CITY OF ST. CROIX FALLS

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COMMON COUNCIL MEETING

MARCH 27, 2006, 7:00 P.M.

CITY HALL, 710 HWY 35 SOUTH

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Lee Uhrhammer called to order a regular meeting of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council on Monday, March 27, 2006 at 7:02 p.m. Roll call: Councilpersons Darrell Anderson, Debra Points, Bill Kersch and Jon Cermin were present. Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Treasurer Jamie Carlson, Public Works Director Dennis Neva, Police Chief Paul Lindholm, Chris Strom of Cedar Corp, the public and the press. All Present joined in the salute to the flag.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Debra Points moved to approve the Minutes of the March 13, 2006 Regular Council Meeting, seconded by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed.

Debra Points moved to approve the Minutes of the March 13, 2006 Closed Council Meeting, seconded by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES, COMMISSSIONS AND BOARDS

The Minutes of the March 21, 2006 Plan Commission Meeting were presented for Council’s information.

APPROVAL OF CLAIMS

General Fund $103,512.29, TIF District $1,365.00, Water $3,204.76, Sewer $5,314.27

Darrell Anderson moved to approve claims, second by Debra Points, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS

Debra Points moved to move Agenda Item 8a to after Agenda Item 8d, second by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Use of the City Overlook Deck for the Amateur Psychologist Convention, Saturday June 17, 2006

Woody McBride requested authorization to hold an amplified music event “Amateur Psychologist Convention” on the Overlook Deck on Saturday, June 17^th from about noon to midnight. The event would be free to the public and there would be no alcohol served. The only complaint received after last years event regarded profanity, performers will be talked to about language prior to this year’s event. Woody McBride requested that the authorization be in writing as it was questioned last year.

Debra Points moved to approve the use of the Overlook Deck for an amplified music event on June 17, 2006, second by Bill Kersch, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Request of Chamber of Commerce to Close Portions of Washington St for the June 10, 2006 Arts & Crafts Fair

The Chamber of Commerce has requested that part of Washington St be closed June 10 for their annual Arts and Crafts Fair, they will place signage and detour notices.

Dennis Neva pointed out that signage has to placed by certified signage providers, a service that costs about $1,000. A permit would also be needed from the State of WI and the application for the permit must list who is doing the signage, it is a liability issue.

It was suggested that Thompson Parkway or the Holiday Foods parking lot could be looked at as alternatives to Washington St. If an agreement could be reached to use the Holiday Foods parking lot the Public Works Department could patch the potholes in the parking lot to make it more useable.

Debra Points moved to table consideration of the Chamber of Commerce’s request to close Washington St until the alternatives are looked into, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider a Resolution Authorizing a Request for Bids, City Assessor Contract

David Sovacool’s contract for Assessment of properties in the City expires at the end of this year and he has notified the City that he will not be renewing the contract.

Jon Cermin moved to adopt Resolution #06-06, authorizing a Request for Bids for Assessment Services, second by Debra Points, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Recapture Agreement with Menards Inc. for Highway 8 and 208^th St Improvements

Cost sharing for improvements to 208^th Street have been worked out whereas 26.5% of the costs are related to properties not in City Limits, the Recapture Agreement details that Menards will pay these costs up front and that if those benefiting properties petition for annexation in the future that a proportionate share of the improvement costs would be collected from them and returned to Menards.

Darrell Anderson moved to approve the Recapture Agreement with Menards to recapture 26.5% of the improvement cost for 208^th St, seconded by Jon Cermin, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed

Consider a Resolution Supporting ‘In-Concept’ a Land Swap of City Owned Lands for the Fox Bluff Land

Joel Kaul of Woodland Lakes & Properties has negotiated the purchase of the 18 acre Fox bluff property on the west side of Hwy 35 and is proposing to swap the bluff land for the City owned 8 acres property at the corner of Maple Dr and Lincoln St plus $55,000 from the City and $55,000 from the Ice Age Trail Foundation. Mr Kaul proposes to develop the property for up to 30 residential units and agrees to being assessed for the cost to extend Maple Drive, he wishes to know if the City is interested in the proposal and agreeable to the concept before finalizing the purchase of the bluff land.

Mayor Uhrhammer: the proposal would result in the City being able to protect and preserve the bluff land and have Maple Dr extended; the City’s $55,000 share could come out of the Land acquisition funds received through Park Fees charged to Developers.

