MONROE - At a meeting Tuesday, Dec. 16, the City of Monroe Common Council:
• Confirmed the mayoral re-appointment of Brooke Bauman to the Green County Development Corporation Board for a three-year term to end on Dec. 31, 2017.
• Confirmed the mayoral re-appointments of Ryan Wilson, Barb Gelbach, Ron Markham, and Luis Carus and the appointment of Craig Patchin to the Business Improvement District Board for two-year terms to end on Dec. 31, 2016.
• Approved the consent agenda, which included granting miscellaneous licenses, $1.1 million for bills to be paid, and an agent change request for the Class A beer and liquor license issued to Aldi Inc. of Wisconsin
• Approved a city petition requesting the railroad commissioner and the WSOR maintain the "lock down" gates along the railroad tracks in the city of Monroe.
• Approved a land lease with Wisconsin Power and Light Company for the city to use a downtown lot for parking at $1 per year.
• Set a public hearing for Jan. 6 for a change to the city ordinances, adding clinic as a conditional use in the R-1 (residential) Zoning District.
• Approved the 2015 Park and Recreation Department and the Senior Center Wellness Center fees.
• Approved the 2015 building permits and zoning fees.
• Approved miscellaneous wage rates for 2015.
• Approved on a 7-2 vote salary and wage rates for full-time permanent department heads and non-represented personnel for 2015.
• Granted a Class C wine license and a Class B beer license to Tia's Mexican Grill LLC.
• Accepted bids and awarded a contract to Carrico Aquatic Resources Inc. for $77,200 for the swimming pool filter replacement project, and $2,600 for an alternate project to replace pipe hangers in the equipment room, and $13,495 for the option to install a variable frequency drive on the main pool filter pump.
• Approved hiring McGowan Architecture, New Glarus, for professional services in developing a city hall master plan and space planning, at a cost of $15,165.
• Approved a request for changes in the new SCADA System software graphic displays being created by Energenecs, at a cost of $40,500.
• Recognized 11 City of Monroe employees for their lengths of service of between 15 and 35 years.
Mayor Bill Ross requested eventual alder input and discussion on posting Staff Reports to the city's website.
Alderman Louis Armstrong announced Monroe had been named one of the nation's top-10 cities for small businesses by Talent Tribune.
Alderman Tom Miller announced Main Street Monroe has a new executive director starting Jan. 5 and has set a new theme for 2015, Sqaurium, with an aquarium motif on the Square.
Brooke Bauman recognized The Monroe Times reporter Tere Dunlap for her coverage of the city and her announcement of retirement.
Director Tammy Derrickson announced the Behring Senior Center will open its new coffee café Jan. 12 and will extend a special invitation for the council members to visit it on Jan. 20. She also announced receipt of a $130,000 gift from Ken and Pat Behring, approved earlier for several projects.
Director Marge Klinzing announced the Recreation Department staff has been training for the new, registration online project for the department's programs to be offered next year. The online services will accept credit and debit card payments.
MONROE - In a meeting Monday, Dec. 15, the City of Monroe Public Works:
• Approved bills from MSA for $985 for GIS services for the water and wastewater utilities; Advanced disposal for $2,070 for November recycling; Ramaker for $1,630 for pool equipment replacement; and from Miron construction for $561,500 for work on the wastewater treatment plant upgrade project.
• Reviewed bids of $115,550 and $3,875 from Badger Pools of Prairie du Sac and of $77,200 and $2,600 from Carrico Aquatics of Jefferson, for the pool filter replacement project. Carrico also offered a possible $6,200 deduction if the city wanted and could reduce the number of filters tanks for the main pool. Two other companies did not return bids. Carrico had also advised Director Paul Klinzing on variable frequency drives for the main pool pumps. Klinzing reported the $13,000 drive would save energy, reduce electricity costs, allowing for a five-year cost recoup, and reduce wear on the pumps. The Board recommended Carrico's bid to the council, including the variable frequency drive, provided the city has legal approval to install it. The project qualifies for a $1,500 grant through Focus on Energy.
MONROE - In a meeting Monday, Dec. 15, the City of Monroe Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee:
• Recommended the city add clinics as a conditional use in residential zones, which requires a change in city ordinance and a public hearing.
• Discussed the advent of new, transportation network providers, such as Uber and Lyft, and the effect of city taxicab permits. The committee reviewed recent Milwaukee and Chicago council action on the same issue. No such providers are known to be coming to Monroe. No action was taken.
MONROE- In a meeting Monday, Dec. 15, the City of Monroe Public safety Committee:
• Reaffirmed its decision on the Monroe Police Department's routine in calling for towing services. Police Chief Fred Kelley asked for the meeting to clarify the decision for the public and towing service providers. The department calls two local towing services on a rotating, per-incident basis, unless vehicle owners request differently. Out-of-town services are not called, because of the time constraints to get a disabled vehicle off the road, Kelley said. If a towing company cannot provide service at the time it is called, the other company is contacted. Kelley reiterated that neither the city nor police department is legally bound to any specific company.
-Tere Dunlap
• Confirmed the mayoral re-appointment of Brooke Bauman to the Green County Development Corporation Board for a three-year term to end on Dec. 31, 2017.
• Confirmed the mayoral re-appointments of Ryan Wilson, Barb Gelbach, Ron Markham, and Luis Carus and the appointment of Craig Patchin to the Business Improvement District Board for two-year terms to end on Dec. 31, 2016.
• Approved the consent agenda, which included granting miscellaneous licenses, $1.1 million for bills to be paid, and an agent change request for the Class A beer and liquor license issued to Aldi Inc. of Wisconsin
• Approved a city petition requesting the railroad commissioner and the WSOR maintain the "lock down" gates along the railroad tracks in the city of Monroe.
• Approved a land lease with Wisconsin Power and Light Company for the city to use a downtown lot for parking at $1 per year.
• Set a public hearing for Jan. 6 for a change to the city ordinances, adding clinic as a conditional use in the R-1 (residential) Zoning District.
• Approved the 2015 Park and Recreation Department and the Senior Center Wellness Center fees.
• Approved the 2015 building permits and zoning fees.
• Approved miscellaneous wage rates for 2015.
• Approved on a 7-2 vote salary and wage rates for full-time permanent department heads and non-represented personnel for 2015.
• Granted a Class C wine license and a Class B beer license to Tia's Mexican Grill LLC.
• Accepted bids and awarded a contract to Carrico Aquatic Resources Inc. for $77,200 for the swimming pool filter replacement project, and $2,600 for an alternate project to replace pipe hangers in the equipment room, and $13,495 for the option to install a variable frequency drive on the main pool filter pump.
• Approved hiring McGowan Architecture, New Glarus, for professional services in developing a city hall master plan and space planning, at a cost of $15,165.
• Approved a request for changes in the new SCADA System software graphic displays being created by Energenecs, at a cost of $40,500.
• Recognized 11 City of Monroe employees for their lengths of service of between 15 and 35 years.
Mayor Bill Ross requested eventual alder input and discussion on posting Staff Reports to the city's website.
Alderman Louis Armstrong announced Monroe had been named one of the nation's top-10 cities for small businesses by Talent Tribune.
Alderman Tom Miller announced Main Street Monroe has a new executive director starting Jan. 5 and has set a new theme for 2015, Sqaurium, with an aquarium motif on the Square.
Brooke Bauman recognized The Monroe Times reporter Tere Dunlap for her coverage of the city and her announcement of retirement.
Director Tammy Derrickson announced the Behring Senior Center will open its new coffee café Jan. 12 and will extend a special invitation for the council members to visit it on Jan. 20. She also announced receipt of a $130,000 gift from Ken and Pat Behring, approved earlier for several projects.
Director Marge Klinzing announced the Recreation Department staff has been training for the new, registration online project for the department's programs to be offered next year. The online services will accept credit and debit card payments.
MONROE - In a meeting Monday, Dec. 15, the City of Monroe Public Works:
• Approved bills from MSA for $985 for GIS services for the water and wastewater utilities; Advanced disposal for $2,070 for November recycling; Ramaker for $1,630 for pool equipment replacement; and from Miron construction for $561,500 for work on the wastewater treatment plant upgrade project.
• Reviewed bids of $115,550 and $3,875 from Badger Pools of Prairie du Sac and of $77,200 and $2,600 from Carrico Aquatics of Jefferson, for the pool filter replacement project. Carrico also offered a possible $6,200 deduction if the city wanted and could reduce the number of filters tanks for the main pool. Two other companies did not return bids. Carrico had also advised Director Paul Klinzing on variable frequency drives for the main pool pumps. Klinzing reported the $13,000 drive would save energy, reduce electricity costs, allowing for a five-year cost recoup, and reduce wear on the pumps. The Board recommended Carrico's bid to the council, including the variable frequency drive, provided the city has legal approval to install it. The project qualifies for a $1,500 grant through Focus on Energy.
MONROE - In a meeting Monday, Dec. 15, the City of Monroe Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee:
• Recommended the city add clinics as a conditional use in residential zones, which requires a change in city ordinance and a public hearing.
• Discussed the advent of new, transportation network providers, such as Uber and Lyft, and the effect of city taxicab permits. The committee reviewed recent Milwaukee and Chicago council action on the same issue. No such providers are known to be coming to Monroe. No action was taken.
MONROE- In a meeting Monday, Dec. 15, the City of Monroe Public safety Committee:
• Reaffirmed its decision on the Monroe Police Department's routine in calling for towing services. Police Chief Fred Kelley asked for the meeting to clarify the decision for the public and towing service providers. The department calls two local towing services on a rotating, per-incident basis, unless vehicle owners request differently. Out-of-town services are not called, because of the time constraints to get a disabled vehicle off the road, Kelley said. If a towing company cannot provide service at the time it is called, the other company is contacted. Kelley reiterated that neither the city nor police department is legally bound to any specific company.
-Tere Dunlap