City OKs reducing water tower rent 
by Brian Wilson
The Star News
January 28, 2010 —  The City of Medford is banking on getting a little less revenue in the short term in order to get more revenue in the future.
During the committee of the whole portion of Monday night's city council meeting, aldermen voted to recommend lowering the rent charged for db Communication's wireless Internet transmitters located on the city water tower near the fire hall. Db Communications offers high speed Internet access transmitted wirelessly to receivers located at houses or businesses. Once at the structure, a router connects the computers on the local network to the Internet. Db Communications provides Internet service to city hall as part of the lease contract and also provides high speed Internet to the Frances L. Simek Memorial Library.
A contract with db Communications sets the rate at $500 per month and earlier this fall the company's owner asked the city for a temporary reduction to $100 per month. That reduction extended until December and the company paid the full rent in January, The company is the only renter currently using the tower and even at the reduced rate, the city is making money off the deal.
“$100 is better than zero dollars,” said Alderman Mike Bub supporting reducing the rent charged for the next three months.
While she supported temporarily lowering the rent on the tower, alderman Arlene Parent also noted that in general she felt the rates charged for Internet users regardless of company used were too high. “I think it is too bad they can't put a rate that you would want to pay,” she said noting there were likely many people who choose not to have Internet service because of the cost.
Hotel/Motel Room Tax
Aldermen approved two requests for tourism grants and recommended approval of another one, with alderman Arlene Parent asking if one group was asking for enough money.
Alderman approved $2,500 for Chamber of Commerce Women’s Weekend Event to be held February 26, 27 and 28 after getting additional information including a list of areas where women will be coming from for the event.
Alderman also gave final approval for $2,500 for the Medford Lions Club Sled Dog Race to be held February 13-14. The event is expected to draw 110 mushers with more than 400 dogs from a five-state region. Depending on weather conditions the event, which will be held at the Brecke Rodeo Grounds is expected to draw about 1,000 people.
The new request reviewed during the committee of the whole portion of the meeting, was for a Snow Cross race at the Taylor County Fairgrounds on February 20. The event is put on by the Westside Trailwinders. Last year the group had gotten $1,000 for the event. However, this year organizers are only asking for $500, which lead Parent to question if they were asking for enough money.
The tourism grants are awarded to area not for profit groups to help promote events in the community. Money for the grants comes from a 4 percent room tax on people staying in city motels.
In other business, the council:
´ Recommended approval of a new 3-year lease with the Medford Area Chamber of Commerce for rent of the former Medford Public Library Building. The new lease raised the rent to $200 per month until June 30. Starting July 1 and going to the following June rent will be $225 and will go up an additional $25 per month the following year. The new agreement replaces a 10-year lease which expired last year.
´ Received the annual state of the city report presented by city coordinator John Fales with the department heads. The annual report highlights the areas the city department are working on and what achievements have been met in the past year. Mayor Mike Wellner noted while most things come through council for approval, it is easy to forget what has been done over the course of a year.
´ Approved Dave J. Brandner to replace Dan Kraschnewski as a city representative on the Medford Area Fire Commission. Brandner currently is a member of the Medford Planning Commission and is a former Medford alderman.
´ Reapproved the plat for the Rogers Addition to the north of Allman Street on the city’s northeast corner. The city had previously approved the plat on October 2, but it was misplaced at city hall and not filed with the register of deeds office in the required 30 days. A new original document identical to the first one was prepared and presented to council for approval.
´ Recommended contracting with Process Equipment Repair Services of West Bend for $62,000 to rebuild the grit classifier at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. According to superintendent Jim Hall, the equipment, used to remove sand and grit from the incoming raw sewage at the plant, is wearing out after more than 20 years of use. By rebuilding a portion of the total grit separation unit the city will be saving money, Hall said a new unit would cost two to three times more than having it rebuilt. Money for the project will come from the wastewater treatment plant budget which is funded with utility bills.
´ Recommended the purchase of a used Bobcat Skid Steer from Niemuth Implement of Stetsonville for $16,000. The 2005 model has 941 hours on its engine. Comparable units from Gehl of Thorp were a 2006 with 505 hours for $19,900 and Riester and Schnell of Medford for a a 2003 with 1,148 hours for $22,900. The department previously did not have a skid steer and it will be used in helping move 55 gallon drums of treatment chemicals and other materials at the treatment plant.
´ Recommended approval of a parade permit for the American Cancer Society for the annual run/walk on Friday, May 21 beginning at 6:45 p.m. and ending at 10:30 p.m. and the Alzheimer's Memory Walk for Saturday, Sept. 11 at 8 a.m.
´ Set labor rate charged to private parties when city crew members work for them from the 2009 rate of $31 per hour to $32 per hour until July 1 and $33 per hour from July 1 to December 31. The rate reflects the total burden cost of wages and benefits of the employees and is adjusted each winter.
´ Approved paying $8,726.85 which is the full total of five years worth of property taxes to the townships for the Black River Golf Course property. The law requires the taxes due to the towns only on the amount of the year it was annexed, not on any value assigned to the property after that time. Money for the payment will come out of the city’s contingency fund.

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