MONROE - On Tuesday, the Common Council:
• Heard comments from John Burdick regarding his enjoyment of utilizing the Behring Senior Center fitness facilities.
• Approved a request from the Green County Family YMCA for a temporary Class B malt beverage and wine license for the annual fall fundraiser Tailgate Party on Oct. 7 at the YMCA.
• Heard a letter read by Mayor Louis Armstrong regarding a donation from Precision Drive Control and A-1 Electric to the construction of the Twining South Shelter and the companies' dedication to improving the city.
• Agreed to the state insurance program offered to eligible city employees through the Wisconsin Public Employers Group Health Insurance program.
• Briefly discussed a memo from Rath regarding the 98-acre parcel of land along Wisconsin 81 and County N that failed to meet the two-thirds vote required to annex property in the previous council meeting. The closing date on the sale of the land was extended to Oct. 31 before the failed vote, and Rath wanted to clarify for the Oct. 3 meeting in which it would be discussed that the only way to recuperate city taxes on the area is to annex it. Annexation does not require a Tax Increment District to be created in the area, though "if we want to look at a way to recover the cost of that infrastructure, we would have to develop," Rath said. Interested developers will not consider the area "unless it's shovel-ready," he added. If the city does not purchase the land, it can revert the annexation.
• Authorized temporary terrace parking in conjunction with Monroe Clinic's construction project on the north side of the 1900 block of 5th Street, which will be ended upon determination of Director of Public Works Al Gerber once the construction is completed.
• Approved Change Order No. 3 on the 8th Street Project, which was put forward by Rock Road Companies Inc. of Janesville, removing $22,508 from the amount owed by the city to the construction company.
• Requested an update regarding city streets projects from Gerber, who said both sides of 8th Street could be paved by next week, per information from Rock Road; work on 11th Street will begin after the completion of 8th Street, likely the first week of October; and construction on 21st Street to Wis. 69 will be done by Oct. 11. All roads should be paved and open by the end of October, Gerber added.
• Heard an update from City Administrator Phil Rath and City Attorney Dan Bartholf regarding communication with the contract attorney hired by the city to aid in the process of resolving flooring issues. Rath said the attorney had not received any new reports nor requests for information from Environmental Management Consulting Inc., the company hired to conduct new tests on the flooring material. Bartholf said the pair hope the council will have an item on which to act during the first council meeting of October.
• Listened to a report by Alderman Michael Boyce outlining the more rapid growth of surrounding townships over Monroe, noting "the more you tax something, the less you get out of it."
• Heard comments from John Burdick regarding his enjoyment of utilizing the Behring Senior Center fitness facilities.
• Approved a request from the Green County Family YMCA for a temporary Class B malt beverage and wine license for the annual fall fundraiser Tailgate Party on Oct. 7 at the YMCA.
• Heard a letter read by Mayor Louis Armstrong regarding a donation from Precision Drive Control and A-1 Electric to the construction of the Twining South Shelter and the companies' dedication to improving the city.
• Agreed to the state insurance program offered to eligible city employees through the Wisconsin Public Employers Group Health Insurance program.
• Briefly discussed a memo from Rath regarding the 98-acre parcel of land along Wisconsin 81 and County N that failed to meet the two-thirds vote required to annex property in the previous council meeting. The closing date on the sale of the land was extended to Oct. 31 before the failed vote, and Rath wanted to clarify for the Oct. 3 meeting in which it would be discussed that the only way to recuperate city taxes on the area is to annex it. Annexation does not require a Tax Increment District to be created in the area, though "if we want to look at a way to recover the cost of that infrastructure, we would have to develop," Rath said. Interested developers will not consider the area "unless it's shovel-ready," he added. If the city does not purchase the land, it can revert the annexation.
• Authorized temporary terrace parking in conjunction with Monroe Clinic's construction project on the north side of the 1900 block of 5th Street, which will be ended upon determination of Director of Public Works Al Gerber once the construction is completed.
• Approved Change Order No. 3 on the 8th Street Project, which was put forward by Rock Road Companies Inc. of Janesville, removing $22,508 from the amount owed by the city to the construction company.
• Requested an update regarding city streets projects from Gerber, who said both sides of 8th Street could be paved by next week, per information from Rock Road; work on 11th Street will begin after the completion of 8th Street, likely the first week of October; and construction on 21st Street to Wis. 69 will be done by Oct. 11. All roads should be paved and open by the end of October, Gerber added.
• Heard an update from City Administrator Phil Rath and City Attorney Dan Bartholf regarding communication with the contract attorney hired by the city to aid in the process of resolving flooring issues. Rath said the attorney had not received any new reports nor requests for information from Environmental Management Consulting Inc., the company hired to conduct new tests on the flooring material. Bartholf said the pair hope the council will have an item on which to act during the first council meeting of October.
• Listened to a report by Alderman Michael Boyce outlining the more rapid growth of surrounding townships over Monroe, noting "the more you tax something, the less you get out of it."