COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
Mayor Krueger called this regular meeting of the Common Council of the
City of Watertown to order at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1, 2011, in the
Council Chambers at City Hall.
Roll call showed the following members present: Alderpersons Johnson,
Olejniczak, David, Kuehl, Bleske, Coughlin, Arnett, Bartel and Romlein. (9)
Absent: (0) Also present were Chief of Police Tim Roets, Fire Chief Greg
Michalek, City Engineer Joe Radocay, City Attorney Al Larson and City
Clerk/Treasurer Mike Hoppenrath.
The Council recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Mayor Krueger inquired if there were any additions or corrections to the
minutes of the meeting held Tuesday, October 18, 2011.
There being none, the minutes were approved as published.
Barry
Baumann, 1303 S. Ninth Street, was present to again express his opposition to
the posting of government buildings from Concealed Carry.
He feels that the City of Watertown will be taking on liability if we
post our buildings. Tom Check, 223
Division Street, was also opposed to posting of city buildings, which would
prohibit concealed carry of weapons.
Ken Robillard, 320 Riviera Lane, wonders if an individual’s use of porous
material will be considered in charges for the Storm Water.
The Mayor indicated that the Public Works Commission would be talking
about these items when they discuss the Storm Water Credits.
The
Mayor declared open a Public Hearing on all of the budgets for 2012.
Jeff Schueller, 414 N. Monroe Street, feels that some of the items in the
Capital Budget should be put off until such time as we have funds to pay for
them instead of borrowing for equipment.
No one else was present to speak in favor of or in opposition to the
budgets and the Public Hearing was closed.
The following reports were presented and contained the following items:
FINANCE COMMITTEE, October 24, 2011.
1) Meeting with Tourism Committee.
The discussion centered around the use of the Room Tax money and how it
should be utilized. 2)
Discuss Insurance Bids. The
Committee reviewed the bids and will meet again next week after they have had a
chance to do further comparisons.
3) Final budget issues.
The Committee is recommending adding one new squad car for 2012.
4) Review updated job
descriptions. Job descriptions were
received from several city departments and distributed for their review.
This item will be discussed at a future meeting.
5) Closed Session.
The Committee met in closed session to discuss personnel issues.
Report was received and placed on file.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION, October
25, 2011. 1)
Water rates. A motion was
made and carried to stay with the current declining rate structure.
2) Wastewater rates.
A motion was made and carried to approve starting the new rates with the
December 1st billing cycle.
3) Water Tower Inspection.
The firm doing the inspections is asking to use a different procedure
which will not require the Water Tower to be drained and re-cleaned.
There is no difference in the contracted cost, however; it will save
about 300,000 gallons of water, plus cut the time that the water tower is
offline. The Commission agreed to
this alternative procedure. 4)
Storm water rate for 708 W. Madison Street.
The property owner at this address requested a re-measure of the
impervious surfaces on the property.
After a re-measure it was determined that the rate should be lowered.
A motion was made and carried to lower the rate for this property.
5) 2011 Street Projects
Update. Street Superintendant Rick
Schultz provided an update on the 2011 projects.
All projects are complete at this time and manhole replacement is
ongoing. Demolition of the building
next to the Library has just started.
6) Storm water Utility Rate
Structure. The Street
Superintendent Rick Schultz presented a revised rate ordinance for storm water.
The rates, as presented, were passed with an additional $15.00 one-time
credit for residential rain barrels and rain gardens.
An ordinance will be presented.
7) Agenda Planning.
There will be no meeting in early November due to a lack of agenda items.
Report was received and placed on file.
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, October
18, 2011. 1)
1) Review parking at 317 S.
Water Street. Currently the parking
in this area is prohibited. After
review of comments from the manager of River Mill Apartments a motion was made
and carried to recommend sending an ordinance to the Council to place parking
back on the street in this area. 2)
Review new Concealed Carry Weapons Ordinance.
