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

Also Present: Comptroller-Treasurer Schlice; City Clerk Zdroik; Admin. Assistant Molepske; Directors Van Alstine, Gardner; Assessor Kuehn; Operations Supt. Krieski; Ald. Walther, Sevenich, Seiser, Moore, Sowieja, Filipiak; Barb Martin (Stevens Point Journal); Gene Kemmeter (Portage County Gazette)

Index of these Minutes:

1. Assessor's Report.
2. Recommendation from Board of Public Works to blacktop alley between Smith & Prentice Sts.
3. State Budget Update.
4. Approval of Payment of Claims.
5. Adjournment.

1 - ASSESSOR'S REPORT

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

Ald. Nealis questioned that when a building permit is taken out and there is a stated amount for the cost of the construction, how much of an emphases does that have on the assessed value.

Assessor Kuehn replied that they are looked at but sometimes they are accurate and sometimes plans change after the permit has been issued, but the building permit dollar amount is not controlling the value.

Ald. Nealis stated that it does have an emphases.

Assessor Kuehn replied no, that information is gathered for a multitude of purposes but for our purposes, it is recorded and looked at, but it is not a controlling factor on the assessment.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

2 - RECOMMENDATION FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS TO BLACKTOP ALLEY BETWEEN SMITH AND PRENTICE STREETS

Motion made by Ald. Rackow, second to Ald. Phillips to approve the recommendation from the Board of Public Works to blacktop the alley between Smith and Prentice Streets, with verification that the majority of owners want the alley blacktopped.

Chairman Barr stated that the "majority" bothers him. We have put in sidewalks many places where the majority did not want them.

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

Motion carried.

3 - UPDATE ON STATE BUDGET

C/T Schlice stated that what the Governor signed is what the Mayor and he has talked about for the past few months, it seems to be a "feel good" budget and they are adding increases here and giving tax exemptions there but they are still not addressing the real problem of the three billion dollar deficit. We are still in the position of saying that it looks nice now but wait until after the election. We are currently working on the municipal budget and are getting in the last numbers from the Departments right now. We will see where we are as far as expenditure restraint program, which is going to be real hard to come under this year because of the low inflation rate (which is 1.1 right now) plus we get a small percentage of our new growth, which did not make maximum, so it will be a real tight budget this year and real hard to come under the limits, but we will bring you a product that will do that.

Ald. Rackow stated that the newspaper has had articles on the budget and it has been advertised as a no tax increase budget and that is what it is. The headlines just two days ago said "fees have gone up on filing for divorce, etc.". Another item that affects the public is that you have to wait something on the order of three months to take your drivers license test because the State has cut back on drivers license examiners. The impression is given by some people that taxes are collected and the money is put down a rat hole, so he submits that part of the money is put into making drivers licenses examiners available so that the backlog like this does not occur because that is a service to the public.

C/T Schlice stated that he handed out a recap from the Wisconsin League of Municipalities of how they interpret the governors budget.

4 - APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF CLAIMS

Motion made by Ald. Molski, seconded by Chairman Barr to approve the payment of claims in the amount of $826,996.73.

The claims were discussed.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

5 - ADJOURNMENT

Adjournment at 7:16 p.m.

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