CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Brad Foss called a regular meeting of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council to order on February 12, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Roll call: Councilpersons Darrell Anderson, Lori Erickson, Arnie Carlson and Jon Cermin. Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Police Chief Jack Rydeen, Fire Chief Dale Anderson, the public and the press. All joined in the salute to the flag.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Jon Cermin moved to approve the Minutes of the January 29, 2007 Council Meeting, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed.

REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS

Police Chief Jack Rydeen presented the January 2007 Police Report.

Fire Chief Dale Anderson presented the January 2007 Fire Dept Report.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

Lori Erickson read a letter from the Library Board requesting that the City consider all options for a new Library facility.

Jon Cermin: Cemetery Board met and will be raising the price of plots; a bladder for water has been donated to the Cemetery.

APPROVAL OF CLAIMS

General $56,734.05, Library $1,986.42 Water $21,904.72, Sewer $4,998.75, Park & Rec $100,000, Debt Service $40,231.46

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

OLD BUSINESS

Mayoral Trip to Washington DC

Mayor Foss traveled to Washington DC last week where he met with Congressman Obey and staff, also met Senators Kohl, Feingold, and Oberstar. Discussed waste water treatment, library, and river enhancements. We will need to submit a formal request for appropriations for funding of waste water treatment by March 7, 2007, if not funded this year, we will try again in 2008. Visited the National Building Museum and discussed building green, methane gas and solar energy.

NEW BUSINESS

Consider Bids for City Web Page Design and Upkeep

Arnie Carlson recommended that the Technology Group review the bids, they have the expertise.

Arnie Carlson moved to table consideration of bids for web page design and upkeep to the March 26^th Council Meeting, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Capital Contribution Collection from Cable Franchise Agreement

The local Public Access Channel currently housed at the Osceola School is only available during school hours, the Osceola School Board has discussed the situation and are agreeable to having the Public Access Channel moved to a public facility for greater accessibility. Issue is cost of re-locating and establishing connection for “head end” needed for a fully accessible Public Access Channel. The first step is to enact Capital Collections as written in the Franchise Agreement with Charter Communications. Upon written notification of enactment of Capital Collections, Charter would start collecting a monthly fee from cable subscribers, this fee can only be used for the purchase of equipment. Once in place, videos of Council and Board Meetings, along with other documentaries and films, could be broadcast.

Arnie Carlson moved to establish a Capital Contribution per the Franchise Agreement, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, Jon Cermin abstained, motion passed.

Consider a Resolution Endorsing Bill Beattie to Explore Public Safety Improvement Options to the Intersection of State and Washington St

Resident Bill Beattie has expressed concerns about the safety of the intersection of State St and Washington St, it is hard to get onto Washington St from State St and traffic is hampered by the location of the Post Office, recommend looking at installing 3-way stop signs. It was recommended that Mr. Beattie join the Street and Roads Committee to work on the matter.

Consider Festival Theatre Building Maintenance Status Report

Danette Olson and Meg Luhrs presented a Maintenance Status Report highlighting areas of concern with the Auditorium Building, including water seeping in along copping of roof, stucco falling off outer walls, water damage around windows, sub-code fire doors, lack of insulation, replacement of ceiling, updating electrical service, improving heating, cooling, and ventilation, refinishing of woodwork, improvements to handicapped access, and expanded dressing rooms. As the building deteriorates cost of repairs increase. It is critical that we get a Master Plan in place for the building to identify and prioritize maintenance issues and for applying for Grants. Creating a Master Plan will probably need the services of a Preservation Architect and a Structural Engineer.

Consider a Resolution Advocating for a ½ Cent Sales Tax as a Means to Reduce Property Taxes

Currently the City does not meet the statutory requirements for implementing a ½ cent sales tax, we have contacted Harsdorf and Hraychuck to request an exception to the qualifications. There are four communities in WI that collect this tax, two of them had exceptions made for them. If we could collect a sales tax our Code could be updated to include language on how that revenue would be used to off set the City share of property taxes.

Jon Cermin moved to adopt Resolution #07-03, Advocating for Amendment of State Statute 66.1113(2) to Allow for Implementation of a Premier Resort Area Tax, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.

Review City Goals & Objectives: Charting a Course for the Future

Mayor Foss: Step 2 Planning in setting our goals and objectives is: Natural Resources. Including soft development of 450 acre Simonson Woods property and protecting remaining environmentally sensitive areas. Other planning points are Housing, Economic Development, Transportation, Public Facilities and Utilities, and Intergovernmental Cooperation.

Consider Sewer Forgiveness for Gerald Bostrom, 330 East McKenney St.

Gerald Bostrom owns the house at 330 E McKenney St, the house is vacant, he has an automated sprinkler system for the yard and used water last summer for that purpose, there was no other water used at the residence, he has requested forgiveness of the sewer portion of the utility billing for 2006. He has been informed that for uses such as outside water systems that he could have a secondary meter installed for water use only.

Jon Cermin moved to forgive the sewer usage charges for water of the yard upon condition that there would be no future forgiveness of sewer fees unless a separate meter is installed for that purpose, second by Darrell Anderson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Mayor Foss: There have been stickers circulated quoting me as having said “Capitalism is not good for people” they left out one word; I said “Unbridled Capitalism is not good for the people”.

Menards opens on March 13^th. A new group is interested in starting up a farmers market.

ADJOURNMENT

Jon Cermin moved to adjourn, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed. 9:30 pm.

Brad Foss, Mayor Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk