VILLAGE BOARD
AUGUST 5, 2014

The Village Board of Combined Locks was called to order by President John Neumeier. Trustees in attendance included: Ruth Wulgaert, Jim Ponto, Beth Sewall, and Roger Kirch. Rick Strick and Justin Krueger were absent.

Also in attendance were: Village Administrator Sean Hutchison, Fox Valley Metro Police Chief Erik Misselt, Public Works Foreman Ryan Swick, Dave Wagner of Ehlers Associates, Jenny Brinker of WPPI Energy, and Judy Hebbe of the Times Villager.

The first item on the agenda was to review and consider approval of the minutes and bills. J. Ponto made a motion to approve the minutes. R. Kirch seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. R. Kirch made a motion to approve the bills as presented. R. Wulgaert seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

The next item on the agenda was the Administrator’s report. He reported that time was spent pursuing health insurance options, reviewing equalized values and levy limits, and compiling information for the operating and capital improvement budgets. He explained that the levy can increase by $22,763. The Administrator also reminded the Board of the Fall Partisan Primary Election on 08/12/14 and reported that the CE Pedestrian and Bike Trail did not make the final round for grant dollars.

The next item on the agenda was the Police report. Although in attendance, the Chief had nothing to report. B. Sewall noted that she had participated in a ride-a-long and was impressed by the officers she engaged with.

The next item on the agenda was the Public Works Foreman’s report. He reported that entire Village has now been swept five times this year, and the portion of the Village that is required to be swept twice per month as per NR 216 storm water requirements has also been completed. A total of 49 tons of debris has been removed from the streets. The crew has also hauled 19 tons of yard waste to the landfill bringing tonnage for 2014 to 131 tons. The total tonnage at this time in 2013 was 138 tons. Brush collection required 98 stops during the month of July, and 18 homes were given notices. The crew repaired and replaced drainage pipe in the trail system and spent an entire week cleaning up the trail system from last year’s storm. A bob cat with a grapple bucket was rented to help with the cleanup, which included removal of five large trees throughout the trail system. The August workload includes listening to water valves, street painting, street sweeping, brush collection, street sign installation, and capital and operating budget development.

The next item on the agenda was an overview of the TID 2 feasibility study provided by Dave Wagner of Ehlers Associates. Mr. Wagner reported that TID 2 is feasible but not immediately. He further explained that Appleton Coated has filed an objection to its manufacturing assessment value to the State of Wisconsin. This objection will not be finalized until later this year. The reduction in assessed value will have to be significant in order for TID 2 to be created. Mr. Wagner also noted that there is are options for TID 2 to be Industrial or Rehab/Conservation. The Industrial definition allows for a 20 year TID (19 because of the filing deadlines), and the Rehab/Conservation definition allows for a 27 year TID (26 because of the filing deadlines). Whatever the definition choice or outcome, Appleton Coated would most likely need to borrow funds to make the improvements to the facility to accommodate an on-site pulp production facility. However, they may not be able to borrow all of the funds needed and may need to use the TID to fund the gap. This could be accomplished through “pay as you go” bond assessments. Mr. Wagner reviewed scenarios and the impact to the Village’s tax rate with the Board. In summary, Mr. Wagner reported that TID 2 is conceptually feasible for the Village to provide pay-as-you-go TIF financing. Tax increments would be the source of annual cash grants to Appleton Coated to be made over a period of 19 to 27 years (depending on the type of TID and the time of year the TID is created). Financially, the TID financing for Appleton Coated is not likely to be helpful unless the base value of Appleton Coated’s properties are reduced to amounts substantially below their 2014 values and then over time increased by approximately the amount of the original decrease. Mr. Wagner’s recommendation is that the Village can work with Appleton Coated and its bank to negotiate the terms of potential TID financing, but recommends the actual creation of TID 2 should be deferred until the Appleton Coated assessment objection is decided. The matter was discussed.

The next item on the agenda was a discussion regarding a community solar panel garden and benefits to rate payers as presented by Jenny Brinker of WPPI Energy. Ms. Brinker explained that WPPI Energy has issued a competitive application process in which it will award two utility members to be community solar garden demonstration sites. The site needs to be roughly ½ an acre. Kaukauna Utilities is recommending a site at the northeast corner of County Road CE and Highway 55, known as Coffee Hill. A community solar garden is a solar-electric system that provides financial benefit from the power generated to multiple people or business owners. Interested customers buy portions of the solar-electric system through a long-term lease or upfront payment. Parties that buy into the solar garden then receive a monthly bill credit for their share of the project’s electrical production. Ms. Brinker further explained that if Kaukauna Utilities is selected to be a WPPI solar garden pilot utility, its customers, including 965 Combined Locks residents, would have the opportunity to buy watts of power produced from solar panels at the solar garden site. The investment cost is estimated to be $2 per watt, and interested customers would be expected to purchase increments of 200 to 300 watts. The customer would receive an estimated $30 per year utility credit for 25 years for the purchase of a 250 watt increment. Kaukauna Utilities will submit their application before the application due date of 08/22/14 and asks for the support of the Combined Locks Village Board. The matter was discussed. R. Wulgaert made a motion to support the solar panel garden. B. Sewall seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. As proof of support, Ms. Brinker will send a letter for Village representative signatures.

The next item on the agenda was to review and consider approval of amending ordinance section 10-1-33(a) regarding inoperable, wrecked or junked vehicles and 10-5-1(c) regarding abandoned vehicles definitions. Chief Misselt explained that the proposed amendment changes will more clearly define discarded and abandoned vehicles, clearly define the amount of time the vehicle owner has to act to remedy the matter and makes the language consistent among the three villages serviced by FVMPD. The matter was discussed briefly. B. Sewall made a motion to approve the ordinance language change for 10-1-33(a) and 10-5-1(c) as presented. R. Kirch seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

The next item on the agenda was to review and consider approval of a request to build and maintain a Little Free Library in Blaese Park. The Administrator provided a copy of an email from Don and Jackie Van Toll asking to be allowed to build and maintain the library as many younger children use that park. R. Wulgaert made a motion to approve the request as presented. B. Sewall seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

The next item on the agenda was to discuss and consider approval of options to repair the retaining wall at 629 and 631 State Street. The Administrator explained that the retaining wall is roughly 185 lineal feet long and roughly 32 feet is failing and leaning into the right-of-way and could possibly collapse into the sidewalk. The cost to repair the damaged area is estimated at $3,000, and the cost to repair and re-stabilize the entire length of the retaining wall is estimated at $17,500. The matter was discussed. J. Ponto made a motion to hire a contractor to fix the 32 feet immediately and budget to repair the rest of the wall within the next year. B. Sewall seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

The next item on the agenda was to review street improvement payment options. The President explained that this matter is being revisited due to some feedback from residents and trustees. He and the trustees reviewed costs to pay for street improvements via a wheel tax, tax levy with special assessments and a traffic utility fee. Preliminary cost impacts range from an increase of $145 to $290 using tax levy; $94 per vehicle using wheel tax; and $137 per parcel using a traffic utility fee. It was noted that a wheel tax would apply only apply to vehicles under 8,000 pounds. The specific street construction projects were discussed as well as the Prospect Street and State Street project being part of the potential TID 2. The Board members were instructed to consider all the options and be ready to vote at the September 2nd meeting.

The next item on the agenda was to consider approval of bartender licenses for D. Landgraf, J Keshemberg, J. McGee, and D. Rice. It was noted that the background checks were conducted at the FVMPD and the Captain Lee has recommended approval of each license. B. Sewall made a motion to approve the licenses. R. Kirch seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

In other general business, the Administrator reviewed an email from the Kimberly Administrator asking to set the Tri-Village meeting for October 20th at 6:00pm in Kimberly. It was noted that the police contract will be discussed as well as the potential for the consolidation of the municipal courts.

B. Sewall made a motion to adjourn the meeting. R. Wulgaert seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

Village Board

3