Common Council - Regular Meeting

Okay, I'd like to call Reverend Jane Gayler from Markwart to give an invocation tonight. The button. Thank you. Good evening. Um, I share some words of scripture from the book of Philippians, chapter 4. It says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. And finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. I offer these words from the book of Philippians. As you go about your work this night, may God and uh the peace of God be with each and every one of you. And may you seek the things that are honorable, just, pure, pleasing to God, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. Amen.

Amen. Thank you, Pastor Jane. Recording in progress. Okay. I'd like to call tonight's special common council meeting on Monday, April 6th to order at 7:02 p.m. Megan, can you please take the role? Davis, here. Lampy here. Berg here. Barts here. Blanky. Smith here. Arnett here. Wetszel here. Moldenhower here. Okay. Can you please stand for the pledge of allegiance?

I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. First on the agenda, minutes of council meeting held on Tuesday, March 17th. I'd move for the adoption of our March 17th minutes. Okay. Motion by Smith, second by Berg. Okay. All those in favor say I. I.

Opposed. Thank you. Next, we have comments and suggestions from citizens present. You may wish to speak to the council. Please uh state your name and address. You have up to three minutes. You're allowed to only speak once per meeting. Okay. Seeing none, we'll move on to reports. We have the parks, recreation, forestry minutes from February 16th, senior center advisory board minutes from February 17th, finance committee minutes from March 9th, airport minutes from March 11th, RDA minutes from March 18th, public works minutes from March 24th, downtown reconstruction task force minutes from March 24th, public safety and welfare minutes from April 1st.

Mayor, Mr. B, go ahead. Did you uh did you mention the Main Street downtown reconstruction task force? I I did. Yes, sir.

Yeah. I I I I appreciate the minutes when they come to us and I I do look at that um in a in a good way because I I do business downtown and I know the importance like we all are of of our reconstruction being done uh in the best way possible. Uh, I I'm just asking the question. Um, an owner's rep is something when I was our school board president, we ended up uh hiring an owner's rep that was to oversee uh the building of the new high school. And that really was very efficient in the way that it actually helped to uh direct concerns, questions to an identified person. I know we've got uh our Andrew Byer. Uh, have we gotten to that point or is there any maybe I know Tony's on there and I think we have one other maybe council member, but is that is that type of a topic being brought up or is there anything where they might consider the equivalent of an owner's rep to actually help be a contact person during that reconstruction?

So, those are two different things. One is regarding oversight of a project. The other is a point of contact. Uh, I'll speak to the project oversight and differentiate the city in its current staffing from your and I experience in schoolboard because the city is currently staffed. We have a full-time project manager within the public works department and is that individual's job numbers 1, two, and three when this project is going on. So, they'll be very focused on that. But the public works director did also mention that should they think they need additional ser uh assistance to that project manager then they will go ahead and pursue that.

Uh Tony because you're there at the meetings I I know that you're a good person to make the comments to and to have that discussion um move in the right direction. But uh everything I hear in our way of trying to prevent is to have somehow uh an identified person that people can go to with concerns during the project and you're saying that our project manager. So I think there's two in terms of a point of contact I'll describe two different situations. one when you're in the midst of the project and you have questions about what's actually going on then of course the public the public works project manager would be that person to contact

now here we are several years out if you have questions about what the discussion is about potentially rerouting traffic or parking or those kinds of things then really I would encourage people if if nothing else they can of course reach out to the public works department at any time and we'll take those questions But the downtown reconstruction task force is exactly the place at this point in time to be bringing those kinds of questions and concerns. Great. Thank you.

Okay. Move on. Next agenda item then uh communication recommendations for our department monthly report of February 2026. Apologize. I'm okay. Under new business, review and take action. Committee appointments.

Mr. Smith, recommendation. Mr. Smith, I'd move for the approval of your appointment to the library board. Okay. Motion by Smith. A second by Berg then. Okay. Okay. Megan Smith. Hi. Arnett. Hi. Wetzel. Hi. Moldenhower. Hi Davis. Hi Lampy. Hi Berg. Hi Barts. Hi. Motion carried.

Okay. Thank you. Next. Convene a close session per statute 19.85 to confer with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation which it is or is likely to become involved. Claim of C. Hamlin. No, it's no move. Okay. Motion by Lampy. I'll second. It's like my Davis. Okay.

questions. Okay. Next, under ordinances, we have ordinance 26-08, ordinance to create section 80-8, lift assist services and amend section 410-13, sale and discharge of fireworks of the city of Watertown. General general ordinances sponsored by Alder Davis and the public safety and welfare committee on its second reading. I'll move for ordinance 26-08. Okay, Miss Davis. Second by Lampy. Okay. Questions, comments on it. Mr. Berg.

Yeah, if the chief maybe can make make some comment to help. Uh I know we've had uh some of this discussion already, but I know a few people that are um that were previously in the fire department. I and and I I think I understood that there may have been in the past some degree of of an abuse or misuse of that technique involving our fire department in a way that um is this meant to regulate and maybe restrict or define that more closely so that we don't have uh that potential misuse again or more.

Yes. So we have a lot of lift assist that we do in the community and we're totally fine helping the citizens and folks as we need to. This is just defining it a little bit further as to um the abuse and stuff, the potential there. It's giving us a tool that we can have if that happens. So, I like also the the language that you have in there where you're you're actually uh stating that the uh the cost to the extent there is going to be an expense where we're involved and it's justified that that cost is uh taken on by the by the care facility. Correct. Yeah. And that that in itself should help uh deter and and discourage uh misuse.

It's our hope intentions. I think the language but 295 lift assist calls uh last year is a a decent number and and in doing that what you're telling us is that you're you're taking your your uh firefighters away from other areas where they may be needed to a higher degree.

Correct. I mean, they'll they'll hurry up on that incident and respond to an emergency, but just the fire on West Main uh earlier this week. Um the engine was out of lift assist and finishing up there and they were delayed by a few minutes because they were helping somebody um in a facility. So, and our ambulance was already coming back from another call. So, we were already on double runs at that time. Well, with that change, uh, we should be able to get a new baseline next year to see how that change in language has an effect of changing the the number.

Yeah, I'm not expecting to see a huge drop. It's just a tool for when we are getting used in a way that maybe we shouldn't be. Um, we still do help the general public and we spoke at it at public safety and welfare that um, the majority of the residents don't call us more than once or twice a year. Uh, so those the residential lift assists are still going to be a thing and we're happy to do that of course. Right. So, and thanks for clarifying. Yep. Thank you. Thank you, Chief.

Okay. Davis. Hi, Lampy. Hi, Berg. Hi, Barts. Hi, Smith. Hi, Arnett. Hi, Wetzel. I Moldenhower. Motion carried. Okay. Thank you. Next. Ordinance 26-10. Ordinance to amend section 768 budget system and repeal section 7610 service charge for tax exempted residences of the city of Watertown general ordinances sponsored by myself and the finance committee. On its second reading, Mr. Smith.

I would move for the adoption of proposed ordinance 26-10 on its second reading. Okay. Motion by Smith. Second by Barts. I say I'm going to focus on you and Wetzel tonight. Okay. All right. Questions, comments on B. Okay. Megan Smith. Hi. Arnett. Hi. Butel. Hi Moldenhower. Hi Davis. Hi Lampy. Hi Berg. Hi Barts. Hi. Motion carried.

Okay. Thank you. Next. Uh C. Ordinance 26-11. Ordinance to amend sections 446-13, 446-17, 4557-6, 457-6, sorry, 4557-6A, 4557-6B, 457-6D, 457-6F, 457-11B, 457-12D, 457-17 A, 457-27E, and 484-5B of for the city of Watertown. General ordinances sponsored by Alderette and the public works commission on second reading. I think I said that right.

Mr. Mayor, I'll move for second reading. Motion by Arnette. I want to get Mr. Wetzel. Thank you. Okay. Questions, comments on that. Okay. Megan Arnett. Hi. Wetszel. Hi Moldenhower. Hi Davis. Hi Lampy. Hi Berg. Hi BS. Hi Smith. Hi. Motion carried.

Okay. Next D ordinance 26-12 ordinance to repeal 24-25 24-26 24-27 of city water general ordinances sponsored by Alder Lampy and the park and recreation forestry commission. on his first reading. Mr. Wetzel. Yes. Motion by Wetzel. Motion. Second by Barts. Go ahead. Okay. Questions, comments on this ordinance. Mr. Lampy. Thank you,

Mayor. I I'll just point out that this basically is just an ordinance clarification and allows us to achieve with the ordinance what we've already decided to do in previous uh council meetings. Thank you, Mr. Lampy. Okay, Megan Wzel, hi Moldenhower. Hi Davis. Hi Lampy. Hi Berg. Hi Barts. Hi Smith. I Arnett I motion carried. Thank you.

Okay. Next under resolutions we have exhibit 9842 resolution to approve Dodge County grant agreement sponsored by myself and the finance committee.

Okay. Motion by Wetszel. Okay. Mr. Lampy. Second by Lampy. Okay. Questions on that? Mr. Lampy, go ahead. Is this still the the only major dispersement from this fund out of Dodge County? It is for the 100 the full amount, I believe. Right. Okay. A second. Yeah, that's a Yeah, pays for about half the road, I believe. Okay.

The road, I believe, is about 200. I mean, roughly 200,000. So, okay. Great. Wel, hi. Moldenhower. Hi, Davis. Hi, Bampy. Hi, Berg. I Barts, hi Smith. Hi, Arnett. I motion carried. Okay. Thank you. Next. Exhibit 9843, resolution to order fire department engine capital replacements sponsored by myself and the finance committee.

Okay. Motion by Wetzel. Second. Second by Barts. Thank you. Okay. Questions, comments on the fire engine? Mr. B? Go ahead.

Yeah. Again, I we've had some of that discussion. I just want to get uh clarity. The the purchase is going to be down the road a decent amount of time, but we are obligating oursel to that particular type of fire um department apparatus. Uh we're identifying the the company that we're going to go with. Yeah. And how do we I mean on that large of a purchase, how do we um end up going with one versus another company? what what becomes the biggest factors in your in your decision on that?

Uh they're from Sourcewell, so that's the the financial part of it. Um a lot of the work that goes into it is we set up a committee and they go to different vendors. Um most of them are all under the major umbrella anyway. And then they look at the build type quality and the type of material and the construction of it. Um, and then we are also looking at our fleet and where we're trying to go with consistency in our fleet as well. So, those are there's a variety of factors that we operationally take into consideration of what our needs are as a department and then what they're able to provide as a as a company. And this price we're agreeing to now, this is what we're going to pay at a later time.

Well, that's the price of the the engine itself. Um, and then when it comes to doing the capital budgeting process, we would follow that. Um, and if we needed $100,000 more or whatever to do the outfitting and and that type of thing. I saw there's a larger amount that we've got earmarked for it. Yep. And that's why the same thing with the ladder truck. Thanks, Mr. Lampy. Go ahead. Thank you, Eric. Just just to add on to uh um the older to my left can or uh comments here. Uh we do have an allocation in 2029 for 1.6 million.

And so that leaves headroom with the purchase that you see in this resolution plus some additional capital purchases should we need them in that year. Okay. All right, Wetzel. Hi Moldenhower. Hi Davis. Hi Lampy. Hi Berg. Hi Barts. Hi Smith. Hi Arnett. I motion carried.

Okay. Thank you. Next. C. Exhibit 9844 award 2026 sidewalk repair program contract numbers A through 26 base bids A and B to Renhawk Construction Company Incorporated for $49,4 $49,400.30 sponsored by Alderette and the public works commission. Okay. Motion by Wetszel. Oh, second by Barts. Okay. Thank you. questions, comments on the sidewalks. Okay. Wetzel. Hi. Moldenhower. Hi. Davis. Hi.

Lampy. Hi. Berg. I Berts. I Smith. I. Arnett. I. Motion carried. Thank you. Next. Exhibit 9845. Approved lease agreement between Tim Milky and city of Watertown for use of a portion of 1514 at Conwalk Avenue. Sponsored by myself and the finance committee. Motion by Wetszel. Second by Barts. Questions, comments on that. Okay. Wetzel. Hi. Moldenhower. Hi Davis. Hi Mampy. Hi Burke. I Berts. Hi Smith.

Hi Arnett. I motion carried. Okay. Thank you. Next. Exhibit 9846. Urban non-point source and storm water grant funding application for street sweeper. Sponsored by myself and the finance committee. Motion. Motion by Barts. Sign by Wetszel. Okay. Questions, comments on E. Okay. Megan Berts. Hi Smith. Hi Arnett. Hi Wetzel. Hi Moldenhower. Hi Davis. Hi Lampy. Hi Berg. Hi.

Motion carried. Okay. Thank you. Exhibit 9847 support community project funding for airport runway reconstruction extension project sponsored by myself and the finance committee. Adoption. Motion by Berg, second by Mullenhower.

Okay. Questions, comments on F. Okay. Berg, I Barts, hi Smith. Hi, Arnett. Hi, Wetzel. Hi, Moldenhower. Hi, Davis. Hi, Lampy. I motion carried. Thank you. Next G exhibit 9848 resolution for city of Watertown water systems authorization authoriz authorizing transfer of excess water utility funds sponsored by Alderette and the public works commission. I'll move for 9848. Okay. Motion by Wetzel, second by Barts. Okay. Questions, comments on GE. Mr. Mayor.

Yes, sir.

Just make a couple brief comments on this. So, quick history. Under President Biden's administration, a mandate was put in requiring removal of lead service lines in communities. There were federal dollars and state dollars that were put into play. In the first round of these removals in the city of Watertown, all of it was covered by those state and federal dollars. So there was no cost to the homeowner to have that lead line, that lead service line replaced. When the second round of this came around, the state did not put the same money into it and there was a gap left when it came before public works commission. We're looking at literally I think almost 600 homeowners that would be affected and facing some portion of a cost. Could be 25% of a bill. could be 50% of a bill, which is going to run you one anywhere from$1 to $3,000 potentially. The public works commission did not like that at all. We thought that everyone should be treated fairly and it shouldn't be a case of some owners get it fully paid and some have to pay out of their own pocket. At which point I'd like to highlight the effort of our water systems manager Pete Hartz who took the direction of the commission and just he he pursued it. He was not he ran into obstacles. I'll tell you there were obstacles at state level and he did not accept no as an answer. He worked with external counsel. He worked with internal counsel. He worked with the finance director to find a way to make sure that all homeowners in the city are being treated equally. So, I just want to highlight it's his determination that made this possible, this solution possible. And the last thing I'd like to add is for this latest round, and you've seen

the crews going around the city replacing those lines, the state required us to send out a letter in December that highlighted that potential cost. Even though they knew we were pursuing a way to cover it, they required us to send those letters out. And so there were homeowners that did receive a letter saying they could be facing a portion of that cost. Assuming council moves forward with this action this evening, that will alleviate that concern and those homeowners will not be facing a cost at all.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Arnette. Mr. Bird. Yeah, I appreciate uh Alder person Arnett's u insight and uh the leadership within that committee and with our our excellent water manager on on that uh goal and that u wanting to attain that that approach on on payment. Uh that is admirable and it's the right approach. So nice job on that. But I I see that again we're um our our manager, city manager is transferring a,225,000 uh to make to be available for helping with the the points that we've just heard from our our alter person or our net. But is there any portion of that 1,255,000 that's going to come back as a reimbursement uh to the utility at any point because of grants or other things that we know that might still be pending? Uh, no.

No, it won't be. So, we're going to absorb we're going to absorb all that cost right there. That 1,225 255,000 will be used up. It will be a loss from the water utility. Yeah. Yes. To pay the um the grant financial assistance as a grant to the homeowner. Okay. about an average of 2,000 per house roughly. Uh the total cost to date for the over 300 close to 400 that have been completed is um running around 4,500 to 4,700 of service 4,000.

And then there's a portion of that that depending on where they're located could be 25% to the homeowner, 50% of the homeowner, or none to the homeowner. It all depends on where they are. And this will again will cover for all of that. Yeah. So, so it's hard to say in average because there's three different levels. But, but just as a followup um Mr. Mayor, in in uh in the approach we're taking and depleting some of our reserves, is that going to uh lead us to u maybe prematurely have to uh look at some kind of an adjustment again in a rate that would actually reimburse back to the utility? We are not allowed to recover that through a rate increase. We're not. We are not

I have a little to add on that. We actually did reach out to PSC to get their input to make sure that there wouldn't be any necessary approvals before we take this a this action or proposed action and they said no you don't need th those um approvals at this time. The PSC will look at the city's and the utilities financial position at the next simplified rate case which is in 2030 I believe. 2030 I believe you're correct. We have a backtoback planned as part of our last rate increase at the direction of the public works commission simplified and then another simplified.

Very good. And if at that point in time PSC who who will look at this this is it's uncommon for a utility to be in a financial position where they can offer this to um to their citizens. So this hasn't been done before. I would say that is because our utility h has done an excellent job at coming up with the solution and being in the financial position to do this. It would not be what PSC has said. It would not be the rateayers who have to make up the difference. It would be the city who would at what amount. We don't know. We don't have a crystal ball. The city would have to restore the utility to uh what is a good financial position in PSC size. I think that's all very reassuring to the to the people in our community, the taxpayers, that they are having this handled in a very admirable way, largely because of our manager and the commission. Thank you.

Thank you, Pete. Okay, go ahead. Megan Wetzel. Hi, Moldenhower. Hi, Davis. Hi Lampy. Hi Berg. Hi Barts. Hi Smith. Hi Arnett. I motion carried.

Okay. Next. H. Exhibit 9849 resolution for city of Watertown water systems authorizing acceptance of excess water utility funds sponsored by myself and the finance committee. Right. Mr. Wetszel. Walsh by Wetzel. Second by Barts. Okay. Same thing here. Questions, comments, just the companion piece. Yes. Go hand in hand. Transfer of the others to offer the acceptance by the general fund. Yep. Okay. Megan Wzel. Hi. Moldenhower. Hi Davis. Hi Lampy. Hi Berg. Hi

Barts. Hi Smith. Hi Arnett. Hi. Motion carried. Okay. Last I, exhibit 9850, resolution to enter into an addendum to the memorand memorandum of understanding between the city of Watertown and Watertown Main Street Program sponsored by myself and the finance committee. Mr. Barts. Motion to approve resolution 9850.

Motion by Barts, signed by Wetszel. Okay, Mr. Barts, go ahead. Yeah, as a member of the town square commission for as long as it lasted. I know how much work it takes to put on uh these concerts. So, I wanted to thank uh Stephanie Brewer and the Main Street program for stepping up and uh filling the void here. So, it's really appreciate it. I did have a couple follow-up questions to that though. Um, in the addendum under compensation, the city shall pay WMSP an additional $2,000 per concert organized under this addendum. Is that also from the is that payment going to be from the town square fund? Future fund save fund the same place and that was I looked at the end of the year that was right around 169,000. Okay. Right.

So, we're in pretty good shape there. Yeah.

Um I had a further question on uh under item five under insurance. Um there are a number of folks involved in making a concert successful. Um we have a number of vendors. We have nonprofits. Uh, I'm assuming um based on the wording in this addendum though that this is specific to the Main Street program or is it extended to anyone working the concert? I guess is my question. I can answer. These would be we would consider these city sponsored events. So the coverage would extend I guess in so much that the main street program is operating as their own entity. Insurance coverage won't necessarily extend there but anything associated with these city sponsored events. Yes, insurance would be would be provided and this would be covered.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. Megan Berts. Hi Smith. Hi Arnett. Hi Wetzel. Hi Moldenhower. Hi Davis. Hi Lampy. Hi Burke. Hi. Motion carried.

Okay. Next we have uh comments and suggestions from citizens present. I have a motion to speak. Agenda items may come up to the front for up to three minutes. Okay, seeing none, I move on to a German, but I'll say uh Mr. Wel and Mr. Barts, thank you for your service. We'll see you here in a couple weeks. Okay. All right. Okay. I'll look for a motion to adjurnn. Motion by Wetszel, second by Barts.

Okay. All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Okay. Thank you. We're journed. It is 7:39 p.m.