CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Brad Foss called to order a regular meeting of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council on Monday, October 30, 2006 at 7:05 p.m. Roll call: Councilpersons Darrell Anderson, Lori Erickson, Jon Cermin and Arnie Carlson were present. Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Attorney Brian Nodolf, Acting Director of Public Works Scott Brust, Chris Strom of Cedar Corp, the public and the press. All Present joined in the salute to the flag.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Darrell Anderson moved to approve the Minutes of the October 9, 2006 Council Meeting, second by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed.

REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICALS

Lori Erickson: Cemetery Board has not had a quorum to hold a meeting, but has done some clean up.

Mayor Foss: the UW River Falls President and Chancellor visited the City last week.

APPROVAL OF CLAIMS

General Fund $30,593.94, Library Fund $850.16, Debt Service $37,722.50, TIF $ 219.36 Water $13,033.69, Sewer $10,846.03

Jon Cermin moved to approve claims, second by Lori Erickson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS

Consider 2007 Proposed Budget and Set Date for Public Hearing for Formal Adoption

City Auditor Steve Scheidler was present to review the proposed 2007 Budget, based upon the State Guidelines and new construction the City may increase its levy up to 9.81%. The proposed budget qualifies for the State Budget Restraint Program whereby we would be included in the division of funds in the program for 2008. Before the Proposed Budget can be adopted there will need to be a Public Hearing that has to be noticed 15 days prior to said hearing. The Hearing will be held Thursday, November 16^th.

Presentation of Festival Theatre Historic Designation Plaque

Warren White attended the meeting of the Wisconsin State Historical Society in Green Bay to represent the Festival Theatre buildings application for Historic Status, Historic Status was granted on Oct 13, 2006, and in about two months the building will be considered for placement on the National Register. Warren White was presented with a Certificate commemorating the achievement.

Consider Park & Recreation Expenditures for Benches at Festival Theatre

The Park & Recreation Committee was approached by Warren White to request new benches for the theatre courtyard, the Committee has reviewed the request and recommends 6 curved back benches at a cost of about $1,000 each. It was suggested that the two existing rotary benches would be used at White Pine Park.

Jon Cermin moved to approve expending $6,000 in Park and Rec Funds for benches for the Festival Theatre, second by Lori Erickson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider Update on Status of Wells Number 3 and 8, Authorizing Telemetry at Well #3 and Rehabilitation of Well #8

Mike Bryant: Well #3 has been on line for 3 weeks and is being controlled manually; it is running about 8 hours a day at 88 gal per minute. Proposing to hook into automated control system. Well #8 has been shut down for maintenance, but has proved more problematic then expected, 120 feet of 8 inch casing has had to be pulled, casing was rusted and has numerous holes in it, would have been a problem soon. After pulling casing well was able to be pumped at a high volume but kept filling with sand and sides kept caving in. The screens that were removed will have to be cleaned and put back in, then can replace casing and repack with gravel. Once the rate of flow is determined for Well #8 a new pump will be needed. The estimated cost of a new pump is $12,000. Old Well #6 by the football field has been located, gravel pack is still in place, the gravel pack and old casing will be pulled and the well surged and air-jetted, the old issue with rust bacteria that was the cause of it’s being shut down can be dealt with through today’s technologies, a test run will be needed to see if it will affect the aqua filler that feeds Well #9 by the Hospital. It will take about $13,000 to complete the work at Well #3 and get it connected to the automated system and about $40,000 to rework Well #8.

Jon Cermin moved to authorize up to $40,00 for Well #8 and $14,000 for Well #3, for a total not to exceed $55,000, second by Lori Erickson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider Electrical Upgrades to City Wells for Emergency Generator

Andre Electric inspected the backup generator and found exposed wires that could be dangerous if touched. Connector ends on the well houses for the generator also need replacing. Anticipated cost of repairs is $6,316.

Arnie Carlson moved to authorize up to $6,500 for repair and correcting of problems with backup generator, second by Jon Cermin, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider Authorizing Cedar Corp to Conduct an Environmental Review of the Holiday Foods Building, Downtown St Croix Falls

Phase I Environmental Review to look for asbestos and include structural inspection for a cost of $3,525. A Phase II Environmental Review would needed to determine if there is any ground contamination.

