Public Info & Spec Coucil 1/27/2011

Minutes of the Public Informational and Special Council meeting held on Thursday, January 27th, 2011 pursuant to notice duly given.

1. Meeting called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Mayor Fulton.
2. Roll Call: Mayor Fulton, Ed Young, John Wittkopf, Al Schreiber, Joe Stiloski, Marlene Zahn, Dick Doeren, Jim Stiloski, Jack Maas and Atty. Calvert. Excused: Roger Reed and Terri Berth. Also present: Robert J. Mommaerts, P.E. Director of Public Services, Ron Hayes, Chairperson of the Board of Public Works and Linda Belongia Administrator and as recording secretary.
3. Invocation and pledge of allegiance given by Alderperson Joe Stiloski.
4. Moved by Maas seconded by Jim Stiloski to approve of the agenda as presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 8 ayes
5. No correspondence or public input.
6. Mayor stated no decisions will be made this evening; just conceptual that have been created for us by R.E. Lee & Associates which include three options for the intersection of Main Street/Hwy 22; any input and insight given tonight will be forwarded to the Board of Public Works (BPW) meeting on January 31st; BPW will look at the discussion had and will be making a recommendation to the Council on the design for Smith/Brazeau; Lee Novak, P.E. President and Mark Schuster, P.E. from R.E. Lee went over their conceptual ideas; starting at Doran goal was to design keeping a traffic calming effect; McDonald St signal lights will stay on as the city has already took action on; driveways at the intersection are shown out as they are too close to the intersection; Mayor stated again, nothing is cast in stone, just different ideas; Schuster presented power point showing Brazeau/Smith as is and then what options we have; Schuster also showed along the river the proposed bike/pedestrian trail ; need to focus on the whole gateway “look” into our city; Mayor stated he met with property owners at the intersection, the Thompsons and Hamann; Mayor stated anyone that has driveway openings all attempts will be made to keep them open during the construction…maybe some inconvenience but all attempts will be made; Justin Ignalls stated the project should focus on practicality before aesthesis ; Ann from Riverview Inn questioned if businesses will be open and accessible during the construction? Mayor stated yes open during construction; Roger Trepanier questioned snow plowing on corner of Smith/Gale…will the current curve get wider? Earl Beck questioned the bridge? Mayor stated the bridge will stay; Mayor stated it maybe a pain during construction but we will do everything we can to get you into your residence/businesses; Mike Pecor questioned if a sidewalk will be on the East Side? Schuster stated yes; Mike Pecor questioned the zoning? Mayor stated zoning will not change; Mayor stated prior council action decided to replace all curb & gutter for this project; Kathy Olson questioned if the overhead wires will be buried; Mayor stated no, that’s a very expensive item; Kathy Olson stated they would like to do a memorable sidewalk; Mayor stated Olson should take that to the BPW; Olson stated in planning where the street lights will be placed, she is requesting a light not be put in front of the church, people stop to take pictures; Roger Trepanier questioned will aprons be removed…people with campers drive over curb? Mommaerts stated city code is a maximum of 24” or minimum of 14” all property owners will be contacted to see what they want; Jack Harper stated he owns 501 Brazeau, is he getting a new lateral? Mommaerts stated if Harper has a lateral, nothing will be done….this is not a sewer/water project; Ed Zahn stated concern on vision issues with bridge and hwy; Schuster stated the sidewalk on the West side will be made wider; Mayor stated we are aware that the bridge on either side is a problem; John Matravers stated concern about the round about option; Mayor stated if the state came through and did the upgrade they would put in the round about…we are showing three options for this area; Mike Werner stated years ago we spent a lot of money on our downtown…has received good comments about this….how nice it looks…is all in favor of aesthesis; Kathy Olson also asked we keep in mind the historic aspect; Mayor stated Kale Proksch our Park/Rec director is working on that, keeping the cross; Earl Beck stated he is in favor of a roundabout; Mike Pecor stated how will snow be removed from the median? Roger Trepanier questioned the bike trail at the bridge, will a 3 wheel bike be able to access the trail; Schuster stated the sidewalk will go out to Doran; Karen Thompson questioned timeline for construction; Mayor stated Cook Ave from Evergreen North is done; Mommaerts stated as soon as the contractor can get in this spring Cook Avenue will be done before the rest of the construction starts; Ann from Riverview questioned will this costs any of the property owners along the project? Mayor referenced JT funds that will cover costs; Jack Harper referenced the double roundabout in DePere…heard an estimate of 70% cut in the emissions by having the roundabout…stated he originally was opposed but now in favor of the roundabout; Jeff Hoover from 41 Auto questioned what option will intersection be? Mayor stated that will be reviewed and recommended by BPW; Pat Trepanier stated the people directly involved with that intersection should make the decision; Ed Zahn stated his store also takes inquires for the Chamber of Commerce….don’t know too many truck drivers who would approve, even campers getting through roundabout…80% of people he has talked to don’t like; Mike Pecor stated we need directional information, people need to know where to go; Wittkopf asked Mayor for show of hands regarding intersection; Eleven were in favor of roundabout and fourteen were in favor of 2-directional channel; Mayor referenced preliminary costs to do that intersection; Mike Werner questioned if a roundabout is easier? Pat Scanlan, Hwy Commissioner stated that intersection Main/Hwy 22 is a county trunk and the county is in favor of a roundabout….no maintenance for stop lights…redoing asphalt every 6-7 years…tearing up to fix…leaning towards a roundabout; Pat Trepanier questioned who is responsible for contamination in that intersection? Mommaerts stated will be up to the property, where the contamination is coming from; Lee Novak stated removing black top with no utilities such as a water/sewer project you only have to go down 18” to 2’...any possible contamination just stays there. Kathy Olson stated double wide or Cruisers boats should be considered in decision;
7. Moved by Wittkopf seconded by Joe Stiloski to adjourn. M/C
Meeting adjourned at 6 p.m.


Minutes submitted by
Linda M. Belongia,
Administrator