The Committee reviewed Ordinance #11-26 and recommends that it be
forwarded to the Council. 3)
Amend Wheeled Devices Ordinance.
The Committee agreed to lay this over as they have not received much
response from other municipalities as requested.
Report was received and placed on file.
The Mayor presented the following appointment:
Cable TV Regulatory Board, John Siedschlag, 1511 Hillside Lane, for a
first term. Alderperson Bartel
moved to approve the appointment, seconded by Alderperson Coughlin and carried
on a roll call vote. Yes – 9.
No – 0.
Certified
accounts in the amount of $463,555.55 were presented for payment.
Alderperson Arnett moved to pay all certified accounts, seconded by
Alderperson Johnson and carried on a roll call vote: Yes-9.
No-0.
The following reports were presented: Library Board of Trustees –
September 8, 2011, Payroll Summaries – October 5 – October 18, 2011, Plan
Commission – October 24, 2011, Site Plan Review Committee – October 24, 2011,
Zoning Board of Appeals – October 18, 2011
ORDINANCES
ORDINANCE #11-26, would amend
the concealed weapons prohibition in certain city buildings.
Sponsor:
Alderperson Kuehl. From:
Public Safety & Welfare Committee.
Alderperson Kuehl moved for the adoption of this Ordinance on its second
reading, seconded by Alderperson Bartel and carried on a roll call vote:
Yes-9. No-0.
ORDINANCE #11-27, would
replace parking on the east side of S. Water Street from a point 105 feet south
of the south curb line of W. Madison Street to the north curb line of Lafayette
Street.
Sponsor:
Alderperson Kuehl. From:
Public Safety & Welfare Committee.
Alderperson Kuehl moved for the adoption of this Ordinance on its first
reading, seconded by Alderperson Romlein and carried on a roll call vote:
Yes-9. No-0.
ORDINANCE #11-28, would amend
the storm water credit for certain property.
Sponsor:
Alderperson Arnett. From:
Public Works Commission.
Alderperson Arnett moved for the adoption of this Ordinance on its first
reading, seconded by Alderperson Coughlin and carried on a roll call vote:
Yes-9. No-0.
ORDINANCE #11-29, would amend
Chapter 26 as it relates to the Wastewater Facilities Code.
Sponsor:
Alderperson Arnett. From:
Public Works Commission.
This ordinance would set new rates beginning December 1, 2011.
Alderperson Arnett moved for the adoption of this Ordinance on its first
reading, seconded by Alderperson David and carried on a roll call vote:
Yes-9. No-0.
EXHIBIT #7722, would amend
the discipline and grievance procedure.
Sponsor:
Mayor Krueger.
Ald. Romlein moved to approve this resolution, seconded by Ald.
Johnson and carried on a voice vote.
EXHIBIT
#7723,
would
approve the Police Contract for 2011 and 2012.
Sponsor:
Mayor Krueger. From:
Finance Committee.
Alderperson Coughlin moved to approve this resolution, seconded by Alderperson
Olejniczak and carried on a roll call vote.
Yes-9. No-0.
EXHIBIT
#7724,
would write off an uncollectible loan from Clark Trucking.
Sponsor:
Mayor Krueger. Alderperson
Johnson moved to approve this resolution, seconded by Ald. Romlein and carried
on a roll call vote. Yes-9.
No-0.
COMMENTS
FROM CITIZENS PRESENT
Barry Baumann, 1303 S. Ninth Street, said he was disappointed in the
concealed carry vote and is still concerned about not allowing concealed carry
in city buildings without taking on liability.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council at this time,
Alderperson Coughlin moved to adjourn, seconded by Alderperson Bartel and
carried on a voice vote. The time
being 7:55 p.m.
City
Clerk/Treasurer
MHH/dn
(Complete
video of Council Proceedings on DVD.)
(DISCLAIMER: These minutes are uncorrected and any corrections made thereto will be noted in the proceedings at which these minutes are approved.)