[0:02] Call this meeting of the county council to order. Roll call, please. [0:05] » Alderman Goldberger >> here. [0:07] » Strader >> here. [0:08] » Stman >> here. Maki [0:09] » here. >> Ter here. Tony [0:11] » here. >> Meer here. Niles [0:12] » here. >> Thank you. At this time, we'll entertain [0:16] public participation. Anyone would like to address the council may do so. We ask [0:20] that you please come to the podium, state your name and address and reason [0:24] for appearing. Anyone? [0:29] Ladies first. [clears throat] [0:38] » Ellen Walber, 606 Windsor Terrace. Um, I just wanted to make a comment on the um [0:44] resolutions regarding data centers. Um, first of all, I think it's definitely [0:49] the right thing to do to be putting these um regulations in place prior to [0:56] um anything coming forward in the future. Uh, but as I looked at the um [1:02] language, I thought one um thing that could be potentially changed under it's [1:10] 1.0, I know it's on page seven. Um, point C, all buildings shall be located [1:16] a minimum of 250 ft from residentially zoned property. 250 ft to me is awfully [1:24] small for putting up a big data center next to somebody's house. So, I would [1:28] like to see you consider having that be uh a longer distance. And then um if you [1:37] should start considering a a proposal from a data data center that there be a [1:42] lot of transparency right from the get-go so that citizens do have the [1:46] opportunity to voice their opinion because we've certainly seen what's been [1:50] happening in a lot of the other communities um where this has been [1:54] happening. That's all I wanted to say. Thank you. [1:58] Anyone else? [2:07] » Good evening. Good evening everybody. I'm Jason Marin and 4750 Pop Road in [2:11] Jefferson, Wisconsin. Uh I'm up here today and I was thankfully here earlier [2:16] to hear some of the ordinance proposal for the street closure. I there's a [2:20] couple of points that were in there that I thought were um at least good for [2:24] conversation and thankfully uh Alderman Overberger was able to address two of [2:28] them. So the back side of this document we can just ignore uh the front side of [2:32] it when I looked through the definition of the applicants and the way the [2:36] ordinance was at least drafted into the initial part of it. It made it sound [2:40] like the person that was signing that document would hold a lot of the [2:43] liability for the for the event itself. And I think that dropped off enough [2:48] documents in the last couple of years here. I look at that and think if I were [2:52] to have to sign my name on a document and then I personally be held liable for [2:55] any potential whatever that could happen in an event. I don't carry that kind of [2:59] liability insurance. I know the organizations do for the events and so [3:02] that's what I kind of put on the front side of this document. I do apologize. I [3:06] don't have enough for everybody that's up here. There's definitely enough for [3:08] each of the other persons. So just the one side like I said the back side [3:13] already had those ideas kind of out earlier but if there's a chance that [3:17] that language could be traum somewhat changed not that it has removed the [3:22] liability but just make sure that liability falls squarely on the um on [3:27] the organization that's holding it and I know we talked about the liability [3:29] insurance as well previously and presumably each of the organizations [3:33] have that liability insurance and so I just hope that that would get thrown in [3:37] consideration if that ordinance were to move forward. [3:40] So that's it. >> Thank you. Thank you, Jason. [3:46] [clears throat] Anyone else? [3:52] » Is there anyone else? >> Okay. [3:58] » Hello everybody. Um Julia Chi, [clears throat and cough] [4:00] » excuse me. Is that is that light on there? Can you please press the button? [4:07] » There you go. couldn't you? Um Julia Shady, 214 East Greenwood Street in [4:13] Jefferson. And um I just wanted to um the ordinance for the street closure. [4:21] Just wanted to bring up a couple a couple thoughts. I think most of them [4:25] were already um addressed, but the definition of the city property also [4:31] includes parks and streets, not just the um the main streets, which I could see [4:37] them posing a problem for the Kikan picnic, the car shows that we do down [4:42] there, the meat pipes event that's host hosted at Rotary Park. Um I could see [4:48] because we closed that road down right back here that that would be applied as [4:52] well. So if that's not part of it, the language needs to get changed on that [4:56] too. That make sense? [5:03] Oh, you guys can't answer me. So hopefully that makes sense. But the [5:05] language should be clearly in there that when the Rotary Park is