Henke discusses high overtime numbers

We can’t keep doing this or we’ll be in the poor house by the end of the year.”

Alderperson Mike Henke

“We have a lot to cover tonight in a short amount of time,” Mayor Al Haas said as the Stanley Council meeting began on the October 2nd.

Wage increases and new hires

City of Stanley public employees will see a wage increase of 3 percent beginning Jan. 1, 2024. City Public Works Operator John Hoel will receive a wage increase of 6% to $28.00 per hour. City Clerk Nicole Pilgrim will have a new title of Administrator Clerk Treasurer at the beginning of the year resulting in an increase in her yearly rate of from $55,702.40 to $68,000 if requirements of the new position are met. The Building Inspector, Bill Chwala, will receive $3,000 per year and the Fire Inspector Fire Chief Korey Hagenson will receive $4,000 per year.  Wages will not increase for fire department employees and part-time police officers.

“Did the budget committee take these increases into account?” Alderperson Jason Meyer questioned.

“We did what we could do. I mean, the numbers are what the numbers are,” Alderperson Jacob Huff answered referencing the Personnel Committee meeting held in closed session on Sept. 26.

The council approved the wage increases for the city employees with Alderperson Jason Meyer and Alderperson Laurie Foster voting against the motion.

The Council unanimously voted to hire Boyd resident, Joey Schmitt as the new Public Works employee at a starting wage of $23.50 hourly. Huff informed the Council that Schmitt has a heavy equipment background with HVAC and welding experience and currently works for the Department of Defense with plans to retire soon.

Police Department

Beginning with Stanley Police Chief Lance Weiland, the council discussed the memorandum of understanding of competitive starting wages of police officers. Chief Weiland presented the council with a breakdown of the starting wages of police officers in police departments in the area. It showed that the Stanley Police Department is at the bottom of the list in regard to starting pay.

 “We need to do something to address that,” Weiland commented, stating that if additional vacancies arise in the department in the future, it will be difficult to find applicants to fill those positions in Stanley. Currently starting wages begin at $23.81 for the first year and jump to $27.73 in the second year. The council decided to revise the later entry program to recognize the previous experience of an officer from another department if the officer becomes employed at the Stanley Police Department which would begin the experienced officer at the higher wage.

Weiland shared that this wouldn’t currently affect any officers at this time but would be an incentive for future new hires.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Alderperson Holly Kitchell said adding that it would help to attract new hires.

The council as a whole voted to approve to send an MOU to the Stanley Police Association with the revised lateral entry program.

Fire Department

Hagenson addressed the Council with members of the Stanley Fire Department in attendance concerning the service contracts or lack thereof with the Townships of Colburn and Wilson. The council recommended that Hagenson obtain service contracts with an updated fee schedule with Colburn and Wilson as the last ones were made in 1981 and 1994 respectively.

“We need to update those numbers,” Alderperson Mike Henke commented as Hagenson agreed.

“Right now, we bill them,” Hagenson said referring to individual residents as he explained that Colburn pays the normal scale while Wilson pays two times the scale.

“Do you generally receive compensation?” Fitzsimmons asked when Hagenson stated that he submits the bills to residents. Hagenson informed him that they do.

Henke stated that Hagenson should update the fee schedule and work with the city clerk to present a fire service contract for the townships of Colburn and Wilson to the Council at the next meeting.

“I’ll start working on that,” Hagenson responded.

Floodplain Ordinance

The Council unanimously approved the City’s floodplain ordinance.

“Not a whole lot we can do about it.  We just need to approve it.” Haas said.

The Council voted to move the ordinance draft to public hearing. The public hearing meeting will be held at the Stanley City Hall Conference Room on October 16 at 7pm to discuss revisions to the City Floodplain ordinance.

Public Works

Water operator Don Goettl discussed the two bids to move forward with the SCADA update at the water department and to provide a water telemetry control system. At the North plant the SCADA computers will be replaced with the software upgraded.

Goettl mentioned that the two bids were similar but there was “quite a difference in cost” between them.  Altronex Control Systems offered their proposal bid of $353,162 while PJ Kortens and Co. submitted their proposal at $259.900. The Council recommended to accept the bid from PJK in the amount of $259,900

Brian Lampert with Ayres Associates discussed with the council the goals for the water system study report. Regarding the grants due at the end of October, Haas asked, “We’re working on that, correct?”

Lampert stated that the reports showcase enough areas where the city can apply for projects.

Haas discussed with Lampert the need for a special meeting to discuss the various grants and timeline.

Lampert agreed and offered to provide technical help to the city at no extra cost to the City.

Alderperson Henke motioned to move forward with the Safe Drinking Water grant due on Oct. 31 and the Council unanimously approved.

Water Rate Case Study

The Council approved a Conventional Water Rate Case study by Ruekert & Mielke, Inc. for the City of Stanley for the 2024 test year. It also includes a Cost-of-Service study so the city can have greater control over how rates are designed. Haas said the rate case study needs to be done and the reason for doing it is to cover costs.

“The reason for doing it for next year 2024, water will not cover operating costs,” Henke stated.

Henke then motioned to recommend approval of the rate case study of $28,100 with full council approval.

Chippewa Valley Energy

Alderperson Mark Fitzsimmons presented to the council the lease agreement with Chippewa Valley Energy for the above ground propane tank. He explained that the lift station was redone, and a generator was installed to be used if the power goes out. Fitzsimmons remarked that it’s an emergency unit.

Kitchell asked, “Did we get pricing anywhere else?”

“Talk to Dean,” Fitzsimmons said.

Fire Chief Hagenson asked, “I have a question about this with the propane tank, being it’s 700 gallons of propane.”

“That’s usage,” Fitzsimmons interjected.

“It’s going to have crash barriers around it, correct?” Hagenson questioned.

“It’s all protected,” Fitzsimmons said.

Alderperson Josh Seidl motioned to approve the lease agreement with Chippewa Valley Energy for the above ground propane tank at the Elk Park at the $75 a year rental fee for the agreement with Fitzsimmons abstaining.

City of Stanley Policies

The council approved the City of Stanley’s Investment Policy, Credit Card Usage Policy, and Overtime policy due to the City not having a current policy in place for these items.

Henke expressed the need for a City Overtime Policy and mentioned that as of August there are already 500 hours of overtime and said it is getting more difficult to balance the budget when you are talking about that much overtime.

“We need to have a better handle on it otherwise my hair will be greyer,” Henke said. He added that the budget is only going to get tighter, and he wasn’t happy when he saw the overtime numbers. “We can’t keep doing this or we’ll be in the poor house by the end of the year.”

Under the new Overtime Policy, it states that overtime hours for snow removal is exempt, and water and wastewater weekend hours will be set at a maximum of five hours per day. Police Department overtime hours must be approved by the Police Chief and all other overtime needs must have prior approval of the mayor.