Menomonie City Council approves agreements, Walldogs and King Day Proclamations

CITY OF MENOMONIE
COUNCIL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
7:00 PM
Monday – January 6, 2025
AGENDA
Pledge of Allegiance
1. Roll Call & Special Recognitions
a. Walldogs Proclamation
b. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Proclamation

The proclamations are in the meeting packet. The Walldogs event is still looking for mural locations. 

2. Approval of Minutes

Minutes were approved.

3. Public Comments

There were no public comments.

4. New Business
a. Proposed 2025-2027 Cross Connection Agreement with HydroCorp – discussion and possible
action.

The Water Utility and Administration are presenting a proposed three-year Professional Service Agreement with HydroCorp to continue inspections and monitor cross-connection compliance of commercial and industrial customers connected to the city water distribution system. Commercial and industrial customers need to be inspected every two years, and due to their complex nature, an outside firm is recommended to complete those services. Residential cUStomers are inspected on a ten-year rotation per DNR requirements, which the Water Department will be completing with in-house staff. HydroCorp has been providing these services, which the administration recommends extending at an annual cost of $34,164.00 and a total cost of $102,492.00 for the three-year term. The Water Utility Supr. and Director of Public Works will be in attendance to answer Council questions. If the Council supports the agreement, the appropriate action is a motion to Approve the Agreement between the Cify of Menomonie, Beginning on January 1, 2025, and Ending on Decem/ier 31, 2027. (roll call vote)

This contract is in place of a cost of approximately $150,000 if handled by city staff. This is only for business and industrial services on this contract. The agreement was approved unanimously. 

b. Proposed 2025 Senior Center Lease Agreement – discussion and possible action.

The lease agreement with the Menomonie Area Senior Center, Inc. expired on December 31, 2024, and is due for renewal with the City. The lease is for the calendar year of 2025. If the Council supports the lease, a motion to Approve the presented lease with the Menomonie Area Senior Center, Inc. Would be the appropriate action. (simple majority vote)

The lease change is required because Stout's Child Services Program is moving into the Senior Center and will be using some of the Senior Center space.

 The agreement was approved by voice vote.

c. Human Trafficking Proclamation and Presentation by the Bridge to Hope – discussion only.

Mayor Knaack will proclaim Saturday, January 11, 2025, as Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

The Bridge to Hope's Executive Director, Molly Mooridian, will conduct a presentation about

Human Trafficking. No action is needed.

Molly Mooridian, Executive Director of Bridge to Hope, spoke to support the proclamation. The proclamation is included in the attached meeting packet. 

d. PILOT check presentation and HACOM update (Rebecca Kralewski) – discussion and possible
action

Rebecca Kralewski of the Menomonie Housing Authority will be at the meeting to present their annual payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to the City Council. If the Council supports the payment the appropriate motion would be: Mofion fo Approve AcceR!•“•g the Payment from the Menomonie Housing Authority in Lieu of Taxes. (simple majority vote)

This has been a quiet year for the Housing Authority. There have been some capital improvements to several of the buildings. Please see the video for the presentation. The housing authority has a combined total of 150 units. 

The payment was accepted by voice vote. 

5. Budget Transfers

There were no budget transfers.
6. Mayor’s Report

The Mayor covered some of the things the city did last year. These include:

• Kayak rental kiosk
• Park walkways
• Phelan Park playground improvements
• Batting cage and  pickleball courts
• ATV's in the city
• Bongey Drive repavement
• Other road improvements
• The new shared economic development director position
• Changes in TID agreements 
• Closed two development agreements for buildings downtown
• New Cedar Corp Headquarters
• Well 9 development
• DNR grant to replace ash trees. 
• 3-year one million dollar grant to continue Project Hope

7. Communications and Miscellaneous Business

There will beimprovements to make the parks accessible to everyone. More trees will be added to replace those lost to the Emerald Ash Borer. There will also be lighting improvements.

The city is hiring a new deputy clerk, who will start on Monday.  

There may be some action in 2025 on rail service. 

There has been no real trouble from the new UTV/ATV ordinance.

Christmas Tree Pickup is this Wednesday. 

a. Next January City Council Meeting will be Tuesday, January 21 because of  Martin Luther King Jr. day. 

8. Claims

The claims list was approved unanimously.

9. Licenses
a. Normal license list – discussion and possible action

There were no licenses. 
10. Adjourn 

Meeting was adjourned at 7:31 PM.

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