closing that [5:10] street right in front of Rotary Park because that's where they put the [5:13] vendors and the car shows and um you know so music in the park get the way [5:18] it's written now music in the um park could get um affected people could be [5:23] affected and those other events that we don't want to have penalized for it. So [5:28] I just wanted to make sure the verbiage got was put in there to protect those [5:31] events as well. >> Thank you. [5:36] Anyone else? [5:40] Is there anyone else that would like to address the council? [5:45] Um, hearing no. And I have uh something I'd like to share. But first, I'm [5:49] because of uh recent uh questions about the intersection of South Main Street [5:55] and Highway N. I'm going to ask Director of Public Works Todd Clark to address [6:00] that and give an update on it so that we can get um accurate information. [6:06] » Thanks, Mayor. Uh so, for those of you that don't don't know, the reason those [6:10] lights are out is uh a subcontractor that was directionally boring bored [6:14] through some of one of the conduits for the cable there. Uh caused major [6:19] electrical damage in the control box. Um we're lucky we got it going the way it [6:24] is with a four-way stop. uh was submitted to insurance and just last [6:29] week we got approval from the insurance to move ahead to order the new [6:34] equipment. Uh the equipment will be new and updated equipment. [6:39] Uh it will be the camera system. So now we will be able to move that stop bar [6:43] back further. It will be able to identify cars, motorcycles, whatever [6:48] without having to pull so far forward. So kind of a I guess happy accident that [6:53] uh this is going to be uh improve that intersection uh quite a bit and and [6:59] update the equipment at the same time. [7:04] » When you talk about church, you're talking about our insurance policy, [7:07] right? >> Correct. That we made a claim against [7:10] the [7:17] » Okay. And um at such point when the the lights are fixed and brought back to [7:23] full working order again, uh the city would have the option of that at that [7:28] time. If they wanted to just make a flash red, they could do that. Or if [7:33] they wanted them to go through the full cycle like they have for many years cuz [7:38] some people have expressed a preference for keeping it the way it is. There's [7:42] probably some good reasons for for doing that. There's probably some good reasons [7:46] for uh maintaining a fully controlled intersection, especially if it's [7:50] upgraded with uh modern technology. >> Correct. Because there's pros and cons. [7:57] People feel they like the four-way stop better. Uh there's also concerns when [8:03] traffic is heavier volumes. It creates no breaks in the traffic for say [8:07] Plymouth Street. Uh trying to turn turn left out of there becomes impossible in [8:12] the afternoon. So, there's pros and cons, but uh you know, [8:16] Nestle is going to be having their drop lot uh back where the Wisconsin Drain [8:21] Tile Company used to be. So, there's going to be a lot more truck traffic, [8:24] semi traffic coming off of Plymouth. Um, so right now, uh, my feeling is I don't [8:31] know if we can keep the four-way stop, but like I said, it's going to be a much [8:35] improved traffic system that's going to be at that intersection and make make it [8:40] a a better intersection for being able to control it. We can obviously have a [8:45] little more flexibility on the timing and everything with new equipment as [8:48] well. >> Thank you for that information, Todd. I [8:53] have one other communication I'd like to share uh with the council and the public [8:57] here tonight. Hello, Mayor Mayor. My name is [9:02] My name is Phil Ellis, outreach coordinator for Lifeline Pilots. [9:06] Recognizing the desire of city mayors and managers to serve their community. I [9:11] wanted to tell you about our nocost air travel. This service is for [9:15] non-emergency patients who require care at specialty hospitals like the Mayo [9:20] Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, MD Anderson, University of Michigan Medical Center, [9:27] Cincinnati Children's Hospital, etc. We cover 10 states in the Great [9:32] Lakes/Midwest area and partner with similar [9:35] organizations across the US, enabling us to fly from anywhere in Wisconsin to [9:42] destinations across the continental US is in reach. We are a volunteer-based [9:48] organization. Pilots who cover all travel costs for patients as a [9:52] humanitarian gesture. Our pilots will pick up patients in their local [9:57] community, fly them to their medical destination, and bring them home, all [10:01] free of charge. These volunteer pilots build the mission of lifeline pilots [10:06] every day, helping those in need reach their destination for