Common Council - Regular Meeting

every city city member here of the council. You have entrusted them with decisions for the care of the citizens of Watertown. Give them understanding tonight as they discuss various resolutions and ordinances. I also lift up all the city employees who will be recognized tonight. And I also thank you for the dedication they have displayed throughout their many years of work. Lord, also I pray that may stay warm throughout these cold days of January. Guide us also to serve one another. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Okay, I'd like to call tonight's common council meeting to order. Tuesday, January 20th to 7:09 p.m.

Okay, I'd like to call tonight's common council meeting to order on Tuesday, January 20th at 7:10 p.m. Davis, Ny, Berg, Barts, Blanky here. Smith here. Arnette Wetszel here. Moldenhower here.

Thank you. Can you please stand for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one for all. Thank you. First agenda, we have minutes from the council meeting held January January 6 of 2026. I'll move for adoption. Okay. Motion by Berg.

Second. Second by Blanky. Okay. Questions, comments on it. All those in favor say I. I. I.

Opposed. Thank you. Next, we have comments and suggestions from citizens present. Members of the public who wish to address the council must register their requests in writing before the meeting begins. Each individual who requests to address the council will be printed up to three minutes for their comments. Members wishing to speak during the public comment section may only speak once per meeting. Okay. Next on the agenda, we have public hearing. Amendments to chapter 550, zoning through amendments to sections 550-32C and 550-33C, 550-36 C and 550-37 C, and 550-56. Anybody wishing to speak may come up to the podium. State your name and address. Okay. Seeing none, I will then close the public hearing. Mr. Mayor, Mr. Blanky like me to make a motion to move item 8A employee recognitions to the next item on our agenda. Okay, we'll move 8A front of all items and seven. We have a motion by Blankie.

Second. Second by Arnette. Okay. All those in favor say I. I. I.

Opposed. Okay, thank you. We'll switch down to communication recommendations, employee recognitions. Megan Schweel, could you come up first, please? The city of Watertown Parks, Recre, and Forestry Department proudly recognizes Megan Schweel for 25 years of dedicated service. As an administrative assistant, Megan has been an invaluable presence within the department, providing exceptional support, institutional knowledge, and a welcoming first point of contact for staff and the public alike. Megan has such a strong bond with our senior community that when she leaves on vacation, we will hear about it all week about when she's going to return. So throughout her career, Megan's professionalism and commitment to to public service has helped ensure the department's daily operations run smoothly and efficiently. Her willingness to assist and problem solve and support countless programs, projects, and events has made a lasting impact on both the department and the community it serves. I truly appreciate Megan's humor and her light-hearted nature. She has always made me laugh with her quick comebacks and wittiness, and she definitely has a way of turning a bad day around. So, we extend our sincere gratitude to Megan for 25 years of dedication to the city of Watertown for the many ways that she has

contributed to the success of the parks, recreation, and forestry department. Her service is truly appreciated, and we congratulate you on a significant [applause] [clears throat]

Okay. I'd like to also honor Chad Butler, Italian chief for the fire station for 25 years of service and also Rachel Daringer that's been working for the police department for five years. I'd like to also honor Dave Brower for 25 years of service. Dave, can you come up please? Tonight we honor 25 years of dedicated service by Chief Dave Brower. Dave was first hired as an officer for the city of Watertown in January of 2001. He serves as a detective for 11 years and was promoted to sergeant in May of 2014. Chief Brower continued to advance in his leadership and became a captain in March of 2019. Finally, in November of 2023, Dave R became chief of police for the city of Watertown. We appreciate the 25 years of leadership, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to keeping our community safe. For over a quarter of a century, Chief Brower has seen this department and the community change and through it all has led with integrity, say, judgment, and respect for both the badge and the people it serves. His career has never been just a job. It's been a calling. Chief Brower is always willing to go the extra mile and help citizens with safety training. For years, he has helped both the schools and community entities with their run, hide, fight training. He will even let the entertaining Chief Brower out and place himself in comical videos and even enter a dunk tank. The impact of 25 years can't be measured only in policies or accomplishments on the trust built, the officers mentored, and the countless lives protected along

the way. Chief Prower, thank you for your service, your leadership, and your dedication. Your legacy will be felt forever. Please join me in recognizing and celebrating 25 years honorable service for Chief Dave. [applause] Okay, I'll move back on to reports. We have the housing authority minutes from November 20th, finance committee minutes from December 8th, airport minutes from December 10th, licensing board minutes from December 10th, parks, recreation, forestry minutes from December 15th, senior center advisory board minutes from December 16th, RDA minutes from December 17th, plan commission minutes from December 22nd, public safety and welfare minutes from January 7th, tourism minutes from January 8th, and site plan review minutes from January 12th. Okay, I'll finish off communication recommendations. So a reminder with the primary election the February 17th council may be moved

from Monday we moved to Monday February 16th so it'll be that Monday instead of that Tuesday next under new business review and take action committee appointments I'll make a motion that we approve your uh committee appointments you're recommending to us. Okay. Motion by Berg, second by Smith. Okay. Take a roll call on that. Berg. Hi. Barts. Hi. Blanky. Hi. Smith. Hi. Arnett. Hi.

Fzel Moldenhower. You're muted, Myin.

I'll come back to him. Davis. Hi, Lampy. Hi, Moldenhower. Hi. Motion carried. Thank you. Mayor, sorry, Mr. Lampas.

I I just have a question on the RDA. Uh, we have we have Ryan Wagner listed on his first term. He's I think he's been on there for a while. Is this a I can look at Miss Print. It might be because I I'm not sure if he finished finish a complete term first. Maybe it meant the first complete term would be coming up, but I can get that checked out. Okay, thank you. Were the others? Okay, I believe so. Some fourth make. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Lampy. Okay. Next, under miscellaneous business, we have paid invoices report from December 2025, payroll summary from December 10th through December 23rd of 2025, and cash and investments from December 31st of 2025. Questions on those? Let's move on. Okay. Next under licenses review and take action application for a change of agent from Watertown Liquor Depot LLC DBA liquor depot 1907 marketway unit C from Hayen Hizzle to Courtney Hobbs for the licensing year expiring June 30th 2026.

Motion to approve. Motion by Barts.

Second it. Secower. Okay. Questions, comments. Okay. Mr. Lampy, this this is probably a question for um someone on a on a different commission. Is this the recent um the fairly recent business that was put out on Church Street? It's the one over by Walmart area. I just mentioned there's there's some redacted information here. So, it's difficult to see where the business is. Okay. This one opened up year or two ago. Anybody else? Okay. All those in favor say I.

I. I. Opposed. Thank you. Okay. Next, we move on to resolutions. Exhibit 9817, resolution to approve the contract for county library services with Jefferson County, sponsored by Alderman Wetszel. No from the library board.

Okay. Motion by Wetszel. I'll second by Berg. Yes, Mr. Wel. Go ahead. Sure. Let's check. You want to come up and see if there any questions or give us a little background? It's basically housekeeping. So, this was for services rendered for TNRS, which are true non-residents. Um, basically people who don't have a library and use the Watertown Public Library based on the Jefferson County formula, which reimbures us 100% for those physical checkouts and also the digital checkouts.

Any questions for this check at all, Mr. B? Yeah. And Peggy, again, you think you just explained the formula, but I I see the the amount of 248,870 879, but so that's not a population number. It's not based on on this on the city of Watertown portion of u of that. It's a different formula. Yeah, it's purely based on circulation. Correct. And then the formula that the county works works through. Um also making sure that no libraries will um have more than a $5,000 cut to their budget so things they even it out. Yep.

So is that a steady incline increase or what what has it been like last year? For us this was an increase from last year about 20,000 but it was offset by a 20,000 and I believe it was 10,000 for this year and it was offset by a $10,000 less from Dodge County. Okay. Thank you. anybody else things up here. Okay, thank you. Okay, nothing else. Wetzel, Moldenhower. Hi, Davis. Hi, Lampy. Hi, Berg. Hi, Burks. Blanky. Hi, Smith.

Hi, Arnett. Hi. Motion carried. Okay. Thank you. Next. B. Exhibit 9818. Resolution to approve transit system adult fair increase effective February 1st, 2026, sponsored by myself and the finance committee. Mr. Smith. Mr. Mayor, I would move for the adoption of exhibit 9818. Okay. A motion by Smith. I'll second.

Second by Davis. Okay. Any questions on that? Just a comment. I it is a large increase. I went along with it uh to help with balancing the budget for transit. I know there's going to be some impact on the part of people on their affordability of of uh using the the Watertown transit. What I what I did mention in finance and what I think is still true is that the the reliability and the predictability of getting good quality service will be a huge offsetting factor that can help uh potentially affect in a positive way um you know a continuation of high wrership the the need is there. I know I I just I'm going to be curious how this does impact because uh a dollar is is a decent amount of increase and it it is for the largest portion of of writers that are going to be using that service. So time will tell uh and I'm just hoping that they continue the the improvements they're making on on the quality of their of the writership. Thank

you, Mr. B. Smith. Hi, Arnett. Hi, Wetzel. Moldenhower. Hi, Davis. Hi, Lampy. Berg, hi. Barts. Hi, Lanky. Hi. Motion carried.

Okay. Next under C, exhibit 9819, resolution to approve the side letter to the collective bargaining agreement between the city of Watertown and the Wisconsin Professional Police Association. sponsored by myself and the finance committee. Mr. Lampy, I would move to approve. Okay. Motion by Lampy. I'll second. Okay. Second by Davis. Questions, comments? I

Yes, Mr. B. I would uh again uh I would uh I appreciate the change in the amount of time that they're giving for these uh uh officers that are going to need to use their u their holiday uh vacation time u within a year period versus a shorter uh duration of extension of uh of three months uh that they would have otherwise had. I think that does make it easier to uh to satisfy their request and to not uh potentially impact on overtime unnecessarily by giving more latitude, more time to fit their their uh their benefit in in a way that will not uh adversely affect uh overtime more than than is needed otherwise. So I think it's a good decision to make the additional time.

Thank you, Mr. Bird. Okay, Burke. Hi, Burks. Hi, Linky. Hi, Smith. Arnett, hi. Wetzel, Moldenhower, I Davis. Motion carried. Okay, thank you. Next. D, exhibit 9820, resolution to approve the preliminary plat for gateway subdivision sponsored by myself and the planning commission. Mr. Mayor, Mr. Blankie. I'll move for exhibit 9820. Okay. Motion by Blanky. Second by Barts. Okay. Questions on that.

Blanky. Hi. Smith. Hi. Arnett. Hi. Wetzel. Moldenhower. Hi. Davis. Hi. Nami. Hi. Berg. Green. Barts. I motion carried. Okay, thank you. Next, exhibit 9821, resolution to approve sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, and 6.5 for addition to the city of Watertown emergency operations plan policy manual sponsored by Alder Davis and the public safety and welfare commission. Miss Davis, 9821. Okay. Motion by Davis.

I'll second it. Second by Mullenower. Okay. Questions on that?

Davis. Hi. Stampy. Hi. Berg. Hi. Bart. Hi. Blanky. Hi. Smith. Hi. Arnett. Hi. Wetszel. Moldenhower. I. Motion carried. Okay. Thank you. Next F, exhibit 9822, resolution to award tennis court resurfacing contract number 9-26 to Pablaki Paving Corporation for $184,795. Sponsored by Alder Marinette and the Public Works Commission, Mr. Mayor. Mr.

Okay. Motion by Arnette, [snorts] second by Wetzel. Thank you. Okay. questions on that one. Mr. B, just a reminder if I could, the insurance I I saw that was initially referenced as a way of helping with payment. Is that that that is going to be a part of uh what we need to pay for that 184,000. That is correct. Okay. And uh how does that compare alette in relation to the budget? I don't have it in front of me, but how are we doing in relation to that number?

It's below the funds that were set aside for this item about 20,000 I believe. M Yeah, Mr. Blankie, go ahead. I have the number written down from our public works meeting on that. $42,000 was from the insurance. We had 95,000 in our 2025 budget and 70,000 in the 2026 budget for the amount.

Hi Wetzel. Moldenhower. Hi Davis. Hi Lampy. Hi Berg. Hi BS. Hi Blanky. I Smith. Motion carried.

Okay. Thank you. Next. G exhibit 9823 resolution to enter into a memorandum of understanding between the city of Watertown and the Watertown Main Street program sponsored by myself and the finance committee. Mr. Smith. Mr. Mayor, I would move for the adoption of exhibit 9823. Okay. Motion by Smith, second by Lampy. Okay, questions on that.

Okay, Smith, Arnett. Hi, Wetzel. Moldenhower. Hi, Davis. Ny, hi Berg. Hi, Clarks. Hi, Lanky. Hi. Motion carried. Okay. Thank you. Next. H. Exhibit 9824, resolution to approve the collective bargain agreement with the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, Law Enforcement Employee Relations Division, Watertown Police Association, sponsored by myself and the Finance Committee. Okay. Motion by Wetszel. I'll second.

Second by Davis. Okay. Thank you. Questions on item H? Wel Moldenhower. Hi Davis. Hi Lampy. Hi Berg. Hi Parks. Hi Blanky. Hi Smith. Hi Arnett. Hi. Motion carried.

Okay. Thank you. That's the last resolution. So number 13 comments and suggestions from citizens present. Each individual request to address the council on agenda items Ms only will be permitted up to three minutes for their comments and must fill and fill out the sign-in sheet provided. Members wishing to speak during the public comment section may only speak once per meeting.

Okay. Take a Okay. Next, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. I would so move. Thanks, Byron. Okay. Motion by Molenhower, second by Lampy. Questions, comments on that? All those in favor say I. I. I. Thank you, Maria. Opposed. Okay. Thank you.