Com of the Whole Minutes

Minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 pursuant to notice duly given.

1. Meeting called to order at 6 p.m. by Mayor Nerenhausen.
2. Roll call: Mayor Nerenhausen, Ed Young, John Wittkopf, Al Schreiber, Joe Stiloski, Dick Doeren, Tom Fulton, Jim Stiloski, Jack Maas and Atty. Mraz. Excused: Marlene Zahn. Linda Belongia Administrator and as recording secretary also present.
3. Moved by Schreiber seconded by Doeren to approve of the agenda as presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 8 ayes 1 excused
4. Public appearances/correspondence: Minutes, league bulletins and newsletter from insurance company;
5. Discussion/recommendation on:

a. Recommendation from Finance on proposed 2010 budget and scheduling of the public hearing on the same; Schreiber questioned what
the bottom line mill rate will be as proposed; Belongia stated the assessor
provided the 2009 assessed value today and with the budget as proposed
the city mill rate would be $7.36; overall the mill rate would be $23.30;
estimating the school tax credit of $1.71 would equate to a $21.59 mill
rate; 2009 was $20.99; Wittkopf stated some cuts could still be done to get
it down like last year…could eliminate disc golf; Maas stated the
department heads did an excellent job on proposed budget…can cut
services, but what services…infrastructure has to be kept up …cost of
doing business increases…we do not have the tax base growth that
the county has…their tax base is growing in the southern and northern
parts of the county….the school district has a broader area to draw from
as well; Maas stated he feels it’s a good budget, each department has
done their share; Maas stated we could go through the budget again,
maybe find a few things to cut….but feels we should take the budget as
proposed; Wittkopf questioned the overall budget numbers; Maas stated
an estimate has been included for union contract negotiations…that is an
unknown at this time; Fulton stated he went on record at the finance
meeting that he takes no pleasure in increasing the mill rate, but agrees
with the finance chairperson, the budget has been scrutinized…council
had an opportunity to develop property and didn’t….we need to keep
Oconto financially viable this is the reason Fulton stated he is in favor of
the proposed budget;
Moved by Maas seconded by Schreiber to schedule the public hearing on
the proposed 2010 budget Tuesday, December 1st, 2009.
Motion carried upon electronically recorded vote.
6 ayes: Young, Wittkopf, Schreiber, Doeren, Fulton and Maas.
2 no: Joe Stiloski and Jim Stiloski. Excused: Zahn

b. Discussion on recommendation from Finance to proceed with borrowing for capital projects to consist of $300,000 for renovations to the public
works building; $750,000 for Cook Avenue from Evergreen to Logtown
and Van Dyke Street from Cook Avenue to Hwy 41; and one new squad
car estimated at $24,000; Jim Stiloski questioned what is the city paying
on interest and principal…maybe we should build up our general fund and
pay cash for things; Belongia stated she will bring provide an analysis of
the city’s debt; Maas stated following the advice of the auditor we are
spreading out our capital projects by borrowing and paying for them over
time; Jim Stiloski stated maybe we should stop spending; Schreiber
questioned what the proposed financing would be; Belongia explained the
issue we can call in and then adding to for the proposed capital projects;
the issue that is callable is at a 4% interest rate; refinancing that and
borrowing for the capital projects the interest rate starts at 2.5% and then
by 2019 we would be at 3.9%; no additional funds would be needed to
meet the 2010 debt payments even if we borrow the additional, we have
enough budgeted; Wittkopf questioned work on Cook Avenue; Mayor
stated nothing will be done on Cook from the intersection by McDonald’s
up to Evergreen; no decision has been made on that area; work would be
from Evergreen to Logtown; under the jurisdictional transfer money the
DOT is giving us approx $100,000 to make Cook Avenue our truck route;
Mayor stated we will have some assessments that will be levied in this
area which will help reduce overall costs; Jim Stiloski questioned if the
property owners have been notified of this project and impact of special
assessments? Belongia stated a letter will go out to all affected property
owners once the design and plans have been completed; Jim Stiloski
stated in past approx 8 years ago under Mayor Bralick we budgeted and
had a squad car program…what happened to this? Maas stated we were
under a leasing program…and then with budgets items were cut…now will
be allowing for one new squad car with this borrowing;
Moved by Maas seconded by Doeren to recommend to Council to proceed
with borrowing for the renovations to the public works building estimated
at $300,000; Cook Avenue from Evergreen to Logtown and Van Dyke
from Cook Avenue to Hwy 41 estimated at $750,000 and one new squad
car estimated at $24,000.
Motion carried upon electronically recorded vote.
6 ayes: Young, Wittkopf, Schreiber, Doeren, Fulton and Maas.
2 no: Joe Stiloski and Jim Stiloski. Excused: Zahn