special care and [10:12] eliminating the burden of commercial air travel. I [clears throat] hope you can [10:16] share this service with your community officials and residents when patients [10:20] face these lifethreatening situations knowing that their air travel burden [10:25] will be eliminated thanks to the coordination of local city officials. [10:30] Everyone wins. I would like to connect with you by virtual meeting and a time [10:34] to discuss this. [clears throat] So that's lifeline. If anyone has any [10:39] information, uh, you can come to city hall and get specific [clears throat] [10:44] information if you know of someone that's in this situation and needs [10:48] non-emergency transportation [10:51] uh, to remote locations. That's all we have for communications [10:56] [clears throat] tonight. We'll move on to uh proposed ordinance number 1-26, [11:02] an ordinance to repeal or replace section 240-8 of the municipal code of [11:08] Jefferson concerning the temporary [clears throat] [11:11] closure of public rightways in the city. Alderman trader, please. [11:16] » Mr. Mr. Mayor, whereas the city of Jefferson has adopted the an ordinance, [11:19] namely 240-8 regulating the temporary closure of [11:24] public rights away within the city. And whereas the city has recently [11:28] experienced an increase in applications to close public rights away, telling the [11:33] city to clarify the procedure for processing these applications. Due to [11:38] its length and in lie of reading the entire ordinance, a copy is available [11:43] for inspection in city hall during regular business hours. This is a first [11:48] reading. >> Thank you. And there was a uhformational [11:53] discussion uh on this at the committee the whole tonight. uh the comments that [11:58] were offered there [clears throat] will be taken into consideration [12:02] uh by city attorney Rogers and staff uh and we'll uh come back and bring this [12:08] back for a second reading at a future meeting. Next ordinance-2-20 [12:15] an ordinance to repeal and replace sections of subsection 300 of the [12:19] municipal code of the city of Jefferson regarding signs to please. [12:24] » Thank you honorable mayor. Whereas the city [snorts] of Jefferson, Wisconsin, [12:28] the city has previously enacted signed usage regulations as part of its zoning [12:32] code. And whereas the common council, the city hereby finds that is in the [12:36] best interest of the city to clarify certain portions of its sign usage [12:41] regulations. Due to its length in lie of reading the complete text of this [12:45] ordinance, a complete copy is on file at the city of the office clerk and is [12:49] available for public inspection. >> Thank you. Tim, can you please offer [12:55] some uh additional comments [clears throat] [12:58] with regard to this if you would just kind of summarize the intent of this [13:02] because it was brought forward at the request of local business and uh we [13:07] believe that it's appropriate to revisit our [clears throat] our policy at this [13:11] point. >> I can indeed do that. Um uh I would say [13:16] this matter comes to you uh on recommendation of the plan commission. [13:21] they have been um [cough] uh looking at this matter and uh the [13:26] mayor is correct. Uh there was actually more than one. We've had a a couple of [13:31] these instances which um this ordinance hopefully will [13:36] help the city address. Um [clears throat] [13:39] this is a amendment to the city's zoning ordinance. [13:44] uh [cough] the city's uh sign permit regulations inside that zoning [13:51] ordinance. [clears throat] So that does require a public hearing. [13:55] Uh that is anticipated to occur at uh the second meeting of the commission in [14:00] January. That would be [clears throat] uh the fourth Tuesday. I don't know what [14:05] date that is off hand, but [clears throat] it's the fourth Tuesday [14:08] in January. Uh the change that uh is being recommended that uh has been uh [14:16] addressed in uh this amended ordinance uh deals with pylon signs. Uh pylon sign [14:25] is a sign that is on some kind of pole elevated off the ground usually 8 10 12 [14:32] ft. Uh those are no longer permitted in the city. Um we have lots of them. So [14:39] they're like legal but nonconforming signs. Uh in lie of that, the city [14:45] permits monument signs and you're starting to see [clears throat] quite a [14:49] few of those. But we also have quite a few of these legal nonconforming pylon [14:54] signs. And um in in several cases uh the owners of those signs wanted to change [15:04] out uh the manual reader reader board component of those signs changeable copy [15:10] with electronic reader boards and uh our code would not allow for that because of [15:16] the uh non-conforming status. So [clears throat] what this proposed [15:21] amendment does allow is that uh for owners of legal but non-conforming signs [15:30] that want to make such a change, changing out the reader board component [15:36] from manual to record. As long as [clears throat] the size of the sign [15:39] face isn't changed, uh that would be something that could be permitted. uh [15:44] the plan commission would be the one typically reviewing that application and [15:48] granting that request if this amendment is made. [15:52] » Okay. >> Thank you, gentlemen. Really, this is an [15:55] updating of the ordinance to uh respond to current [cough and clears throat] [16:00] technology or that be [16:03] » video based signs. >> Okay. And that will come back for a [16:08] second reading in a future meeting as well. Ordinance number 3-26, an [16:13] ordinance amending the city's zoning code in order to regulate construction [16:18] and operation of data centers. Paul Wenberger, please. [16:22] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Members of the common council, citizens of Jefferson, [16:26] whereas it has come to the attention of the city's common council that data [16:29] centers have become frequently more common in the state of Wisconsin. [16:32] [snorts] And whereas there is no mention or reg or regulation of data centers in [16:36] the city's zoning code and whereas the city's common council have come to the [16:40] conclusion that it is in the best interest of the city that the city's [16:43] zoning code be amended so the city will be prepared should there be a proposal [16:47] to construct the data center inside the city's legal boundaries due to the due [16:52] to its length [clears throat] in l of reading the complete text resources or [16:55] resolution. A complete copy is on file to the office of the city clerk and is [16:59] available for public inspection. This is the first reading of this proposed [17:03] ordinance. >> Thank you. And Jim, could you please [17:07] once again provide a brief uh explanation of the reason for this uh [17:13] issue? [clears throat] >> Sure. Uh this matter also is coming [17:16] before you tonight on the recommendation of the plan commission. Uh again, it's [17:21] an amendment of the city zoning ordinance that requires a public hearing [17:24] held at the plan commission level. That public hearing is also set for that [17:30] fourth Tuesday in uh January. After that public hearing and plan [clears throat] [17:36] commission action, uh it will come back uh as a second reading. Um here's the [17:42] the quick skinny on this. Uh per my friend Ellen's comments, um the city [17:48] does not have specific means to regulate data centers. Um this is a practical [17:58] first step to allow the city to regulate them should at some time in the future [18:03] there be some uh proposal or application to develop one within the within the [18:08] city. There there is [snorts] no such application now. Um [clears throat] [18:14] the key I would say is that if the city got an application tomorrow, the city [18:20] would try to enforce that under its existing zoning ordinance which doesn't [18:25] recognize data centers. So we would try to regulate under some industrial or [18:32] manufacturing zoning district. What the change, the proposed change essentially [18:39] does, it requires data centers to locate in the city's [18:45] heavy industrial district. Now, we provide for that zoning district, but [18:50] there are no properties currently zoned heavy industrial in the city of [18:55] Jefferson. Now, if you're thinking, why does the city why doesn't the city just [19:01] prohibit them altogether? You can't do that legally. you have to provide for [19:06] them [clears throat] uh for a place to go. We're choosing to [19:09] do it in the heavy industrial district which the city can regulate to the [19:14] greatest extent that it can. And again, we have that district, but we don't have [19:19] a single property in the city that is zon heavy industrial. So, uh, an [19:24] application, uh, or a developer that wants to do one would have to come in, [19:29] ask for a reszone on the property to that heavy industrial district. And the [19:36] city has really no legal obligation to grant that zoning should it choose not [19:42] to to do so. >> If I could add, Mr. Pay, um, with this [19:48] zoning change, a public hearing would be required. Yeah, absolutely. [19:53] » Yes. >> Thank you, Ch. Next up, uh, resolution [20:00] number 83. Tonight's consent agenda following the computer, please. [20:04] » Thank you, honorable mayor. Be it resolved by the common council of the [20:07] city of city of Jefferson, Wisconsin. The consent agenda for January 6, 2025 [20:13] is hereby adopted. [clears throat] vouchers payable for the December [20:16] payables in the amount of $727,21746. [20:23] January payables in