Beloit City Council – March 21, 2017

The Beloit City Council met on Tuesday night at the Beloit Municipal Building. Councilman Raymond Pontow was absent.

The council considered the Court Street improvement project discussed at the previous meeting. The block of Court Street between Hersey and Mill will have the brick street replaced as well as the water main beneath it. The total projected cost of $42,815 plus a 15 percent contingency, in case of unforeseen expenses, of $6,422 was approved unanimously. The city plans to meet with businesses along that block next week to coordinate plans to start the project as soon as possible. All work will be performed by the City of Beloit.

The council approved the consent agenda including the March 7 meeting minutes and Appropriations 3B with expenditures for the period totaling $248,390.

The council passed Ordinance 2205 which repealed Article 3, Chapter 16 of the Beloit City Code dealing with a change in the city’s policy on use of UTV’s and ATV’s in the city limits as the Ordinance is being replaced by Ordinance 2206 Regulating the Operation of Motorized Off-Road Vehicles. The ordinance will allow citizens to continue to operate motorized off-road vehicles on private property within the city limits. However, it will give the city enforcement capabilities in the instances where said operation is deemed to be inappropriate or a nuisance to neighbors and/or a neighborhood in general. The ordinance is also separate from the ordinance allowing the operation of properly licensed UTV’s on city streets.

It will be unlawful for anyone to use any off-road vehicle on a public sidewalk as well as on park grounds or public recreation areas. Any activity deemed reckless or negligent or that endangers the safety or property of others will also not be allowed. Violators will be subject to a $50 to $500 fine or confinement of up to 30 days in jail.

The council also approved a special event license for the use of the white building at Chautauqua Park on May 27 for a class reunion for the Beloit High School Class of 1977 to Sheila Wagner.

The council then approved a bid from McGee Roofing of Clay Center in the amount of $33,150. This was the low bid on replacing the existing roof of the Alternative Learning Center with a metal roof. It has been in poor condition for several years and was not insurable prior to the hail storm of August 2015. Former Interim City Administrator Jay Newton prepared for this project financially when compiling the budget for this year.

The metal roof is about $5,000 more than a membrane roof system, but the higher price of the metal roof is “easily outweighed by the lifespan and lower maintenance costs in comparison to the membrane system” according to City Administrator Jason Rabe’s request for council action on the project.

The council then approved bidding on a 1999 International 4700 flatbed truck with 51,000 miles. It has an assumed value of between $15,000 and $20,000. The vehicle is located in Lenexa, Kan. and would replace one of the city’s existing trucks which are 1977 and 1981 GM models respectively. The truck was used for watering by the Lenexa Park’s Department, and was stored in the winter months. It has been inspected for the City of Beloit by Mike Clark and Craig Morcotte. Clark said it is in very good shape and should last for a good length of time. The Purple Wave auction on the truck ends April 4.

The council also approved a new City of Beloit Personnel Policy outlined at the previous meeting. The previous policy manual was updated by the Austin Peters Group along with City Clerk Mandy Lomax, City Attorney Katie Schroeder and City Administrator Jason Rabe.

The council then approved the Pay Administration Policy for the city. The policy deals with annually moving wage scales, starting wages, top out wages and annual merit increases. The wage scale increase will take effect January 1, 2018. The council also approved a wage study conducted by Austin Peters Group as well. The impact of which will raise the city’s overall payroll by a net $8,419 for the year when implemented. It will increase wage ranges by approximately 2.5 percent.

In the work session Rabe discussed the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) by providing a handout to the council members to serve as a guide on thoughts and brainstorming in preparation for their CIP meeting on March 28 at 6 p.m. at the Municipal Building.

Rabe also discussed making a change to the agenda structure to possibly move work session items to earlier in the meeting in case there are items that could be discussed and approved at that time. No action was taken at the time following discussion.

The Beloit City Council is next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, April 4 at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Building in Beloit.