Saint Francis council approves routine consent items, ratifies TID purchase offer and moves to closed session on cell-tower lease

The Saint Francis Common Council on July 13 approved routine consent items and moved forward on several administrative and procurement matters before adjourning to closed session for negotiations related to public property and a proposed cell‑tower lease.

The council approved the consent agenda and renewed 12 beverage-operator licenses by voice vote. The council also approved a motion to grant a disabled on‑street parking space for a resident and accepted a planning commission recommendation to approve the certified survey map for 4136 South Kinnickinnic Avenue.

The Board of Public Works asked the council to recommend funding emergency repairs to the Saint Francis Public Library HVAC system; the council agreed to recommend funding those repairs from the capital library budget.

On TID 4 matters, staff presented an offer to purchase East Price Avenue parcels that had been developed following earlier closed-session direction. Council moved to ratify the offer to purchase and approved the motion with a voice vote; staff said the city is looking to close by the end of the month.

Council also discussed the disposition of two surplus police vehicles and the procurement method for their sale, with staff noting the default method is sealed bid but that online auction houses have been used historically; the council placed the police chief’s letter on file. The council moved to deny a notice of claim filed by John Green and approved that motion by voice vote.

Finally, under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e), the council voted to adjourn to closed session to deliberate and negotiate the purchase of public properties, the investment of public funds, and a lease agreement for Breitner Park (cell tower). The motion passed on a roll‑call vote and the council recessed to a West Conference Room closed session.

What passed: voice votes were used for several routine approvals recorded as "Aye" in the transcript; the planning commission recommendation, library HVAC funding recommendation and the TID 4 ratification were approved. The transcript does not record a detailed roll‑call tally for every item beyond the closed-session roll call.

Next steps: the closed-session negotiations will continue as allowed under statute; any purchase-closing details, lease terms, or final approvals will appear on future council agendas or in subsequent public minutes.