Marinette Okays TIF Funds For Winsert, Inc. Expansion

City Okays Raises For All Employees

At a brief but productive special meeting Monday afternoon, Jan. 9, Marinette City Council took another step toward assuring that the proposed major expansion of Winsert manufacturing facilities in the city will move forward. Without dissent, they gave tentative approval to a development agreement by which the city, subject to various guarantees and conditions, will provide Tax Increment Financing (TIF) money totaling $779,000 as part of overall project funding.

They also approved 1.5 percent wage increases for nearly all city employees, effective Jan. 1; set the salary of a replacement for retiring Police Chief Jeff Skorik at $76,740 a year; approved second hand/pawnbroker licenses for three business locations in the city, okayed a wintertime agreement with Marinette Marine Corporation for use of the Boom Landing Parking Lot in return for snow plowing on the parking lot and the adjoining Fire Department’s emergency boat launch area, and heard a report from Fire Chief Gary Guenette that dangerously high carbon monoxide levels are being created inside the recreational domes by indoor use of gasoline powered maintenance equipment.

City Attorney Jonathan Sbar formally advised the Council that Skorik will be retiring Feb. 10, “and on behalf of the entire city, we wish him well.” He said the Police and Fire Commission will hire Skorik’s replacement, but the Council sets the salary. The commission had done a survey of comparable size cities in the state and found police chief salaries ranged from $64,238 to $82,236.

Skorik said he believes the Commission will look to promote someone from inside the department, but if they must advertise for someone from outside, it is difficult to attract quality candidates without knowing the salary to be offered. He said according to Wisconsin Police Chiefs Association figures, the average salary for cities in Marinette’s category is $79,732. His current salary is $80,120, and he recommended maintaining that level, “at least through 2012 for advertising and recruitment purposes.”

Alderman John Marx objected that a starting salary should not be as high as that of Skorik, who holds a bachelor’s degree and has 33 years’ experience with the department, eight of them as chief. Skorik said the salary, based on job category, was established some time ago by the Griffith Study.

Alderman Bradley Behrendt wondered what the Marinette police captains make now. Skorik said for 2012 captains will be paid $73,361 and lieutenant salaries will be $63,000.

Marx moved, with a second from Alderman Terry Setunsky, to split the difference, and establish starting pay for the new chief at $76,740, which half way between the salary of a Captain in the Marinette Police Department and that of the current Chief. That motion was approved without dissent.

Before Council voted to support the Winsert funding agreement, Sbar explained the procedure. “We’ve given it a very thorough review,” he said, adding the project and financing proposals had also been reviewed by bond attorneys for both the city and Winsert. He described the Council action on Monday as, “more of giving the process a green light” so it can be moved along to the other entities involved. Approvals from both the Joint Review Board and the TIF Board are now necessary before the funding becomes final.

Construction is expected to start in spring, and it is important to their client that the money be available around that time, Atty. Bruce A. Keyes, of the Foley & Lardner, LP law firm of Milwaukee wrote in a Jan. 9 letter to Marinette Mayor Robert M. Harbick explaining the funding request and the proposed development agreement.

In the letter, Keyes explained that Winsert requested a contribution of $779,000, to be comprised of a grant of $439,000 from “conventional” TIF funding and $340,000 from new “pay as you go” TIF funding. This requires creation or expansion of a Tax Increment District (TID) and negotiation and execution of a development agreement between the city and Winsert. Keyes said in the letter that his firm and Winsert understand that these are not matters solely in control of the city.

Keyes’ letter said with the understanding that the city supports the project and plans to proceed with fulfilling the funding request, Winsert agrees it will concentrate its efforts solely on the expansion option in the City of Marinette, rather than pursuing relocation, and will reimburse the city for any costs incurred in the formation of a TID and other reasonable expenses if through no fault of the city either the TID is not approved in the form described, or Winsert fails to retain and expand its operations at the current location.

The agreement is to be signed by City and Winsert officials and then be forwarded to the other entities involved.

Before council action approving the 1.5 percent wage increases for city employees, Sbar explained that despite Wisconsin’s 2011 Budget Repair Bill the city still was obligated to negotiate wages. However, the Teamsters Union no longer represents City of Marinette employees so the recommendation was to give the non-exempt clerical employees who formerly were Teamster Union members the same 1.5 percent raise being given to nearly all city employees this year. Council also formally approved 1.5 percent increases for Police Supervisors, Fire Chiefs, all non-union department and division heads, and all non-union clerical workers. Sbar said all benefits have been basically made uniform throughout the city as well, and all the new wages and benefits will go into effect as of Jan. 1.

The Personnel and Licensing Commission, at a brief 3 p.m. session just before the 3:20 p.m. Council meeting, reviewed several license applications. All were okayed for approval, which Council gave without dissent.

A state license to sell second hand jewelry and other articles was approved for THR & Associates for a 6-day event at the Country Inn and Suites from Tuesday, Jan. 24 through Sunday, Jan. 29, as were pawnbroker and second hand article dealer licenses for Don K. Steppan for “Computer Rage” at 714 Pierce Ave., and Francois Enterprises, Inc. for “Feldstein Jewelers” at 2001 Marinette Ave.

Sign Erector licenses were approved for MJB Industries, Inc., Signs & Designs, Creative Sign Co., Appleton Sign Company, and Orde Signs & Graphics.

Mobile Home Licenses were approved for Cramers, Forest Glen, Foxx Glen, Parkview Terrace, Country Meadows I and II, Golden Sand and Marinette Mobile Home Courts.

Bartender licenses were approved for five applicants, but with a condition on one that a $2,028 Municipal Court fine owed to the city for traffic law violations be paid before the license goes into effect for Tristen L. Williams. Other licenses granted were to Sheena S. Barber, Lana E. Winkler, Cathie L. Klink, and Matthew D. Macco.

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