CITY OF ST. CROIX FALLS

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COMMON COUNCIL MEETING

APRIL 30, 2007, 7:00 P.M.

CITY HALL, 710 HWY 35 SOUTH

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Brad Foss called to order a regular meeting of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council on Monday, April 30, 2007 at 7:04 p.m. Roll call: Councilpersons Darrell Anderson, Lori Erickson, Brian Blesi and Arnie Carlson were present. Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Attorney Brian Nodolf, Police Chief Jack Rydeen, Street Superintendent Scott Brust, Jeff Nussbaum of Cedar Corp, the public and the press. All Present joined in the salute to the flag.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Lori Erickson moved to approve the Minutes of the April 9, 2007 Council Meeting and April 17, 2007 Annual Council Meeting, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

Lori Erickson noted that Wisconsin State Statutes indicate that 2 members of the Library Board may be from outside the city limits and apologized for confusion caused by last meetings Council decision to limit membership to residents only.

Police Chief Jack Rydeen: have contacted DOT about stop signs on Washington St, first criteria is crash date, second is traffic counts, crash data doesn’t warrant stop signs, I will be conduction a traffic count, Kentucky and State Streets may be too close together for stop signs, not enough room when traffic backs up.

Arnie Carlson: Tech Committee is progressing on web site design and has received a quote; the Joint Town and City Planning Committee met last week, worked on determining boundaries of joint planning area.

APPROVAL OF CLAIMS

General Fund $31,414.03, Debt Service $17.19, Park & Rec $150.00, Library Fund $2,423.34

Water $31,363.73, Sewer $9,297.24

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

OLD BUSINESS

Arnie Carlson questioned status of the Resolution adopted for the $100,000 commitment by the City for acquisition of the Simonson Woods property and deeding of 10 acres to the City if the money is utilized.

Ed Emerson: grant application for purchasing property has been submitted, the $100,000 was returned to the City, there were concerns that the clause would hurt chance to get grant, funds may be accepted later.

Jeff Nussbaum: Louisiana St project started today, the DNR has required additional erosion control measures, have discussed burying of services along Louisiana with Xcel, they are concerned about the costs to do so.

NEW BUSINESS

Consider an Update of Life Link III on EMS Service to the City

Joe Covelli, Life Link III: as of December 18, 2006, we have officially upgraded from EMS to Paramedic Status, we have increased staff and are adding another ambulance, resulting in faster response times.

Consider Authorizing the Hire of a Full Time Probationary Police Officer and Authorization of Chief Appointment of Sergeant Position

Police Chief Jack Rydeen: Dan Peters has been recommended by the interviewing committee and has passed his pre-employment physical; he would be subject to 12 months probation and need to relocate to this area. The Sergeant position is needed to support the Chief and fill in when the Chief is unavailable.

Darrell Anderson moved to hire Dan Peters as a full time Police Officer with 12 months probation, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

Lori Erickson moved to authorize the appointment of a Police Sergeant from within the Department, second by Brian Blesi, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Authorizing the Probationary Hire of Full time Public Works Person

Street Superintendent Scott Brust: we received 12 applications; recommend hiring our current part-time person, Chad Amundson, for full time position with a 6 month probation period.

Arnie Carlson moved to approve the hiring of Chad Amundson for the full time position in Public Works with 6 months probation, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Purchase of Televising Equipment for City Sewer Lines

Street Superintendent Scott Brust: currently we hire or rent equipment for televising sewer lines, we can purchase our own line televising camera for $6,805.56, we could then view lines of 4” in diameter or larger as part of routine maintenance instead of just when we’re trying to track down a problem.

Darrell Anderson moved to approve the purchase of an Intruder Pipe Inspection System for a cost of $6,805.56, second by Arnie Carlson, roll call vote, 3 ayes, Brian Blesi voted nay, motion passed.

Consider an Ordinance Recreating Section 17.12, B1 General Commercial District, to Create a Downtown Arts, Culture, and Historic District

A Public Hearing for the Creation of a Downtown Arts, Culture, and Historic District was held at the Council Meeting on April 9^th, it was also discussed at the City Plan Commission Meeting. The intent is to maintain existing B1 Codes while adding options for Arts and Culture.

Lori Erickson moved to adopt Ordinance #03-7, Recreating Section 17.12, B1 General Commercial District to Create a Downtown Arts, Culture, and Historic District, second by Brian Blesi, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Options for New Library Location and Authorizing Creation of a Purchase Agreement

Librarian Sarah Adams: an interesting proposal has come forth that is worth reviewing, request that we take one more month to look at options.

Arnie Carlson suggested that Library look at their option and bring back the top three along with est. costs.

Lori Erickson: Library Board has looked at a number of options and old Holiday Foods is site we have voted to pursue. Library Board was under impression that final decision would be made tonight.

Mayor Foss: we could purchase the building and commit another $350,000 to the Library project if the Library can raise $750,000 with in a certain time frame.

Arnie Carlson moved to table Consideration of Options for a New Library, second by Brian Blesi, voice vote, Lori Erickson voted nay, motion passed.

