REGULAR
MEETING OF THE
TOWN
OF MENASHA UTILITY DISTRICT
Municipal
Complex - Assembly Room
Monday,
April 9, 2001
MINUTES
The agenda was
posted at the Municipal Complex, Fire Station 40, Town of Menasha Utility District,
Appleton Public Library, Menasha Public Library, and Neenah Public Library and
is available on the Town of Menasha Website at www.town-menasha.com.
I. CALL TO ORDER,
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ROLL CALL
President
Arden Tews called the Regular Meeting of Utility District Commissioners to
order at 5:00 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Deputy Clerk
Karen Tweedie noted the roll as follows:
PRESENT:
Arden Tews, President Jeanne
Krueger, Commissioner #1
Jerry Jurgensen, Commissioner #3 Bob Sprague,
Commissioner #2
Russ Handevidt, Commissioner #4 Brad Werner, Town
Engineer
Patrick DeGrave, Administrator Karen Tweedie,
Deputy Clerk
Myra Piergrossi, Dir. of Finance Jeff Roth,
Utility District Water Supt.
Paula Pagel, Util Dist Office
Manager Steve
Laabs, Util. Dist. Wastewater Supt.
EXCUSED:
Carlene Sprague, Utility Dist.
Secretary
ALSO PRESENT:
Charles
Baxter, Town Resident
Town resident Charles Baxter requested the commission to reconsider their decision to change the name of the Town of Menasha. He expressed concern with the costs involved and wants it to remain as is. The board members thanked Mr. Baxter for his input.
Commissioner
Jurgensen stated that the Town of Menasha has suffered with an identity problem
for a long time.
Commissioner Handevidt stated there would not be address
change concern for residents and no printing changes and signage expenses for
businesses.
A.
Water Contract
with Waverly Utility District
Administrator
DeGrave stated a letter sent last May (recently surfaced) regarding the Waverly
Sanitary District stating they were intending to discontinue water service,
which would have a $30,000.00 impact to the Water Utility. He further stated there was a 40-year
agreement (1984) for the Waverly Sanitary District to purchase water from the
town and noted nothing in the letter that would allow them to terminate just
because they may be able to obtain better prices elsewhere.
Supt. Roth
stated that the Public Service Commission might have something to say about
this issue, as it would have a monetary effect on our Utility District.
It was the
consensus of board members to request that Supt. Roth make inquiries to Waverly
San. Dist.
B.
Borrowing
Administrator
DeGrave spoke of the construction planned this year for the East Shady Lane
plant and new maintenance facility.
(See spreadsheet attached). In
late May, early June, borrowing will begin and move quickly to full borrowing.
President Tews
questioned the borrowing for two projects, the Utility and the Town, for the
year and asked the amount.
Administrator DeGrave stated it is approximately $4.7 million on the
General Obligation side, and $4 million on the Utility side. President Tews stated he had concerns
regarding borrowing that amount of money in one year’s time.
Administrator
DeGrave stated the market is favorable and therefore the town would be at an
economical advantage. He further stated
it would be a number of years before the current debt is reduced and the town
would benefit by present low rates.
Administrator
DeGrave stated he would like to get the town into a budgeting process where the
three major departments (Police, Streets and Parks) would budget on a life-
cycle, as to budget a certain amount of monies into a Capitol Account to cover
replacement of what they already have, however, mentioned this could not be
done in one year. He stated a benefit
would be realized on the debt when laying out a long-term plan for purchases.
Commissioner
Krueger asked about impact fees.
Administrator
DeGrave stated they are cumbersome and expensive and needed a study and/or work
plan mentioning that it was not unusual to spend $15,000 to $20,000 for the
impact fee.
There was a
consensus from the board members to move forward with the spending/funding
process. Administrator DeGrave stated
he would move forward and speak to R. W. Baird & Company.
Commissioner Handevidt questioned an
expense for snow removal and the fact that our street department does the
removal.
Jeff Roth said that next year this process
will change.
MOTION: Commissioner Handevidt, second
Commissioner Sprague to approve the expenditures as submitted with the
exception of (none). Motion carried
unanimously.
MOTION: Commissioner Handevidt, second Commissioner Sprague to adopt to
approve the funding for the architectural design of the American Drive garage
project estimated to be $100,000 as submitted.
Motion carried unanimously.
MOTION: Commissioner Sprague, second
Commissioner Jurgensen to adopt to approve the final assessments for Glenview
Drive, Linwood Lane, and Deerwood Drive, as amended. Motion carried
unanimously.
MOTION: Commissioner Sprague, second
Commissioner Krueger to adopt to approve the final assessments for East Shady
Lane from Cold Spring Road to Olde Buggy Drive, as amended. Motion carried
unanimously.
MOTION: Commissioner Krueger, second
Commissioner Sprague to adopt to approve bids for East Shady Lane sewer and
water projects, as submitted. Motion carried unanimously.
President Tews asked whether the residents were notified of this resolution.
Administrator
DeGrave stated that a Public Hearing was held, notification sent and a deferred
assessment applied to their property with no other choice available. A letter will be going out to residents in
this regard.
MOTION: Commissioner Sprague, second Commissioner Krueger to adopt to
approve mandated Utility District property connections to sewer and/or water
within 360 days and transfer assessments from deferred to active status, as
submitted. Motion carried unanimously.
A.
Town
Administrator – No report.
B. Town Engineer – No report
C. Water Superintendent – No report
D. Wastewater Superintendent – Superintendent Steve Laabs reported that he has received a check
from Globe Contractors for half the cost of lateral repairs, which had been
their responsibility during the reconstruction of the sanitary sewer in
Gardner’s Row subdivision.
Steve also stated he would be getting the televising program back in order.
E.
Commissioners
Ø Commissioner Krueger – No report
Ø
Commissioner
Sprague – No report
Ø
Commissioner
Jurgensen – No report
Ø
Commissioner
Handevidt – No report
F. Commission President - President Tews
requested proposed cost regarding the proposed town’s name change.
Administrator DeGrave stated the proposed name change would cost approximately $50,000.00, which would not include the cost of replacing vehicle emblems, or stationary alterations and some items can be replaced on an as-needed basis.
G. Other Town Officials
Myra Piergrossi reported on the Water Rate meeting and gave a handout to board members.
Administrator
DeGrave asked if the percentage change reflected the reduction taken off of the
levy side.
Myra stated
that it does not.
President Tews
requested a lot breakdown in future reports.
At 5:45 p.m.,
MOTION: Commissioner Sprague, second Commissioner Krueger to adjourn the
regular meeting of the Utility District of Commissioners. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully
submitted,
Karen J. Tweedie
Deputy Clerk
Town of Menasha