Public Hearing & Council Minutes 3/8/2011

Minutes of the Public Hearing and Regular Council meeting held on Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 pursuant to notice duly given.

Mayor Fulton opened the Public Hearing at 5:40 p.m. in the matter of State and Federal Aid for the improvements at the J. Douglas Bake Memorial Airport. The City of Oconto is considering petitioning the State of Wisconsin, Dept of Transportation for state and federal aid to undertake the following development at the Bake Memorial Airport:

Fiscal Year 2011- Install Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) reconstruct and expand ramp. Feasibility study for Rwy 29/11.
Fiscal Year 2012 – Reconstruct Rwy 29/11, Taxiway and apron. Rehabilitate/replace runway lighting.
Fiscal Year 2013 – Install precision approach path indications (PAPIs), and Runway End Identifier Lights (REILs).
Fiscal Year 2014 – Feasibility study for Rwy 4/22.
Fiscal Year 2015 – Develop hangar area.
Fiscal Year 2016 – Any necessary related work.
Fiscal Year 2017 – Acquire land for development of runway 4/22.

Hearing will be held in Council Chambers. All interested persons are invited to attend and present their views on the need for the proposed airport development.

Airport Commissions present: Jerry Beekman, Paul LeTourneau, Jim Lacourciere and Earl Uhl. Eileen Duffeck, Airport manager also present.

Beekman stated the public hearing is a requirement before the airport can petition for projects…projects if funding is available could be done over 8, 10 or 15 years; Federal government funds 95%; State would fund 2.5% and between the city and county the other 2.5%; this process allows for our airport to get on their list; having the public hearing makes it known so if some time in the future funds would be available, could look at these projects;

Marlene Zahn asked if the airport had a 5 year plan.

Beekman stated yes, some of these projects are on that list;

Jack Maas stated we’ve done this in the past; we are not authorizing any funds at this time, just the go ahead to file for the grants;

Joe Stiloski asked what the current use of the airport is.

Beekman stated activity is very small, but we have the potential; Beekman referenced Marinette Marine…they have the potential to bring people into our community and county;

Paul LeTourneau referenced Cruisers…the airport is a vital tool for them…as well as LeTourneau Plastics…both business and pleasure;

Joe Stiloski questioned if the size of our airport is a hindrance to LeTourneau’s?

LeTourneau state with the size of our airport and insurance issues which is determined by the runways, it is very unlikely we’ll ever see jets here;

John Wittkopf questioned if this request also goes to the county?

Eileen Duffeck stated, the public hearing is held here, and the next council meeting will have to act on the Resolution and Agreement, same as county;

Jim Stiloski questioned if we need an amendment to tonight’s meeting?

Belongia stated no the Resolution and Agreement will be on the 4/12/2011 Council agenda.

LeTourneau stated looking at the items we are listing; some will improve the airport;

Mayor, hearing nothing further, closed the public hearing at 5:52 p.m.

Regular Council Meeting:

1. Mayor Fulton called to order the meeting at 5:52 p.m.
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: Jack Mlnarik, Fire Chief and Linda Belongia Administrator and as recording secretary.
3. Invocation and pledge of allegiance given by Marlene Zahn.
4. Moved by Jim Stiloski seconded by Zahn to approve of the agenda as presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 8 ayes
5. Moved by Jim Stiloski seconded by Doeren to approve and place on file as typed the 2/8/2011 Regular Council minutes; 2/16/2011 Special Council minutes and the 3/1/2011 Com of the Whole minutes.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 8 ayes
6. Moved by Wittkopf seconded by Doeren to place on file as presented the department reports.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 8 ayes
7. Correspondence/Public Input: Mayor stated next Monday, March 14th, 2011 the Chamber of Commerce After Five event will be held at city hall at 5:30 p.m. and representatives from Marinette Marine will be here; encourage council members to attend, this is a real opportunity to talk about our community; Included in the packet per request from Com of the Whole meeting was a listing of current vehicles; Jim Stiloski stated he is against buying used vehicles rather than new; Included in packet was email Robert J. Mommaerts received from Jim Lemorande regarding the council’s decision on the signal lights at McDonald Street/Smith Avenue; Wittkopf stated he called Robert Schuurmans at DOT regarding the email…Schuurmans suggested we need an engineer study to determine if the intersection meets the warrants for signal lights; Mayor stated he also discussed this with Bob Mommaerts…they will get more information;
a. Mayor read aloud Consent Agenda: Authorize Mayor to contact DNR regarding petition on deer problem; Approve of timeline presented by Robert J. Mommaerts, P.E., Director of Public Services for the Brazeau/Smith/Business 41 project and work with him if needs any help to get this done; Approve of listing of applications for an operators license contingent upon completion of the required course; Award 2011 Fuel contract to Staidl Oil, LLC; Approve of purchase of a truck by the Park & Rec dept which was budgeted for $7,000 and excess fees of $247.50 will be taken from the park & rec budget; Approve of applications for a $15,000 grant from the Leon H. and Clymene M. Bound Foundation, Inc for a fish cleaning station; Schreiber pulled approve of contract with Mystic Fireworks, Inc., Five Star Fireworks for the 2011 4th of July display at a cost of $5,000; Approve of listing of accounts payables for $1,408,882; payroll for $122,566.59; and financial reports as presented; Approve of request for use of Brewery Pit for ATV training, April 16, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. to noon which is a DNR safety sponsored course; Approve of amending the city attorney ordinance to include that the City Attorney shall perform administrative labor issues and such other duties as designated by the Common Council; amend the salary ordinance to reflect that the City Attorney be paid as a accounts payable vendor for $25,000 and not as a salary; and that a memorandum of understanding be in place between our city attorney and labor attorney in case Atty. Calvert would need to confer with Atty. Kalny; Approve of the job description for a Limited Term Position for a Recreation Intern for the Park & Rec dept., which has been budgeted for in the 2011 budget.
Moved by Wittkopf seconded by Schreiber to approve of the Consent Agenda as presented except for pulling item “g”.
Motion carried upon electronically recorded vote. 8 ayes