Consider an Ordinance Re-Zoning City Owned Property

A Public Hearing was held at the April 16, 2007 Plan Commission Meeting, only concern brought up was by a property owner whose land is split by one of the lots that used to be owned by the Ice Age Foundation, he would like to swap lots, as the property is question was purchased with Lawcon funds, would require the approval of the DNR. Leaving that lot (Lot 18, Blk 76) zoned as B1 would make it a spot zone.

Arnie Carlson moved to adopt Ordinance #04-07, Rezoning Lands in the City of St Croix Falls, including zoning Lot 18, Block 76 as Conservancy, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider a Revolving Loan Fund for Purchase and Renovation of J & D Clothiers Building

Darrell Anderson: Anne Rolling, Brenda Van Brocklen, and Jacqueline Alexander are purchasing J & D Clothiers’ building and will be renovating it into 4 primary units plus an office space and Tux Rental. The RLF Committee recommends that they be loaned $30,000 at 4% interest for 7 years with each partner paying one third of the loan payment.

Lori Erickson moved to approve a RLF Loan for Anne Rolling, Brenda Van Brocklen, and Jacqueline Alexander in the amount of $30,000 at 4% interest for 7 years upon a General Business Security and UCC Filing, second by Arnie Carlson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider a Resolution Creating a Park Plan for 4 Acre City Owned Land on Louisiana St/Fairgrounds Road

Ed Emerson: snow melt/runoff that flows to the Good Samaritan’s parking lot could be partially directed through this property.

Amy Klein, Park & Rec Committee: have spoken to 4^th grade teachers and we think we could make this a “Service through Learning” project that could start next fall with the onset of school and be a continuing project, we would like to make use of it as an outdoor classroom, students would create a plan for the park.

Darrell Anderson moved to adopt Resolution #07-14, Creating a Partnership with the St Croix Falls School on the Creation of a Park Plan for a City owned 4 Acre Site Located on Fairgrounds Rd, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Update to Festival Master Plan Study Process

Requests for Proposals were sent out and the Festival Theatre Building Committee received 4 responses. The Committees first choice is Architect Robert Claybaugh from Taylors Falls MN, they demonstrated expertise and a willingness to listen. Over the next weeks the Building Committee will work on options and a budget, intent is to have final recommendations by November. The Building Committee is also working on an application for a planning grant for submission in May. One suggestion by Dannette Olson of Festival Theatre was to do a joint project on the corner of Louisiana St and Washington St, utilizing the old movie theatre for the Library and making that intersection the cornerstone of the City.

Brian Blesi: that intersection is center of our community, would be a good place to start planning and to look at how Theatre, Library and Park & Rec interact.

Jon Cermin: to get movie theatre would need to purchase building and payoff remaining existing lease which is in place through December 09, not a good deal at this time.

Consider an Ordinance Amending Pubic Works Code 8.14, Adding Section (5) to Regulate Trimming of Oak Trees to Prevent Oak Wilt Fungus

Trimming oak trees at the wrong time of year can lead to the spread of Oak Wilt Fungus, this Ordinance would prohibit trimming of oak trees from March 1^st to September 30^th.

Lori Erickson moved to adopt Ordiance #05-07, adding Section (5) to Public Works Code 8.14 to Regulate Trimming of Oak Trees to prevent Oak Wilt Fungus, second by Brian Blesi, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Awarding Liability Insurance BID

The City received to quotes for the upcoming years Liability and Auto Insurance, the League of WI Municipalities Mutual Insurance quote came in at $64,511.00 and the Wausau Insurance quote came in at $54,243.38, both proposals are for $3,000,000 in coverage.

Arnie Carlson moved to award the bid for the City’s Liability Insurance to Wausau Insurance, second by Lori Erickson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider Entering Closed Session Pursuant to State Statute 19.85(1)(e) to Consider the Purchase of the Mark Buhley Property on River Street

Lori Erickson moved to enter Closed Session Pursuant to State Statute 19.85(1)(e) to Consider the Purchase of the Mark Buhley Property on River Street, second by Darrell Anderson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Attorney Brian Nodolf: no actions were taken as a result of the closed session.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Jon Cermin expressed concerns about requiring residency for appointments to committees, City has a limited pool to draw from, people who live outside city limits have a lot to offer. Some people who don’t live in City limits do own and pay taxes on a business here, they have an interest in what is happening here.

Amy Klein: we need to include people who want to work within our town.

Iver Kammerud: it is hard to get volunteers, shouldn’t exclude people with expertise and willingness to help.

Bob Nickels: I have a St Croix Falls address and phone number, I recreate and shop in St Croix Falls, I feel excluded that I can’t provide to a Committee, the money is ultimately spent by the City.

Lori Erickson: gist of decision was that City residents should be responsible for city decisions.

Darrell Anderson: St Croix Falls needs people from all over, are we going to exclude Fire Fighters who don’t live in City limits? I was miss-informed about anti-Christ comments at last year’s Amateur Psychologist music event, I apologize for my comments.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Brad Foss, Mayor Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk