PRESENT: Chairman Barr, Ald. Rackow, Phillips, Nealis, and Pazdernik

ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Wescott; City Attorney Molepske; Clerk Zdroik; Admin. Asst. Marciniak; Directors Van Alstine, Gardner; Schrader; Assessor Kuehn; Administrator Disher; Capt. Daubert; Ald. Walther; Kedrowski, Sevenich, Molski, Moore; Finance Clerk Freeberg; Susan Kampmeier (Stevens Point Journal); Scott Krueger (WIZD); Larry Lee; Reid Rocheleau

ITEM #1 - ASSESSOR’S REPORT

Motion made by Ald. Phillips, seconded by Ald. Pazdernik to approve the report of the Assessor and place it on file.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

Assessor Kuehn reported that their office has completed a year long study in which they have analyzed the volume of documents that their office handles every day from the Register of Deeds office. They handled 13,000 documents in a twelve month time frame. The documents that were handled contain a wide variety of items. Real Estate transfers from ownership from one person to another amounted to 731. She stated that some of the other things that need to be kept track of are establishing life estates, changing of corporate names, recording powers of attorneys and easements. These are all things that have to be dealt with as they pertain to property in the City of Stevens Point. She stated that she hoped that everyone would get a sense that their office deals with much more than establishing assessments and keeping track of owners and addresses. The information was given to the committee to give them a better understanding of the wide variety of items that their office deals with.

Ald. Rackow questioned whether this study showed an increase or decrease in the workload.

Assessor Kuehn replied this was the first year of the study and it will be continued, but it will be awhile before that determination can be made. She stated that it is an active area and people are getting more knowledgeable about the advantages of putting properties into trusts and the advantages of deeding the property to a family member and setting up life estates. Although, her belief is that the activity is on the increase.

ITEM #2 - APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF CLAIMS

Motion made by Ald. Rackow, seconded by Ald. Nealis to approve the payment of claims in the amount of $513,398.87.

The claims were discussed.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

ITEM #3 - ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO WISCONSIN STATE STATUTE 19.85 (1)(e) FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY AT 2424 BUSH STREET (APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES)

Motion made by Ald. Rackow, seconded by Ald. Phillips to adjourn into closed session at
6:50 p.m.

Roll Call: Ayes: Chairman Barr, Ald. Rackow, Phillips, Nealis, and Pazdernik
Nays: None Motion carried.

ITEM #4 - RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION FOR POSSIBLE ACTION ON CLOSED SESSION

Motion made by Ald. Phillips, seconded by Ald. Rackow to reconvene into open session at
7:13 p.m.

Roll Call: Ayes: Chairman Barr, Ald. Rackow, Phillips, Nealis, and Pazdernik
Nays: None Motion carried.

Motion made by Ald. Pazdernik, seconded by Chairman Barr to authorize the City Attorney and Comptroller/Treasurer to pursue negotiations for the acquisition of the property located at 2424 Bush Street.

Ald. Nealis questioned if the property next door that the City purchased was being rented out yet.

Director Schrader replied not yet, they have been working on it and they are currently in the process of working with someone to rent it out.

Ald. Nealis stated that he is not in favor of this, but if it does go through he would like to see it rented out to defer some of the costs.

Larry Lee, owner of property at 2424 Bush Street, stated that he learned this past weekend of another option. He stated that Cliff, who used to own the bait shop and has some rental properties in the area, was looking at their house with the possibility of purchasing it and moving it.

Ald. Rackow commented that when the City purchases a property it takes it off the tax roll but if it is rented out, that may more than offset the loss of taxes.

Ayes: Chairman Barr, Ald. Rackow and Pazdernik Nays: Ald. Nealis and Phillips
Motion carried.

Adjournment at 7:15 p.m.

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