1.  CALL MEETING TO ORDER
 
A regular meeting of the City Council was called to order by President Mielke at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building.

2.  ROLL CALL
 
On call of the roll, members present were:
LaVerne Behrens
John Mielke
Jim Simdon

Steve Tesmer and Mark Zastrow were excused.

Also present were the City Manager, Attorney, Engineer, Clerk/Treasurer and Fire Chief.

3.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 16, 2008 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

The minutes of the December 16, 2008 regular Council meeting were approved by unanimous consent.

4.  PUBLIC HEARINGS

    None.

5.  PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

    a.  REQUEST BY RIDE 4 CURE/CANCER CURE FEST TO HOLD ANNUAL EVENT ON JUNE 26-27, 2009 IN KLEMENT BUSINESS PARK, AND APPROVE AGREEMENT TO HOLD HARMLESS.

The City Manager said this event has been approved by the City Council for the past couple of years. However, in 2009, the property previously used near the Holiday Inn Express is not available and the group has identified Lot 12 in the Klement Business Park as a potential site. A map showing the lot in the Business Park was provided to Council members. The City Attorney has prepared a Hold Harmless Agreement for this event to be approved and entered into by the City and the Ride 4 Cure group. There was one amendment to the draft Agreement, which is that "Rodney Hetts" name should be deleted from the first paragraph. The representative from Ride 4 Cure has contacted all of the businesses in the Klement Business Park as well as the neighbors to inform them of the request, and received no opposition to the event.

Cm. Simdon, seconded by Cwmn. Behrens, moved to approve the request by Ride 4 Cure/Cancer Cure Fest to hold annual event on June 26-27, 2009 in Klement Business Park, and to approve the Hold Harmless Agreement as amended. The motion carried on a voice vote.

6.  RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES

    None.

7.  REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

Cwmn. Behrens, seconded by Cm. Simdon, moved to accept and file the minutes of the Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium meeting held December 18, 2008; the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting held December 18, 2008; the minutes of the Closed Finance Committee meeting held December 1, 2008; the minutes of Historical Society Board meeting held November 20, 2008; the Electrical, Building and Plumbing Permit Reports for December, 2008; the minutes of Closed Finance Committee meeting held December 22, 2008; and the minutes of the Closed Finance Committee meeting held December 29, 2008. The motion carried on a voice vote.

8.  UNFINISHED BUSINESS

    a.  RECOMMENDATION FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE TO APPROVE RURAL FIRE CONTRACTS WITH TOWNSHIPS OF KOSHKONONG, HEBRON, JEFFERSON, OAKLAND AND SUMNER.

The City Manager said there were two open Finance Committee meetings to discuss renewal of the Rural Fire Contracts. The previous Contract expired on December 31, 2008, however the City Attorney prepared an extension which all five Townships agreed to. That extension expires on January 31, 2009. The new Contract is proposed for five years (2009-2013). For the years of 2009, 2010 and 2011, the Contract increase will be 3%. For the years 2012 and 2013, the increase will be tied to the C.P.I., but not to exceed 4%.

Another item covered in the Contract is that the Townships have agreed to pay 24% of the new aerial ladder truck anticipated to be purchased in 2011. The breakdown of the 24% between the Townships would be Koshkonong - 14.4%, and Heron, Jefferson, Oakland and Sumner each being 2.4%. In the event the City sells any of the fire apparatus that the Townships have participated in paying a portion of, whatever the City sells the vehicles for the Townships will be reimbursed their proportional share of the proceeds. Another amendment to the Contract is that the City is agreeing to pay the first $2,000 of the annual maintenance and repairs of the Township trucks, which was previously $1,700. A capital equipment list was attached to the Contract as an exhibit, which included items that would be billed to the Townships individually when they are purchased. Previously these items were billed to the Town of Koshkonong and they in turn would bill the other four Townships. Under the new Contract, the City will bill each of the five Townships directly for these purchases.

Cm. Simdon, seconded by Cwmn. Behrens, moved to approve the Rural Fire Contracts with the Townships of Koshkonong, Hebron, Jefferson, Oakland and Sumner. On call of the roll, the motion carried unanimously.

    b.  RECOMMENDATION FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE ON 2009 WAGES, BENEFITS AND EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK UPDATES.

The City Manager said this recommendation covers all City employees other than the Teamsters Union and Police Union staffs. There were a few "cleanup" matters in the Non-Represented Employee Handbook. A new item included in the Handbook is for longevity pay for those employees with 25 years or more of service, they will receive $625.00 annually. Another addition is that the Youth Director will now receive $50.00 per month car allowance. Wage increases of 2.5% were recommended across the board for non-represented full-time and part-time employees. The part-time Library Assistant II wage increase is slightly higher than other part-time employees, as the City is attempting to get the pay rate commensurate with the work duties of the job, which are the same as the Library Assistant II full-time position.

The Park & Recreation part-time wage increases fluctuate between 0% and 2.5% based on experience and competency, as well as meeting the minimum wage requirements, which will be $7.25 per hour as of July 24, 2009. The Police Union is in the third year of their contract, which calls for a 3% wage increase. Approval of the Teamsters Union Contract will appear on the next Council agenda, as the Finance Committee met with them on December 29, 2008 and agreed to a successor Contract. However, the Contract needs to be ratified by the membership of the Union prior to being presented to the Council.

Cwmn. Behrens, seconded by Cm. Simdon, moved to approve the recommendation from the Finance Committee on the 2009 wages, benefits and Employee Handbook updates. On call of the roll, the motion carried unanimously.

9.  NEW BUSINESS

    None.

10.  MISCELLANEOUS

    a.  GRANTING OPERATOR LICENSES.

Cm. Simdon, seconded by Cwmn. Behrens, moved to approve the following list of applicants for operator licenses for the 2008-2010 license period:

Regular:

Serena K. Darr          Lions Quick Mart

The motion carried on a voice vote.

    b.  SPECIAL BEER LICENSE FOR RIDE 4 CURE/CANCER CURE FEST EVENT ON JUNE 26-27, 2009.

This License is for the event previously approved in the agenda. The City Clerk indicated there have been no problems with this event in the past.

Cwmn. Behrens, seconded by Cm. Simdon, moved to approve the Special Beer License for the Ride 4 Cure/Cancer Cure Fest event on June 26-27, 2009. The motion carried on a voice vote.

11.  CLAIMS, APPROPRIATIONS AND CONTRACT PAYMENTS

Cm. Simdon, seconded by Cwmn. Behrens, moved the bills in the amounts of $396,530.03 for the City (Fund 1); $43,986.00 for the Sewer Utility (Fund 2); $19,682.06 for the Water Utility (Fund 3); $79,696.20 for Klement Business Park (Fund 12); and $343,595.66 for Payrolls 25, 25A and 26 as per Schedule N-85 on file in the office of the City Clerk/Treasurer and as audited and approved by the Finance Committee be allowed and orders be authorized drawn on the proper funds for their payment. On call of the roll, the motion carried unanimously.

12.  ADJOURNMENT
 
Cm. Simdon, seconded by Cwmn. Behrens, moved to adjourn the January 6, 2009 regular City of Fort Atkinson Council meeting at 7:16 p.m. The motion carried on a voice vote.

/s/Matt Trebatoski
City Clerk/Treasurer