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

ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Wescott; Comptroller-Treasurer Schlice; City Attorney Molepske; Clerk Zdroik; Admin. Asst. Marciniak; Directors Van Alstine, Gardner; Schrader; Capt. Dowling; Ald. Sevenich, Moore, Sowieja, Filipiak; Paul Chronis (Stevens Point Journal); Gene Kemmeter (Portage County Gazette); Matt Mattano (WIZD); Mike Wimme (PCYOI), Jaime Klasinski (PCYOI); Peter Michelson, Reid Rocheleau

ITEM #1 - ASSESSOR’S REPORT

Motion made by Ald. Rackow, seconded by Ald. Phillips to approve the Assessor’s report and place it on file.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

ITEM #2 - CONSIDERATION OF CLAIM - ZODIAC INVESTMENTS/MIKE YOKERS

Comptroller-Treasurer Schlice stated that Sentry Insurance has recommended that the claim be denied.

Motion made by Ald. Molski, seconded by Ald. Phillips to deny the claim from Zodiac Investments/Mike Yokers.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

ITEM #3 - 1ST QUARTER ROOM TAX REPORT

Comptroller-Treasurer Schlice stated we are tracking according to schedule.

Motion made by Ald. Phillips, seconded by Ald. Rackow to accept the 1st quarter room tax report and place it on file.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

ITEM #4 -CONSIDERATION OF RENTAL OF PURCHASE OF 1540 ELK STREET

Comptroller-Treasurer Schlice stated that the Plan Commission did approve the purchase and the Finance Committee needs to be decided what the next move would be. The owner of the house has offered to rent the house to the City for $400.00 per month and then we would purchase it at some point when we had an actual plan on the table. It has been in some preliminary plans. Another option would be to get an offer to purchase or write up a right of first refusal for so much and he would agree not to rent or sell it, that would keep relocation fees down.

Ald. Molski questioned if the house was vacant now.

Peter Michelson, owner of property at 1540 Elk Street, stated that the house is not occupied. but there is furniture in the house that will be moved out within the next 45-60 days.

Motion made by Ald. Nealis, seconded by Ald. Rackow to purchase the property located at 1540 Elk Street in the amount of $60,000.

Ald. Rackow stated that it could be sold if decided it was not needed at a later time.

Ald. Phillips stated that he would like to see it rented from the property owner. There are three parcels of property that can be purchased for the parking lot. There are two to the southwest and two that are adjacent to one another on Elk and Water Street. It would be a waste of time if the Committee decides just to go on the southwest of those two parcels rather than adjacent on Elk and Water. Those are not approved and for $800, he thinks it would be worth just to wait a couple of months to find out what happens. It would be cheap insurance for a couple of months to see what pans out as far as parking.

Ald. Nealis stated that more is spent that way. A number of architects stated we would be leaning to go that way. We would end up paying rent and then buying the house, which would be more money.

Mayor Wescott reminded the Finance Committee that the Plan Commission voted unanimously to buy the property although there is not a final architectural plan on this site, every draft in most generations of proposals have called for the acquisition of this property.

Ald. Nealis stated that we can always resell the property.

Ald. Molski stated that she was at the meeting at the Lincoln Center and they made it clear that something had to be done with the southeast corner with regards to the Meals on Wheels and the delivery of food there. Regardless of what the final plan is, they will need to arrange something on that corner.

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

ITEM #5 - ACTIVATE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE JEHOVAH WITNESS PROPERTY AT 3600 NORTH POINT DRIVE

Comptroller-Treasurer stated this needs to be activated, as we have done in the past with deferred assessments.

Motion made by Ald. Rackow, seconded by Ald. Molski to activate the special assessment for the Jehovah Witness property located at 3600 North Point Drive.

Ald. Sowieja questioned whether or not the owners of deferred assessments are made aware of the cost of these before they are activated.

Comptroller-Treasurer Schlice replied they are made aware of what the cost will be and those are charged at cost, there is no accrued interest on the deferrals.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

ITEM #6 - AUTHORIZATION TO BORROW FUNDS FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT

Comptroller-Treasurer Schlice stated that the amount that is being looked at is about 2-2 ½ million for a couple of projects. The projects are the Lincoln Center, Phase 2 of Highway 10 and what is left of Phase 1. He stated that since the interest rates are fairly low he would like to get authorization to start the process once solid numbers are obtained.

Motion made by Ald. Rackow, seconded by Chairman Barr to authorize the borrowing of funds for the Public Works projects.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

ITEM #7 - RECOMMENDATION FROM ROOM TAX COMMITTEE AND BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS ON REQUEST FROM YOUTH SPORTS COMPLEX COMMITTEE

Motion made by Ald. Phillips, seconded by Chairman Barr to affirm the action of the Parks Commission and Room Tax Committee.

Ald. Rackow stated he was in favor of the motion. He understands that the first $100,000 is there, and that the $150,000 is only for the matching funds that were raised up to June 1. We would match any amounts collected from other municipalities.

Mike Wimme, 2411 Shadowview Drive, Plover, Treasurer for Portage County Youth on Ice, questioned whether the matching funds was the amount received or if it could be by allocations. Most of them are contributions over a period of time.
Ald. Molski stated she does not recall that it was including pledges.

Chairman Barr stated the term used was funds raised.

Mayor Wescott stated his recollection was that the Room Tax Committee and the City Council had set a February date and then it was extended to June 1 on the municipal match. He stated that he understood that those municipal matches had to be whatever dollars they had secured from other municipalities as of the extension, not commitments over years.

City Attorney Molepske stated we have no written contract on this information. We have a general conceptual agreement.

Director Schrader stated he thought the intent was that the money had to be in hand. He would recommend that we need an official resolution from whatever taxing body is paying.

Ald. Rackow stated that if there is an agreement with another municipality, and it was concluded before the first of June, to provide money, whether it is actually in the bank now or if it is to be spread out over a few years, that money would count.

Ald. Sowieja questioned what the largest amount of money that has ever been allocated to a group.

Director Schrader stated that most of the projects have been City projects, on City property. One would have been the Conservation Hall of Fame for $50,000+.

Comptroller-Treasurer Schlice commented it was $50,000 plus $70,000 in a prior year.

Ald. Sowieja stated that he thought the purpose for the room tax money was to get more tourism in the area and the complex would mean more hockey tournaments in the area. He doesn’t see why the community wouldn’t put up the funds.

Mike Wimme stated the matching amount is $2,000.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

ITEM #8- APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF CLAIMS

Comptroller-Treasurer stated that per Ald. Phillips request at last months meeting, a listing of the codes to identify which department the claims belong to was passed out.

Motion made by Ald. Rackow, seconded by Ald. Molski to approve the payment of claims in the amount of $167,853.41.

The claims were discussed.

Adjournment at 7:14 P.M.

The meeting minutes reproduced on this website are derived from the computer files used to produce the official minutes for the City of Stevens Point, but are unofficial. The minutes on this web site cannot be certified under s. 889.08, Wis. Stats., and cannot be considered prima facie evidence under s. 889.04, Wis. Stats. Certain tables, maps, and other documents that are a part of the official minutes are not included in the files reproduced on this website. Please consult the printed minutes, available in the City Clerk's Office, for the official text. The decisions made by City of Stevens Point boards, committees, and commissions (other than the Police & Fire Commission) are advisory only and are not binding on the city until affirmed at a meeting of the Common Council. Some of the minutes on this web site might not be approved by the Common Council as of today.