g. Discussion on approving contract with Mystic Fireworks, Inc., Five Star Fireworks for
the 2011 4th of July display at a cost of $5,000; Schreiber asked if we went out for
bids for the fireworks display…$5,000 is a lot of money for a half hour of fireworks;
Mayor stated based on last year’s display, everyone was pleased; Maas agreed, was
a nice display; Schreiber stated people questioned him on the costs;
Moved by Jim Stiloski seconded by Doeren to approve of contract with Mystic
Fireworks, Inc., Five Star Fireworks for the 2011 4th of July display at a cost of
$5,000.
Motion carried upon electronically recorded vote. 6 ayes 2 no: Schreiber and Joe Stiloski and 2 excused: Reed and Berth

9. Discussion/action on:
a. Recommendation from Oconto Utility Commission from Mead & Hunt regarding water system analysis. Mayor stated we need to cross the river on the western border of city…asked for engineer study from by-pass West for any other options on river crossing; Atty. Calvert stated he questioned condemnation and recommendation from Utility to purchase lot for $65,000; Schreiber as a member of Utility also agreed that lot is too expensive; Wittkopf questioned what city would have to do…did this issue go out for bid;

Moved by Jim Stiloski seconded by Doeren to approve of the amendment on the recommendation from Oconto Utility Commission to authorize Mead & Hunt to do the water system analysis for an amount not to exceed $6,300.00.

Discussion. Jim Stiloski stated this just hit the council…hasn’t heard anything about this before now; how many dead-in lines do we have in the city…doesn’t like proposal as it states “estimate of $6,300”; Zahn questioned is the $6,300…would that be the entire cost? Jim Stiloski referencing Mead & Hunt proposal, states DNR could or could not meet the requirements; Belongia stated this has been on the capital project listing for a few years; Mayor agreed; Schreiber stated Mead & Hunt state we “may” need this study…having the water analysis will determine; Schreiber stated we’ve tried getting grants to help fund this, either we’re too small…; Joe Stiloski questioned what is the DNR looking at pressure in the hydrants…this is a fire dept issue; Jack Mlnarik stated this is Public Works issue…to do hydrants; Schreiber stated anything through the utility is crossed checked etc through the DNR…governed almost completely by the DNR; Young questioned if we are working on Hwy 22/Mott? Mayor stated this will get us across the river;

Moved by Wittkopf seconded by Zahn to amend the motion not to exceed $6,300 for study.
Motion carried upon electronically recorded vote. 7 ayes 1 no Joe Stiloski

Jim Stiloski questioned what is the total of the project…would like to see total from Utility Commission before we vote; Maas stated the Utility Commission has been working on this for sometime; Schreiber stated Robert J. Mommaerts informed the Utility he questioned the DNR on the July deadline…was told as long as we are getting it accomplished…or DNR can choose to levy a fine against us; Jim Stiloski questioned if we have any other bids? Atty. Calvert stated the reason for the study…at very end of line of Mott Street, that’s the question, could we cross the river anywhere else…after the study we will get a report with the best route to cross; Mayor stated the study may show we don’t need to go through someone’s yard…etc…potentially costs savings…directed Bob Mommaerts to send the DNR a letter telling them we’re retaining an engineering firm for this study; Jim Stiloski stated we paid $10,000 for a study last year and didn’t do anything with it…can’t this be done in house? Mayor stated we have to prove within a reasonable doubt the costs savings…hoping to alleviate condemnation; Schreiber stated Mead & Hunt did a previous study, so they can compare this work to that study, and they are an independent firm; Jim Stiloski questioned…are we building a case against condemnation? Atty. Calvert stated yes.

Vote on amendment.
Motion carried upon electronically recorded vote. 7 ayes 1 no Joe Stiloski

b. Moved by Jim Stiloski seconded by Maas to suspend the rules regarding adoption of
ordinances.
Motion carried upon electronically recorded vote. 8 ayes

c. Moved by Jim Stiloski seconded by Maas to adopt under suspension of the rules the
ordinance amending the city attorney position.
Motion carried upon electronically recorded vote. 7 ayes 1 no Joe Stiloski

d. Moved by Maas seconded by Jim Stiloski to adopt under suspension of the rules the
ordinance amending the salary ordinance regarding the city attorney position.
Motion carried upon electronically recorded vote. 7 ayes 1 no Joe Stiloski

e. Moved by Maas seconded by Jim Stiloski to not have a Com of the Whole on
4/5/2011 as this is the Spring Election; the Regular Council meeting on 4/12/2011 and the Reorganizational meeting on 4/19/2011.
Motion carried upon electronically recorded vote. 8 ayes

10. Moved by Zahn seconded by Jim Stiloski to adjourn. M/C
Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.

Minutes submitted by
Linda M. Belongia
Administrator