c. Finance took no action on the tax exempt properties at this time.

d. Moved by Doeren seconded by Fulton to accept recommendation from Finance and recommend to Council approval of the listing of accounts
payables for $194,342.82; payroll for $117,549.42 and financial reports as
presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 8 ayes 1 excused

e. Moved by Wittkopf seconded by Maas to accept recommendation from
Board of Public Works and approve of proceeding with the procedure for
levying of special assessments for the property at 710 Fifth Street, Oconto, WI.
Schreiber questioned if this is a hook up charge like the utility to be paid
when and if something is built on the property; Belongia stated this is the
street construction portion of the work that was done; needs to go through
the public hearing and levying of an assessment; Young stated this issue
has already been to a public hearing and was denied; Atty. Mraz stated
the issue died because it could not get a second to the motion; Young
questioned how many years are we going back on this? Mayor stated
this will be for the street improvements that were put in; Discussion; Atty.
Mraz agreed the issue has been brought up before; Wittkopf briefly
updated the issue when it first came to the Bd of Public Works…stating
this isn’t against Randy Cain or Ed Young…if work is done in front of
your property we all would be assessed; Young questioned Atty. Mraz on
whether a piece of property can be assessed if it’s in wetlands? Atty.
Mraz stated if the property is buildable it can be assessed; Mayor stated
only a small portion of the property is in wetlands; Young stated the entire
piece is according to the Corps of Engineers and the DNR…has a map
showing this; Maas stated if this issue has questions, should it not go back
to the Bd of Public Works? Wittkopf called for a vote on the question; Jim
Stiloski complained that there are no minutes from the Bd of Public Works
in the packets;
Motion denied upon electronically recorded vote.
2 ayes: Wittkopf and Maas. 6 no: Young, Schreiber, Joe Stiloski, Doeren, Fulton and Jim Stiloski. Excused: Zahn

f. Discussion on amendment on Offer to Purchase from Keystone Development. Wittkopf questioned how long do we wait and hold up
selling this property to other developers? Maas stated the amendment is
asking for an extension to May 2010; Mayor stated they are waiting to
hear on the tax credits; Jim Stiloski stated Keystone Development is a
reputable company, he researched them on the internet;
Moved by Fulton seconded by Doeren to recommend to Council to approve of the amendment on the Offer to Purchase from Keystone
Development.
Motion carried upon electronically recorded vote.
8 ayes: Young, Wittkopf, Schreiber, Joe Stiloski, Doeren, Fulton, Jim Stiloski and Maas. Excused: Zahn

g. Moved by Fulton seconded by Jim Stiloski to recommend to Council to accept resignation from Lloyd Heier as alderperson for Wards 1 & 2
effective 10/19/09.
Motion carried upon electronically recorded vote.
8 ayes: Young, Wittkopf, Schreiber, Joe Stiloski, Doeren, Fulton, Jim Stiloski and Maas. Excused: Zahn

h. Moved by Schreiber seconded by Joe Stiloski to recommend to Council approval of an operators license for Jonie Van Hecke and a Temp Class B
for the Holy Trinity annual auction 11/14/09.
Motion carried upon electronically recorded vote.
8 ayes: Young, Wittkopf, Schreiber, Joe Stiloski, Doeren, Fulton, Jim Stiloski and Maas. Excused: Zahn

6. Next Regular Council meeting, Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 6 p.m.
7. Moved by Schreiber seconded by Young to adjourn. M/C
Meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.



Minutes submitted by
Linda M. Belongia,
Administrator