the amount of $248,85845. [20:30] Payroll summary for December 26, 2025 for the amount of $233,654.98. [20:40] Council minutes from December 16th and December 22nd, 2025 of the common [20:45] council and licenses approved for the reg by the regulatory committee today [20:51] with no operator's license. We had a class A beer beer and liquor license for [20:56] wine and roses [clears throat] um and with for the new owner Bethany [21:02] Stallman. temporary class B Optimus Club of Jefferson for a trivia contest on [21:08] January 31st at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds and the taxi cab license for [21:14] Brown Cab, Inc. for one-year license for two vehicles. I would so move. Is there [21:20] a second? >> Second. [21:22] » Second by Alderwoman Byer. Any discussion, questions or comments? [21:30] This was all approved at the regulatory committee. [21:32] » But was subc struck in the consent agenda? [21:38] » Yes sir. Was deleted and referred uh by the [21:45] finance committee to [laughter] discussion for funding. [21:49] » I correct. >> Yes, that is correct. [21:55] » Any other questions or comments? Hearing none. All in favor of tonight's consent [22:01] agenda as presented, please signify by saying I as your name is called. No, if [22:06] you're opposed. >> Alderman. [22:08] » Hi. >> Stone. [22:09] » Hi. >> Mi. [22:10] » Hi. >> Teter. [22:11] » Hi. >> Tony. [22:12] » Hi. >> Meer. [22:13] » I. >> Niles. [22:14] » Iber. >> Abstain as to council minutes for [22:17] December 16th. I as to the remainder. >> Thank you. [22:22] Resolution number 84, a resolution authorizing the purchase of parks, [22:26] machinery, and equipment. All the roll now. [22:30] » Thank you, Mayor Aerman, citizens of Jefferson, council members. City of [22:33] Jefferson resolution number 84 authorizing to purchase parks, [22:37] machinery, and equipment. Whereas the city of Jefferson has budgeted $50,000 [22:42] in the 2026 capital improvement plan for parks machinery. And whereas the city [22:47] has generated $9,825 in proceeds from the fall auction sale [22:53] of equipment to be applied towards his purchase. And whereas the parks and [22:57] recreation department with the assistance of the city's chief mechanic [23:00] and fleet manager has solicited three competitive bids for a Bobcat L28 [23:06] articulating loader with attachments. And whereas Bobcat of Madison has [23:10] submitted the lowest responsible bid. Now therefore, be it resolved by the [23:14] common council in the city of Jefferson that city staff is hereby authorized to [23:19] execute the purchase of one Bobcat L28 articulating loader, two attachments, [23:25] and >> [cough and clears throat] [23:26] » warranties not to exceed a total cost of $59,825. [23:31] I so moved. >> It's been moved. Is there a second? [23:34] » Second. Second by Alman Schrader. Uh we have Chless tonight. [23:42] Anything else you'd like to share about this piece of code? [23:44] » Um it pretty much spells it all in the resolution. This is a budgeted item in [23:49] the 2026 capital improvement plan. Um the you do have in within your packet [23:55] the three competitive bids that were given and so we will be under that [24:00] 59,825 for the purchase of that. Um the two [24:03] implements I can tell you one includes a brush and one will also probably include [24:07] a snowblower attachment. Um the city parks department is responsible for [24:13] removing snow in any city rightway area. That includes out here for city hall. [24:17] that includes any of the bridges within town, the sidewalks that exist. And then [24:22] obviously we have places like the VFW, the senior center, um, and we also have [24:27] the conservancy path and we also have the path blue park that also has to be [24:32] removed. So by having that articulating Bobcat with those functions on it, it [24:36] allows us to be more efficient with the snow removal in those areas. In [24:40] addition, we also use that articulating Bobcat for things like um tree removals [24:44] when we take down trees and we have to load them in the back of the [24:47] » [clears throat] >> that equipment is also purpose for that [24:50] as well. So, it's a very important piece of mach machinery for us um in our [24:54] future work. >> Are there any questions or comments from [24:59] the council? >> What were we using before? [25:02] » Well, so we do have a L28 articulating Bobcat now that's been in that's been [25:07] commissioned for probably [snorts] three or four years already and because of its [25:11] use >> eventually it's one of those things [25:14] where we have to start looking at cycling them out. Um, so having two of [25:17] them available makes our work a lot better. [25:21] » Any other questions or comments? >> Thank you, Chad. [25:26] » Hearing none. All in favor of resolution number 