred and Michael J. Steele. Absent Curt Wandmacher and Neil Gulbranson.

Staff Present: Clerk/Treas.; Peggy Nelson, PWD/Zoning Adm.; Greg Engeset, Police Sgt.; Eric Ladwig (In the absence of Police Chief Greg Place)

Others Present: P.C. Herald; Sean Scallon, Attorney; Robert Loberg, Cedar Corp.; Russ Kiviniemi, Building Inspector; Galen Seipel

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MSC Steele/Manfred to accept minutes of 12/5/11 as submitted. Unanimous.

APPROVAL OF BILLS: MSC Sweig/Hines to approve payment of vouchers submitted for audit to date. Unanimous.

#22645-22646, 22671-22765, 22808-22915

General fund- $1,038,237.16

Water fund - 11,755.83

Sewer fund - 34,863.21

Public Comment on non-agenda items: None

Trustee Dick Hines questioned the status of the Bonnie Langer Memorial Park. PWD Engeset informed him that it is planned for 2012, he is working with parties involved in the project.

Galen A. Seipel, Appraisals, and Inspections LLC 2012-2014 Building Inspection Fees:

Galen addressed the board informing them that he has not had a rate increase since 2009, permits are down so he cannot combine travel time for multiple permit inspections, along with added costs. MSC Sweig/Manfred to approve the 2012-2014 Building Inspection Fee Schedule as presented. Unanimous.

Key Benefit Concepts, LLC proposal for Other Post-Employment Benefits Liability study update:

MSC Sweig/Steele to accept the Subsequent OPEB Valuation proposal, fee range $2500-$3000. Unanimous.

Disallowance of insurance claim made by Ronald Miller, 444 Park St., water damage as a result of a leak in the Village's water main: MSC Manfred/Sweig to disallow claim. Unanimous.

Adopt Ordinance #619 amending Sec. 7.05, 9.01, 9.02, 12.05, and 12.06, reinstate Section 7.085 of the Municipal code:MSC Steele/Hines to adopt Ordinance #619. Unanimous.

Senior Grad Nite 2012 donation request:MSC to donate $200.00, same as past years. Unanimous.

COMMITTEE REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS:

Plan Commission: 12/19/11 - Trustee Kenny Manfred Issued a Conditional Use Permit to Judith Ortwerth, 318 W. Kinne St., to allow for a home occupation to be conducted in an accessory building.

Salary & Labor: Trustee Rick Sweig

12/6/11 - Police union contract negotiations. Closed session.

1/4/12 - MSC Sweig/Hines to approve the following: Unanimous

Police WPPA Contract: Contingent on language under discipline, grievance and arbitration to be worked out between Village Labor Attorney and WPPA representative and the side letter on health insurance co-pay, the Salary and Labor committee agreed to the contract - no wage increase for 2012 or changes, 2013 a 1 1/2% wage increase and health insurance co-pay going from 5% to 8% of actual age bracket.

(Committee had board authority to finalize contract)

Public Works Department employees: HSA contribution will be paid out quarterly starting Jan. 2012. On call response time will be changed from 70 miles to a 30 minute response time. Committee will proceed in 2012 listing benefits into the Village Personal Handbook. 2% Wage increase 1/1/12, no other changes for 2012.

Other non-union full and part-time hourly employees: All other non-union full and part-time hourly employees a 2% wage increase effective 1/1/12, no other changes for 2012.

Department Heads: Committee did informal evaluations with all department heads.

Chief Place a 2% wage increase effective 1/1/12. Public Works Director/Zoning Adm. and Village Clerk-Treas. a 2 1/2% wage increase effective 1/1/12 because of onsite and administration of new waste disposal plant and other additional duties added.

Salary and Labor Committee thanked all village employees for their hard work and dedication during the past year. Committee spent much time discussing the change the State of Wisconsin made to some of the Village employees retirement contribution. While this small increase does not come close to make up for the loss employees were required to take we want to try and be comparable to like Villages in the area within the budget restraints imposed upon the Village by the State of Wisconsin.

