The Common Council met at City Hall in the City of Black River Falls on September 3, 2024 at 6:00 P.M.
Alderpersons Gearing-Lancaster, Ammann, Peloquin, M. Rave, and Busse were present. Alderpersons Wussow
and Dougherty attended remotely via Zoom meetings. Alderperson E. Rave was excused. Mayor J. Eddy presided.
It was moved by Alderperson Peloquin, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to dispense with the
reading of the minutes of the August 21, 2024 Special Common Council meeting and approve as presented.
Motion carried.
CITIZENS IN ATTENDANCE There were 3 citizens in attendance via Zoom meetings.
There were no updates on the County jail/justice center project.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
It was moved by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster, seconded by Alderperson Peloquin to place on file the minutes of the August 24, 2024 Airport Commission meeting. Motion carried.
It was moved by Alderperson Dougherty, seconded by Alderperson Busse to place on file the minutes of the August 26, 2024 Utility Commission meeting. Motion carried.
It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson Peloquin to approve the minutes of the August 29, 2024 BID Board meeting. Motion carried.
There was lengthy discussion on the request from Jackson County Health & Human Services and WI Harm
Reduction Response Team to use the city owned parking lot south of the fire station as an access location for
mobile harm reduction services from the Response Team for two days a month. The discussion included the
goal of reducing infectious diseases amongst those who use drugs, encouraging them to make safer choices,
and ultimately leading them to treatment and recovery efforts, not something to be heavily marketed to general
public more of word of mouth, it is a free service, the program is funded through opioid settlement dollars which
come from pharmaceutical lawsuits, availability of treatment programs, this would be complimentary to the
County’s Opioid Task Force, we have to try something, it all spills over in to homeless and other issues, other
alternative locations that included the Red Shed at the DHHS building on Hwy 54 and the County owned lot at
old Federation Cooperative site, proposed lot provides some privacy for those utilizing the service, preference for having the van unmarked, DHHS to contact Western Technical College.
It was moved by Alderperson M. Rave, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to approve the usage of
the City owned parking lot located south of the fire department for the purpose of the WI Harm Reduction
Response Team Program on the condition the vehicle will be unmarked and we will add to an agenda as needed if negative feedback is received. Motion carried.
It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson M. Rave to approve ORDINANCE 889 related to the sale and use of fireworks. Motion carried 6-0-1 with Alderperson Peloquin abstaining.
CITY OF BLACK RIVER FALLS ORDINANCE NO. 889
AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND RECREATING SECTION 9.07 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR
THE CITY OF BLACK RIVER FALLS, JACKSON COUNTY, WISCONSIN
The Common Council of the City of Black River Falls, Jackson County, Wisconsin, do ordain as follows:
Section 1.
9.07 SALE AND USE OF FIREWORKS REGULATED.
(1) DEFINITION. The definition of “fireworks” stated in §167.10(1), Wis. Stats., is hereby adopted by reference.
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(2) SALE REGULATED. Except as provided in §167.10(2) and (4), Wis. Stats., no person shall sell, or possess
with the intent to sell, fireworks.
(3) TIME OF SALE. No fireworks or items set forth in Section 167.10 (I-n) Wisconsin Statutes shall be placed
on display or sold in the City of Black River Falls by any person(s), firm, organization, or corporation, except
from June 1 to July 4 inclusive each year.
(4) USE REGULATED. Except as provided in §167.10(3), Wis. Stats, no person shall possess or use fireworks
without a user’s permit issued pursuant to sub. (5) below.
(5) USER’S PERMIT. As provided in §167.10(3), Wis. Stats., fireworks user’s permits may be issued by the
Mayor, or other City official designated by the Mayor. The official issuing the permit shall require a certificate of
liability insurance or similar proof of coverage in an amount they deem necessary. A copy of the permit and
proof of insurance shall be filed with the City Clerk and copies of the permit shall be given to the Fire Chief and
the Chief of Police at least 2 days before the authorized use. A permit under this subsection shall specify all of
the following:
- The name and address of the permit holder.
- The date on and after which fireworks may be purchased.
- The general kind and approximate quantity of fireworks which may be
purchased. - The date or dates and location of permitted use.
- Other special conditions prescribed by ordinance. The fireworks shall be kept at least
150’ from any structure and 350’ from all spectators. The display company shall
supply a site diagram. One (1) 10# ABC fire extinguisher or equivalent shall be kept
in the area of the launching. Unlaunched fireworks shall be stored in a metal
container with a lid in the launching area. The container shall be covered at all times
during the display.
(6) USE OF CERTAIN DEVICES REGULATED. No person may use fireworks or devices listed in §167.10 (1)
(e) to (g) and (i) to (n), Wis. Stats., including, but not limited to, caps, toy snakes, model rocket engines,
sparklers or cone fountains at a fireworks display for which a permit has been issued if the display is open to the
general public.
SECTION 3. CONFLICTING ORDINANCES. Ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the above
recreated section of Ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. Upon passage and publication, this recreated section of Ordinance shall take - effect and be in force as provided by law.
ORDINANCE 890 – An ordinance annexing certain land from the Town of Brockway was presented for 1st reading.
It was moved by Alderperson Ammann, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to adjourn. Motion carried at 6:34pm.
A. Brad Chown
City Administrator