84, please signify by saying I as [25:31] your name is called. No further opposed. >> Stman, [25:33] » I ter I [25:37] » Niles Ider. >> Hi. [25:40] » It's unanimous. Thank you. Resolution number 85, a resolution approving cost [25:45] reimbursement for additional installation depth of sewer main for the [25:49] Jefferson Hills condominiums project. [laughter] A woman buyer, please. [25:54] » Honorable mayor, council members, and citizens, whereas the city of Jefferson [25:58] intends to extend sewer at the later at a later date yet to be determined to un [26:05] undeveloped area east of Jefferson Hills condominium project. And whereas this [26:10] requires the sewer main to be installed at the depth and cost greater than the [26:16] required for the Jefferson Hills condo project and where thou fair thou fit [26:22] there be it resolved by the common council of the city of Jefferson [26:25] Wisconsin that earn re approves the reimbursement to the Jefferson Hills [26:31] Condominiums LLC in the amount of $49,000 for additional costs including [26:38] bench engineering. ing and installation and be it resolved that by the common [26:43] council of city of Jefferson that the city administrator is here and [26:47] authorized and directed to execute any contract or document associated with the [26:53] above action on behalf of the city of Jefferson following its review by the [26:58] city attorney. I would so move. >> It's been moved. Is there a second? [27:02] » Second. Second by alderman. Um Todd, would you please [27:07] a brief explanation of this and just describe uh where this is located and [27:13] why it's necessary to uh provide additional depth. [27:18] » Sure. So, this uh project is out by uh the hotel on the north side of town on [27:23] the north uh north main business highway 26 and Junction Road. Uh the sewer right [27:29] now uh you may have seen some of the construction uh right along the turn [27:34] lane onto Junction Road. That is where the manhole is that they tied into. They [27:39] are extending sewer uh to the east end into their project. Uh this is the [27:45] project as you can see right on the screen right now. Uh they also have a [27:50] roadway that is proposed to be built and just kind of deadended or hammerheaded [27:55] uh to the east. Uh like the ordinance or the resolution said, they don't need to [28:02] put it in this deep to serve their project, but we would like to make the [28:05] area to the east uh developable with uh by putting the sewer in at additional [28:13] depth. So the area in orange is by putting this in [28:18] about 6 ft deeper uh the engineering the additional depth on the manholes uh [28:24] it'll allow us to serve this entire property all the way over to the [28:27] railroad tracks. Some of it's not even in the city yet it would have to be [28:31] annexed in. Uh and all these utilities that they put in will be dedicated back [28:35] to the city at some time become part of the city property. [28:39] » Thank you Jim. Right. Um, the only thing I'd add to uh [28:46] Todd's comments is the alternative is to extend service eastward on Junction [28:53] Road. Lot more expensive than oversizing, putting a little deeper uh [28:59] to get gravity flow on that big orange piece. Um, and as Todd mentioned, uh, [29:07] without mentioning any names, uh, there is a single family development proposed [29:13] on, uh, the piece of ground immediately to the east of, uh, the Jefferson Hills [29:20] uh, condominium uh, complex. And then there's one more piece that is not [29:25] within our corporate [clears throat] that takes us over to the railroad [29:29] tracks. Once you get on the other side of the railroad tracks, then I think [29:33] service is coming from the south, either up along Dwey or some other route. But [29:40] um our goal is to get to the railroad tracks for future planning as cheaply as [29:45] we can. So I I think it makes a lot of sense. The one thing I would say to you, [29:51] Chris, um, [clears throat] is that if the council approves the resolution, I [29:56] think you and I would need to develop uh, a simple agreement with the [30:02] developer out there that basically says, look, you oversize the sewer, you put it [30:09] deeper, we'll we'll we'll pay for it at that $49,000. [30:14] » Be a problem. [clears throat] [30:16] » Thank you. Does anyone have any questions of Todd, Tim, or Chris? [30:25] None. Okay. Call the role on resolution number 85. All in favor, please signify [30:32] by saying I. As your name is called, if you're opposed, [30:35] » I >> I [30:41] unanimous. Thank you. I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. [30:45] » I so move. It's been a move. Is there a second [30:50] on our voice? All in favor of a journal, please signify by saying I. I. You. [30:55] Thank you. We are journ. Have a good night.