Library Board: 12/13/11 & 1/5/11 – minutes on file in Village Clerk’s Office

Part-time staff rec'd a 2% wage increase effective 1/1/12. Library Director Shelley Anderson a 2 1/2% wage increase effective 1/1/12 and benefits will follow the Village, with the exception of the Police Dept.

Finance, Purchasing, Buildings: 12/7/11 & 1/4/12 - Trustee Michael J. Steele

MSC Steele/Hines to re-finance the State Trust Fund Loan of 2011 and combine with the possible creation of TID 10 borrowing, lowering interest rate from 5% to a re-financing rate of 3%. Unanimous.

MSC Steele/Manfred to give Emily Matchey, Matchey Marketing the authority to proceed with follow-up letters on past area leads for business development in the Village of Ellsworth and set up possible meetings with committee members. Unanimous.

Public Safety: 12/20/11 – Trustee Rick Sweig

New Ambulance Director Peter Brooks introduced to all. Hiring of the final paramedic should be completed in January. Service will apply for grants to fund the purchase of 2 new radios for rigs. Critical care training classes spring of 2012, requirement for the new paramedic care level, will be added to the budget to be reviewed before the next meeting to be held Jan. 17th, 2012.

Health, License, Welfare: 1/9/2012 - Trustee Rick Sweig

MSC Sweig/Manfred to grant a Temporary Class "B" Retail License to the Ellsworth Fire Association Services for their annual chicken feed 3/24/12. Unanimous.

MSC Sweig/Manfred to amend Ordinance #453 - Taxi Cab, to increase insurance amounts from $500,000.00 to $1,000,000.00 for injury or death and property damage from $10,000.00 to $100,000.00. Increase fees from $25 to $30 for first vehicle per year, $10 add'l and driver fee from $5 to $10 per driver. License period will run 1/1 to 12/31. Unanimous.

Reports:

Chief of Police: Sgt. Eric Ladwig - submitted a written report

-Over 100 incidents have been logged to date, well beyond 2011 figures. Offenses are more serious in nature involving guns, drugs, etc. which has resulted in more overtime due to interviews, investigations, evidence handling including evidence hand delivered to the crime lab which continues to assure that the District Attorney has what he needs to prosecute.

-Police Dept. will be recruiting a couple of part-time patrol officers due to current part-time working full-time positions elsewhere.

PWD/Zoning Administrator: Submitted a written report:

-Rice Lake Construction pay request on hold until the wage rate issue with sub-contractors has been satisfied with the State. Russ from Cedar addressed the board informing them that Foth Engineering is working with the contractor to get the problem resolved. MS Steele/Manfred to hold check payable to Rice Lake Construction until problem is resolved, issue check when resolved. Motion carried with Dick Hines opposed.

-Well #2 taken out of service and pump pulled on 1/5/12. Last update was done 7-8 years ago. Waiting to hear what the problem is.

-Sewer jet/vac cleaning truck taken to MacQueen Equipment in the cities for repairs.

-Noted "no snow".

Clerk/Treas. Report: Submitted a written report: -Addendum to Developer's Agreement signed 12/9/11 for Assisted Living Project, per developer project is moving forward with an update to the board the end of Jan.

-Rec'd $575 from the League of WI Municipalities Insurance (DVD Public Officials rebate).

-Busy with tax season and getting ready for auditors week of Jan. 23.

Closed session under Section 19.85(1)(g) for the purpose of conferring with legal counsel 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, the board will go back into open session and take action on the closed session item(s), if required. -Crossing Meadows Business Park property

7:45 p.m. MSC Hines/Sweig to go into closed session, roll call vote taken, unanimous.

7:55 p.m. MSC Manfred/Sweig to go back into open session, roll call vote taken, unanimous.

Adjournment:M SC Hines/Steele 7:56 p.m. Unanimous.

Respectfully submitted: Peggy A. Nelson-Clerk

Tags: public notices, general legals