Jon Cermin moved to authorize Cedar Corp to conduct a Phase I Environmental Review of the Holiday Foods Building for a cost not to exceed $3,600, second by Arnie Carlson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, passed.

Attorney Brian Nodolf noted that the purchase option agreement was signed today and that we should be getting a signed copy soon. Part of the agreement was that current owners would have an opportunity to review who was proposed to conduct the environmental review. Lots 13 and 14 are not included as part of the property being offered for sale.

Consider Authorizing Library Overnight Lock-In

Sarah Adams, Head Librarian: promoting an Overnight Lock-In for up to 15 middle school students as a Library Building Fund raiser. Students would pay a $30.00 fee to participate. They will brain storm ideas for a teen space in a new library, eat, play games, read, and tell stories. The event is planned for November 18^th.

Jon Cermin moved to approve the Library Overnight Lock-In, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, passed.

Consider Review and Consider Proposed Survey Questions: UW River Falls

The Plan Commission has reviewed the proposed survey and requested that answers be rated rather than choosing of three. Arnie Carlson noted that the survey was long and that there were a lot of agricultural and transportation related questions and that one question related to services that were not available in the City. Councilmen requested that it be updated and brought back for review at a future Council Meeting.

Consider a Resolution Lifting the City Development Moratorium and Adopting the ‘Rules of the Game’ for Considering Annexation Requests

‘Rules of the Game’ establish procedures for considering annexation, including: Economic Analysis, Traffic Impact Analysis, Cost Benefit Analysis, Developers Agreement, and Site Plan approval by the Plan Commission.

Arnie Carlson: the words ‘whenever possible’ should be dropped from #10 so that it is our decision if a water line loop is not possible. Should add ‘until 80% of existing lots and land are developed’ to #11.

Darrell Anderson: ‘Rules’ should be considered guidelines to allow flexibility.

Attorney Brian Nodolf also encouraged adopting the rules as guidelines so that the City doesn’t bind itself; each request should be considered on a case-by-case basis. There is a 120-day time frame established by State Statutes for acting on an annexation request.

Arnie Carlson moved to adopt Resolution #06-35, Lifting the Development Moratorium and Adopting ‘Rules of the Game’ for Annexation Requests, second by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Adopting a Memorandum of Agreement With Dorothy Weinhardt

Through mediation regarding the Weinhardt Case, a settlement has been proposed whereby all parties would drop their respective lawsuits and walk away with no further costs. The grounds for accepting the mitigation agreement being that the costs to the City to pursue the case would be greater than what could be gained.

Arnie Carlson moved to accept the Memorandum of Agreement with Dorothy Weinhardt, second by Darrell Anderson, roll call vote, 3 ayes, motion passed, Jon Cermin abstained.

Arnie Carlson moved to take a break, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

Arnie Carlson moved to reconvene, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Approval of Agreement with Juliann Stage and Sale of River Spirit Sculptures

Jon Cermin moved to table Consideration of Agreement with Juliann Stage, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

Discuss Requests for Sewer Credits for Watering Lawns and Gardens

With the dry summer many residents watered lawns and gardens, a number of residents are now requesting sewer credits on the premises that all the water did not go down the sewer, without a separate meter there is no way to determine how much water was used outside. The Council noted that water customers have the option of adding a secondary meter for watering and that no credits would be given.

Consider Revolving Loan Fund Request for Menagerie Hair Salon

Woody and Amanda McBride are relocating the Menagerie Hair Salon to the Seasons on the St Croix building and have requested an additional $10,000 in Revolving Loan Funds to facilitate the move and cover setup costs. The Revolving Loan Fund Committee recommends approval of the additional $10,000 to be incorporated into their original loan.

Jon Cermin moved to approve an additional $10,000 RLF Loan for the Menagerie Hair Salon, second by Arnie Carlson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

ADJOURNMENT

Lori Erickson moved to adjourn the meeting, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 10:05 pm.

Brad Foss, Mayor Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk