West Central Reporter

The city of Auburn City Council met May 16 to discuss the appointment of an Emergency Services Disaster Agency coordinator.

Members of the Auburn City Council come from each of the city’s four wards and serve four-year terms. Council meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month at City Hall, 324 W. Jefferson St. If a council meeting should fall on a holiday, the meeting will be held on Tuesday.

Here's the meeting agenda, as provided by the city:

City of Auburn

Council Minutes

May 16, 2016

Mayor Stamer called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

Present: Barb Stamer, Larry Hemmerle, Julie Barnhill, Rod Johnson, Ed Madaus, Matt Gillock, Seth Williams, Tom Berola, Vic Devos, Jr.

Absent: Chris Warwick, Tom Appelt

Department Heads: Bruce Centko and Kristy Ponsler (Bill Karhliker – absent).

City Attorney: Raylene Grischow.

I. Mayor’s Comments

a. Stamer reminded everyone about the Memorial Day Parade and walk to the cemetery on May 30, 2016. She asked the council members who were available to take part in walking in the parade.

b. Stamer provided a packet to the council members pertaining to 1027 W. Adams (Barton estate). It has been an ongoing issue for the city trying to determine how best to handle the property. Neighbors are concerned and have spoken to the mayor about the city’s next steps. The city does have a lien on the property. The mayor has spoken with Dennis Minick from Operating Engineers. He has training session with union members to tear down homes. Council has to approve going through process. The city has to get their name on a list and fulfill all stipulations. The mayor indicated there is no charge for the union to demolish the home. The city would have to provide a dumpster and haul away rubble. The mayor recommended the council approve the procedure to get on the list for the union trainees to demolish the home.

c. Attorney Grischow indicated it would have to be declared a dangerous building and she asked to review the file she has on this property. City attorney has to further research whether we can legally demolish the house and will contact Jim Stone at Department of Public Health pertaining to the property.

d. The item will be placed on the next agenda.

II. City Clerk’s Report – Deputy Clerk Ponsler

a. Ponsler presented the 05/02/16 meeting minutes for the Council’s review and approval. A motion was made by Williams to approve the meeting minutes and destroy the recorded copy, second by Devos, Jr. Voice Vote: AYE: Julie Barnhill, Tom Berola, Matt Gillock, Larry Hemmerle, Ed Madaus, Rod Johnson, Vic Devos, Jr. and Seth Williams. NAY: None. PRESENT: None. ABSENT: NONE (8-0-0-0).

III. City Treasurer’s Report – Deputy Clerk Ponsler

a. Ponsler presented the Bills List from 05/01/16 to 05/16/16 for the Council’s review and approval. A motion was made by Williams to approve the Bills List, second Hemmerle. Voice Vote: AYE: Julie Barnhill, Tom Berola, Matt Gillock, Larry Hemmerle, Ed Madaus,

Rod Johnson, Vic Devos, Jr. and Seth Williams. NAY: None. PRESENT: None. ABSENT: Vic (8-0-0-0).

b. Ponsler presented the Cash Balance Report ending 04/30/16. Ponsler stated that Meter Fee funds have been moved to the Water savings (around 47,000) and gas savings (around 40,000). The funds in the accounts will be reflected on the May cash report. A motion was made by Madaus to approve the April Cash Report, second by Johnson. Voice Vote: AYE: Julie Barnhill, Tom Berola, Matt Gillock, Larry Hemmerle, Ed Madaus, Rod Johnson, Vic Devos, Jr. and Seth Williams. NAY: None. PRESENT: None. ABSENT:NONE (8-0-0-0).

IV. Attorney – Grischow

a. Grischow followed up with the County Clerk’s office on the needed paperwork to place the home rule issue on the November ballot. Deadline to put into an ordinance to place a referendum on the ballot is August 22nd. A motion was made by Berola to move forward with drafting an ordinance for Home Rule to be placed on ballot in November, second by Gillock. AYE: Julie Barnhill, Tom Berola, Vic Devos, Jr., Matt Gillock, Larry Hemmerle, Rod Johnson, Ed Madaus, and Seth Williams. NAY: None. PRESENT: None. ABSENT: NONE (8-0-0-0).

V. Visitors

a. Dennis Ross (Otter Lake Water Commission) and Mike McCarthy (City of Auburn).

i. Rate increases are being proposed at the May 10, 2016 Otter Lake Board Meeting. A formal letter will be sent to the city. Rate right now for the city is $4.34. Rate increase will be.25/1000 gallons for the next three years. Rate for December 1, 2016 will be $4.59, December 1, 2017 will be $4.84, and December 1, 2018 will be $5.09.The water used in each November will be billed at the new starting rate of each year. Mr. Ross will be visiting all member towns to provide further information and answer questions where needed. The biggest factor over the last few years to warrant an increase has been cost of chemicals, employees, and health insurance. A copy of the most recent audit with revenues and expenditures was provided to the city.

ii. 5th grade class from Auburn will be coming to tour the plant in February since they will be studying water treatment at that time. Anyone who wishes to tour the facility can come down to see the full operation.

b. Auburn Public Library (Diana Coffman, Monica Garrett, Calla Patton and Emily King)

i. Library staff and board members were on hand to discuss items within the library that need repaired and/or replaced and just wanted clarification on what should be covered by the library and what potentially would be covered by the city.

ii. Items include: Cracks in the walls, Men’s restroom tiles, light covers, paint for front pillars, water fountain, plumbing, furnace/air conditioner, and roof.

iii. Asked for possibly an additional meeting to further discuss and clarify items mentioned.

c. Jason Garrett

i. Asked for clarification on the council’s decision to make a resident of Auburn pay a new deposit when they move to a new address. Referenced the individual in town that literally moved across the street and was required to pay a new deposit even if they were a good payer to the city. Mr. Garrett felt as if that was wrong for the city to require that and could possibly drive individuals out of the city instead of attracting new residents in.

ii. Mr. Garret also questioned the recent change by the council to raise the charge to rent the Auburn Community Center.

iii. Mr. Garrett was very concerned about the overall growth of the city and felt as if the council is only seeking to increase fees and charge the residents more instead of seeking other ways to do business. He referenced the recent passage of paying $30,000 for the TIF to get started. He saw no new business coming and saw it as only a way to continue to increase fees and spending for the city.

iv. Council members did reference the infrastructure needs of the city and the costs, including utility rates, being one of the lowest in the area. However, rising costs of supplies and materials and needing to repair a crumbling infrastructure require the city to seek out ways to increase revenue.

VI. Department Heads

a. Centko

b. Centko requested that a police squad car be declared as surplus. This squad car has been replaced by the new car recently purchased. Johnson made a motion to declare the police squad car as surplus, second by Gillock. AYE: Julie Barnhill, Tom Berola, Vic Devos, Jr., Matt Gillock, Larry Hemmerle, Rod Johnson, Ed Madaus, and Seth Williams. NAY: None. PRESENT: None. ABSENT: NONE (8-0-0-0).

c. Karhliker – no report (absent)

d. Ponsler

e. Ponsler presented the council with budget adjustments that will need to be made to compensate for the overspending in various line items. While not all areas are over appropriations, all areas that have been overspent will be adjusted to show a zero balance, as requested by the auditor. Berola made a motion to accept the budget adjustments as presented, second by Barnhill. AYE: Julie Barnhill, Tom Berola, Vic Devos, Jr., Matt Gillock, Larry Hemmerle, Rod Johnson, Ed Madaus, and Seth Williams. NAY: None. PRESENT: None. ABSENT: NONE (8-0-0-0)

i. Ponsler also asked for clarification on how employees should be documenting their time off and in what particular increments. We have some employees documenting minute increments and just wanted further details on how best to ask employees to document on time cards.

ii. Alderman Berola asked Ponsler to research previous meeting minutes (possibly 6-7 years ago) as it should have been stated the time increments required to take.

VII. Committee Reports

a. Administration – No report (Berola)

b. Public Works

i. Johnson stated he was waiting on report for 15 parcels for TIF.

c. Public Utilities – No report (Hemmerle)

d. Health & Safety – Gillock requested an executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss the appointment of the ESDA Coordinator.

e. Health & Housing

i. Berola reported that 403 E Adams had been mowed and accumulations had been removed.

ii. 413 N. 1st needed a letter to be sent pertaining to the grass and weeds.

iii. 415 W. North has unsightly accumulations again and the council instructed the city attorney to prepare a letter and that the Chief of Police would hand deliver.

f. Parks

i. Hemmerle will be scheduling a Parks Committee meeting to further discuss the Electronic Sign Community Guidelines.

VIII. Executive Session

a. A motion was made by Gillock to enter into Executive Session regarding an appointment of an ESDA Coordinator, second by Berola. Voice Vote: AYE: Julie Barnhill, Tom Berola, Matt Gillock, Larry Hemmerle, Ed Madaus, Rod Johnson, and Seth Williams, Vic Devos,

Jr. NAY: None. PRESENT: None. ABSENT: None (8-0-0-0).

b. A motion was made by Gillock to exit Executive Session and return to regular session, second by Berola. Voice Vote: AYE: Julie Barnhill, Tom Berola, Matt Gillock, Larry Hemmerle, Ed Madaus, Rod Johnson, and Seth Williams, Vic Devos, Jr. NAY: None. PRESENT: None. ABSENT: None (8-0-0-0).

IX. Adjournment

a. A motion to adjourn was made by Berola at 8:50 PM; second by Johnson. Voice Vote: AYE: Julie Barnhill, Tom Berola, Matt Gillock, Larry Hemmerle, Ed Madaus, Rod Johnson, and Seth Williams, Vic Devos, Jr. NAY: None. PRESENT: None. ABSENT: None. (8-0-0-0).

Respectfully Submitted,

Kristy Ponsler

Deputy Clerk