Darrell Anderson moved to approve Resolution #06-03, Supporting in Concept a Land Swap of City Owned Lands for the Fox Bluff lands, second by Bill Kersch, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider a Resolution Authorizing the City Clerk to Appoint Special Registration Deputies

With registration requirements in place as of January 1, 2006, it is recommended that the City Clerk be authorized to appoint registration deputies in accordance with State Statute 6.55(6).

Debra Points moved to adopt Resolution #06-04, Authorizing the City Clerk to Appoint Special Registration Deputies, second by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider a Resolution Amending the Warranty Deed for Lot #9, City Industrial Park, Allowing for the Construction of JM Refrigeration

JM Refrigeration’s development of Lot 9 was held up due to the length of time it took to get a DNR grading permit, thus the original Development Agreement has expired. Jim Meyer proposes to start construction this spring. It is proposed that the Warranty Deed be amended to allow for a construction completion date of November 1^st, 2008 or such real estate shall revert back to the City.

Darrell Anderson moved to approve Resolution #06-05, Amending the Warranty Deed for Lot 9, second by Jon Cermin, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Discuss Blanding Woods Road Resurfacing Alternatives

Dennis Neva: about 700 cars a day travel down Blanding Woods Rd, this past winter was hard on the road, there is sufficient money in the street budget to have the road pulverized and a 2” layer of asphalt applied, however there wouldn’t any remaining funds for any other repairs or patching of streets.

Installation of curb and gutter extends life of road but then you need somewhere to send the storm water.

Dennis Neva and Chris Strom will be available prior to the April 24^th Council Meeting to meet with resident of Blanding Woods Rd to discuss options for road improvements.

Mayoral Proclamation of Barbershop Chorus Week

Mayor Uhrhammer presented a Proclamation declaring April 9 – April 15 as Barbershop Harmony Week.

Debra Points moved to recognize Barbershop Harmony Week, second by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed.

Presentation on Legislative Days and EDC Update

Dan Reeves, President of Polk County Economic Development Corp (EDC) and Mike Welch, Director of EDC presented an update on the goals and accomplishments of the EDC.

Consider Security Issues Based on the Examination by the State

Police Chief Paul Lindholm: the Department of Justice has declined to conduct an investigation into the allegations that the Mayor placed inappropriate interception software on the city owned computer used by the Administrator. The Department of Justice stated that based on the facts presented there is no basis to believe that any crime has been committed. “The computer at issue is a publicly owned piece of equipment located at the City offices and that any material on that computer would be subject to the public records law and no one using the computer has any reasonable expectation of privacy in the contents on the computer and that even if the Mayor accessed or demanded the information as alleged, we see no legal reason that he would not have been within his rights to do so as the chief executive of the City.” On the morning of March 27^th the Police Chief delivered the computer to Croix Computer to be examined and is awaiting their report.

Jon Cermin stated that his computer had also been tampered with and that he was not contacted as part of the investigation and that he is disappointed that the computer wasn’t examined by the state. Having Croix Computer look at computer could compromise its usability as evidence.

Debra Points referred to a letter form Administrator Emerson’s Attorney requesting that the computer be examined by an outside computer forensics service.

Bill Kersch stated that he felt the Council had been misled by Administrator Emerson.

Mayor Uhrhammer: Justice Dept’s report finds no indication of wrong doing; I did not tamper with the computer, wouldn’t know how to. A policy needs to be established to deal with accusations.

Debra Points moved to contact other communities to learn how they handle accusations and to develop a policy for the City, second by Bill Kersch, voice vote, motion passed.

It was further questioned whether the computer should be examined by a neutral party, and that any findings by Croix Computer should be shared with the Council and that a representative of the Council should be present with Police Chief Lindholm to review those findings.

Debra Points moved to authorize Darrell Anderson to meet with the Police Chief and Administrator to review Croix Computers report on their examination of the computer, second by Bill Kersch, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

COMMUNICATIONS:

Mayor Uhrhammer read a statement addressing concerns about developing the store for Tractor Supply and his Veto of the Olmstead Project.

Monday, June 5^th was selected for the Board of Review.

ADJOURNMENT

Darrel Anderson moved to adjourn the meeting, second by Debra Points, voice vote, motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm.

Lee Uhrhammer, Mayor Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk