CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Brad Foss called to order a regular meeting of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council on Monday, February 26, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Roll call: Councilpersons Darrell Anderson, Lori Erickson, Jon Cermin and Arnie Carlson were present. Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Chris Strom of Cedar Corp, the public and the press. All Present joined in the salute to the flag.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Jon Cermin moved to approve the Minutes of the February 12, 2007 Council Meeting, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

Arnie Carlson: Joint Planning Committee met Feb. 22, 2007, discussed boundary of City and zoning of areas along both sides of the boundary. Joint Planning Committee will meet again on March 8, 2007.

Darrell Anderson: Interview Committee interviewed 7 people, narrowed down to 3, doing background checks now, will hire one soon, then 2^nd later so as not to be training two new officers at time.

APPROVAL OF CLAIMS

General Fund $893,616.00, Debt Service $20,000.00, Park & Rec $203.00, TIF District $1,464.78, Water $4,373.68, Sewer $5,722.36

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

OLD BUSINESS

Mayor Foss: Community Survey results should be out by end of March, City has received 7 responses to RFP for new Library on City land behind Clayton’s Hardware.

Ed Emerson: Police reported there was water running out of Dorothy Weinhardt’s house on River Street last Friday, basement flooded with water, City Crew had to shut off the water, have contacted Polk County to determine if house is livable.

NEW BUSINESS

Consider Approval of Operators Permits

Jon Cermin moved to approve Operators Permits for Donna Jean Betts, Jason J Anderson, Kristina Booth, and Maria S Mortenson, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Approval of Louisiana St Reconstruction and Authorize Advertisement for Construction Bids

Chris Strom: the Louisiana re-construction Plan is ready to put out for bid. Plan includes sidewalk along one side, and improvements to 350’ of Madison St. The Good Sam will be doing site improvements at same time, have also discussed storm water runoff with Polk County. Xcel is doing designing of duck bank for future under-grounding of power line, their design will be incorporated into the project plan and it will all be bid out as one project. Project will be done in two stages, the section from Adams St to Day Rd will be done first and then the section from Day Rd to the Fairgrounds due to size of project it is recommended that it be advertised for three weeks with a bid opening scheduled for March 22. Project will be on a tight schedule to make substantial completion by start of school.

Arnie Carlson asked if it would be prudent to lay an additional pipeline for potential pumping of grey water.

Jon Cermin moved to approve Louisiana St Re-construction and Authorize Advertising for Bids, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Initial Resolution Relating to The Issuance of General Obligation Bonds of the City of St Croix Falls, WI to Finance Street Improvements

Sean Lentz of Ehlers & Assoc. reviewed the City’s current debt and debt capacity. Initial Resolution is needed to start process for financing of street projects; it was recommended that the dollar amount in the Resolution be changed to include State St improvements. The debt is not locked in until the Final Resolution is adopted. It was the consensus of the Council that State St improvement costs be included. It was noted that Special Assessments for Louisiana St were not being planned due to the impact they would have on the School and Good Sam.

Darrell Anderson moved to adopt Resolution #07-04, Initial Resolution Relating to the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds of the City of St Croix Falls, WI to Finance Street Improvements in the amount of $1,500,000., second by Jon Cermin, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider a Resolution Accepting the Ground Water and Water Well Capacity Study

Gil Gabanski: the Ground Water and Well Capacity Study is complete, you have a unique geological situation, the same formations that make your community beautiful make finding water a challenge. Water is found in gravel and sandstone, while you do have some gravel and sandstone it is inconsistent and hard to locate, I have identified 4 areas that might produce water. The first is area south of City Hall, Second is to look at a well field to east of City, Third is area south of existing Well #10 – but could interfere with well #10 production, and Fourth is area north of City – but not enough information to be sure about this site. Should continue to rehabilitate current wells and conduct gamma logs, also need to set up a standard maintenance schedule for the wells and well head protection. I do not believe that drawing water from the river would be permitted.

Mike Bryant: we could replace valves and install a stub for the Day Rd Reservoir when Louisiana St is reconstructed, then with an additional booster pump we could pump more water to the top of the hill. We expect DNR approvals for Well #8 next week, can then start work there.

Jon Cermin moved to adopt Resolution #07-05an additional booster pump we could pump more water to the top of the hill. We expect DNR approvals for Well #8 next week, can then start work there.

Jon Cermin moved to adopt Resolution #07-05, Accepting the Groundwater Resource and Water Well Evaluation Report and Endorsing Specific Recommendations as a Short Term Action Plan, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Approving up to $50,000 for Festival theatre Architectural Study for Building Rehabilitation and Improvements

Meg Luhrs and Dannett Olson, Festival Theatre: a comprehensive assessment and Master Plan is needed to be eligible for grants and to guide us with re-habilitation of the building.

Ed Emerson: the resolution should be amended to authorize a request for proposals with no dollar amount. Proposals can then be reviewed and a recommendation made to the Council.

Darrell Anderson agreed to work with Festival Theatre in reviewing of proposals.

Jon Cermin moved to adopt Resolution #07-06, Authorizing the Festival Theatre to Prepare a Request for Proposals and Qualifications for a Master Building Plan and Appointment of Council Representative, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Authorizing Advertisements for Overlook Deck Improvements

Warren White has completed improvement plans for Overlook Park, Phase I will be the construction of a base and encircling sidewalk for the River Spirit Sculpture and Phase II is a trail to connect Overlook Park with the Gaylord Nelson Park, including an eight foot wide boardwalk over marshy area. The project could be advertised for bid and bids opened on March 23^rd.

Jon Cermin moved to adopt Resolution #07-07, Authorizing Advertising for Bids for Overlook Park Improvements, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider a Conditional Use Permit for the Butterfly House, Transitional Home for Women

Doreen Rivard has applied for a Conditional Use Permit for a Transitional Home for up to four Women with or without children at 336 N Washington St. The facility would be staffed 24 hours a day and offer education on stress management, nutrition, and other subjects, stays would be for six months to a year. Residents would pay a fee, prepare their own food, and be required to have a job. We have checked with Polk Co Health and a food license is not needed if residents prepare their own meals. We still need to look into Fire Codes.

Jon Cermin questioned how teenage male children would be handled, would there be a limit on the number of children allowed? Will this be able to work as a business, there are concerns about the business plan as written, expected an updated plan. We need to know that you have done your due diligence.

The Plan Commission held a Public Hearing and recommended approval of the Conditional Use. Written verification is needed from Polk Co on need, on no need, for licensing, along with a fire inspection and building inspection.

Mayor Foss: if someone is discharged for “use” they should be transported to their place of origin. Polk Co may be able to offer assistance and there should be funding available for this purpose, recommend that entrance requirements include comprehensive medical and mental health diagnosis.

Arnie Carlson moved to adopt Resolution #07-08, Establishing a Conditional Use for a Treatment Home for Women at 336 N Washington St with a one year max stay for up to four adults and 8 children, with a medical and mental health diagnosis to be completed within 15 days, submission of final Business Plan within 60 days, and that any discharged residents be escorted to County of origin, second by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Approval of Hospital Expansion Plans

Lenny Libis, St Croix Regional Medical Center: OR and Recovery area are in need of updating, proposal is to build a new Surgery Center with three OR units with ability to expand to 4 units, project would result in the Hospital facing State St and the Clinic would use the Adams St entrance. The building would be designed to support a future helipad. 13 parking spaces will be lost due to the project, doctors will need to park in lot across from the Hospital on State St and employees will park at Church parking lot.

Jon Cermin moved to approve the Hospital Expansion Plans, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Re-naming State Road to Prevent Confusion

The confusion with the street named State Road has been resolved.

Jon Cermin moved to removed re-naming of State Rd from the agenda, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Mayor Foss: Greet and Meet Candidates on March 24^th from 10am to noon at the Festival Theatre. Survey results will be discussed the morning of April 21^st, followed by a river clean up event from 1 to 4 pm.

Jon Cermin: the Butterfly House Business Plan was incomplete, expected to see an updated plan.

ADJOURNMENT

Darrell Anderson moved to adjourn the meeting, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 10:45 pm.

Brad Foss, Mayor Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk