MONROE - On Feb. 2, the Monroe Common Council:
• Heard a presentation from Monroe Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cara Carper on a team-building workshop being offered by the Chamber. Spring Training for Organizations is sponsored by the Chamber along with Main Street Monroe, the University of Wisconsin-Extension and others. Carper said it will take place over three Fridays in March and has a fee of $80 for learning materials.
• Scheduled a public hearing for Feb. 17 on new city code which adapts language to better define Monroe Municipal Airport operations and outline areas of safety.
• Approved a purchase and development agreement between the city and Matthew Mau and Benjamin Dalee to operate an Arctic Cat dealership in the North Industrial Park. The dealership will offer sales, rentals, repairs and a showroom. The sale of 2.95 acres north of Wisconsin 11 and south of County DR went for $1 per acre and is dependent upon non-performance penalties, which will be incurred if Mau and Dalee do not meet required fair market value for the property through 2029.
• Deliberated policy giving department supervisors the ability to hire staff. The language was amended to keep the council as the hiring body for department supervisors. Alderman Michael Boyce was against the change, and said he did not recall an instance in which hiring has been an issue. He added that he did not see the merit in reducing council authority. Alderwoman Brooke Bauman said the change is intended to allow for a less public process for applicants, which has dissuaded interested parties in the past. The policy change passed on a 6-2 vote.
• Agreed to hire Alan Gerber as acting Director of Public Works in the interim for the next two months, after which his pay will be reviewed if a replacement cannot be found before then. Boyce told Gerber he preferred that the interim replacement simply take the position on permanently as he moved to appoint Gerber in the acting position.
• Scheduled a public hearing on recreation of Title 7 in city code for Feb. 17. The language modifications adapt fire regulations to updated state requirements.
• Approved a proposal from Johnson Controls to oversee HVAC and facility improvements at both the City Hall and the Behring Senior Center. The aim of the project is to have a self-funding update to facilities at both buildings. The improvements should exceed the 15-year life of the funding repayment by at least 25 percent, representatives from Johnson Controls said. The city will take bids until March, which is its deadline to decide on whether or not to follow through with project plans.
• Agreed on a change order for the Wastewater Treatment Plant for new heat exchangers which the city believes have been faulty since their installation. The city estimates the cost will be between $1 million and $1.5 million. Council members are currently working with the design company AECOM to recover the cost. Otherwise, the city may take a loan from Woodford State Bank or by borrowing extra from the Department of Natural Resources funding originally used for the facility updates.
• Heard a presentation from Monroe Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cara Carper on a team-building workshop being offered by the Chamber. Spring Training for Organizations is sponsored by the Chamber along with Main Street Monroe, the University of Wisconsin-Extension and others. Carper said it will take place over three Fridays in March and has a fee of $80 for learning materials.
• Scheduled a public hearing for Feb. 17 on new city code which adapts language to better define Monroe Municipal Airport operations and outline areas of safety.
• Approved a purchase and development agreement between the city and Matthew Mau and Benjamin Dalee to operate an Arctic Cat dealership in the North Industrial Park. The dealership will offer sales, rentals, repairs and a showroom. The sale of 2.95 acres north of Wisconsin 11 and south of County DR went for $1 per acre and is dependent upon non-performance penalties, which will be incurred if Mau and Dalee do not meet required fair market value for the property through 2029.
• Deliberated policy giving department supervisors the ability to hire staff. The language was amended to keep the council as the hiring body for department supervisors. Alderman Michael Boyce was against the change, and said he did not recall an instance in which hiring has been an issue. He added that he did not see the merit in reducing council authority. Alderwoman Brooke Bauman said the change is intended to allow for a less public process for applicants, which has dissuaded interested parties in the past. The policy change passed on a 6-2 vote.
• Agreed to hire Alan Gerber as acting Director of Public Works in the interim for the next two months, after which his pay will be reviewed if a replacement cannot be found before then. Boyce told Gerber he preferred that the interim replacement simply take the position on permanently as he moved to appoint Gerber in the acting position.
• Scheduled a public hearing on recreation of Title 7 in city code for Feb. 17. The language modifications adapt fire regulations to updated state requirements.
• Approved a proposal from Johnson Controls to oversee HVAC and facility improvements at both the City Hall and the Behring Senior Center. The aim of the project is to have a self-funding update to facilities at both buildings. The improvements should exceed the 15-year life of the funding repayment by at least 25 percent, representatives from Johnson Controls said. The city will take bids until March, which is its deadline to decide on whether or not to follow through with project plans.
• Agreed on a change order for the Wastewater Treatment Plant for new heat exchangers which the city believes have been faulty since their installation. The city estimates the cost will be between $1 million and $1.5 million. Council members are currently working with the design company AECOM to recover the cost. Otherwise, the city may take a loan from Woodford State Bank or by borrowing extra from the Department of Natural Resources funding originally used for the facility updates.