sible to reduce the amount ….

sible to reduce the amount of lines needed. He said they would likely be located near existing power poles to keep installation costs economical.

The five locations selected include: Jaycee ball diamond, City Park and pool area, Medford Area Senior High School/Simek Center, Aspirus parking lot and Medford Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber parking lot.

City council members questioned liability, cost and ongoing maintenance responsibility.

“We take on liability?” asked council member Laura Holmes.

Harris replied that GM would give the city the five chargers, valued at $10,000 each, and the city would own them. He said under terms of the agreement, the city would commit to maintaining them for at least 5 years and noted they have a 10-year expected service life. If they are damaged or destroyed, the chargers would fall under the city’s general property insurance like any other piece of city-owned equipment.

Council member Ken Coyer questioned if the city had any information for the potential cost to repair and maintain the chargers for the first five years or beyond that.

Harris said the purchase cost of a new unit is $10,000. “That is what it would be at the most,” he said. Harris explained that when the city crews installed the chargers they would also install bollards, which the city already owns, to prevent people from accidentally running into them with their vehicles.

Council member Mike Bub expressed concern over the proposal. He said he supported Medford Motors request because Medford Motors was assuming all the responsibility and would be installing and maintaining them.

“Now we are asking potentially the taxpayers of Medford to subsidize GM stations,” Bub said.

Harris noted that GM is also requiring Wheelers to put a high speed charger in by their shop, as is Chrysler with Medford Chrysler. These would be additional community chargers.

“We won’t lose money on setting the price,” Harris said noting the city was getting $50,000 worth of chargers from GM from the agreement.

Council member Randy Haynes questioned the cost to the city of installing new transformers. Harris said the city would be able to install the chargers at those locations without needing to change or add transformers.

“We have the opportunity to offer this for people throughout the community,” said council member Christine Weix, noting someone can come and do business in the community or attend a sporting event and have their vehicle charged.

Harris said the city attorney reviewed the agreement with Wheelers and did not have any concerns. He also noted that after five years, the city council could vote to have them removed.

Council members voted unanimously to approve the contract with Wheelers for the community chargers.

Fireworks

Council members approved a fireworks display permit for following Medford graduation on May 26 at about 8 p.m. Big Daddy’s fireworks will once again being putting on the display.

City clerk Ashley Lemke noted that the fire department in reviewing the permit made additional recommendations including highlighting the school’s liability for potential damage to the turf field if fireworks materials fall on it and that it is dependent on evaluation of the fire danger rating the day before graduation. If the potential for wildfire is too high the fireworks could be canceled at that time.

Bub noted the permit request came in late. “They missed the deadline to apply,” Bub said, noting it was supposed to be in 45 days before the event to give the city time to review it.

Lemke noted that most of the fireworks applications they have received have missed the deadline. Harris said they have reached out to the owners of the local fireworks company to emphasize the need for groups to get their permits in sooner.

Weix noted in this case, the school district had paid for the fireworks back in September and they had time to get it in sooner. Bub said he felt it was unfair to have deadlines and not have people following them.

Harris suggested the city look at imposing a late fee in the future for those who submit a permit application after the deadline, but recommended approval of the graduation fireworks request with the additional stipulations.

In other business, council members:

  Approved the low bid of $2,122,645.00 for the city’s aeration system upgrades project for the wastewater treatment plan. The bid was submitted by August Winter and Sons, Inc. out of Appleton and is about $200,000 below the engineer’s estimate for the work. In related action, council members approved going through the state’s Clean Water Fund Loan Program for financing for the project.

  Approved a change in the city’s private well ordinance to include a clause requiring a well inspection every 10 years by a licensed well driller or pump installer and documented on inspection report form that is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, to be submitted to the Clerk. Harris said the city is being required by the state to include the language.

  Approved allowing the Farmer’s Market to be at the Whelen Ave. parking lot from 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning May 16 and running to mid-October. Harris said they spoke with the school district and the school will allow the market to use a portion of the school parking lot on Whelen Ave. during construction of a new park area and pavilion at the existing Whelen Ave. parking lot. Harris said he expected that work to begin after July 4.

  Approved hiring Energenecs in Saukville to update the city’s SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) program. The update will keep the system current with the upgrades that are taking place to the blower and monitoring systems of the sewer and improve monitoring. The $119,940 cost will be split between the water and wastewater utility budgets.