WINNEBAGO - Winnebago city employees now have two new unions. They cast votes in favor of joining the unions this week.

Police unit voted 2-0 in favor, while the other unit voted 5-0, with one person not casting a ballot. The state Bureau of Mediation Services is expected to send the full results to City Hall this week.

Marylee Abrams, a union law attorney with Abrams & Schmidt of Arden Hills, advised the City Council via fax of the results:

"You should also be aware the Bureau imposes a one-year contract bar with the election of a new union," Abrams states. "This means the employees are locked in as union members for a minimum of one year, and cannot call for a vote to remove the union during that one year time. This time may actually be longer depending on the length of a labor contract which is negotiated with the union."

She said the next step is to develop negotiation strategies for each unit, and expects the unions to notify the city of their intent to negotiate.

If allegations that City Administrator Jennifer Feely brought forth Tuesday night are true, council members made an agreement with city workers to fire Feely if the workers withdrew from the union. However, workers cannot complete their end of the "bargain" for one year.

Abrams advised the council she and her law partner can be at the Nov. 10 meeting if needed.

The council accepted the information.

In other business, City Attorney Douglas Johanson reported on the closed portion of last month's meeting. It was closed so to discuss pending litigation against a property owner in regard to an allegedly hazardous building at 425 First St. Southwest.

No action was taken in closed session.

Johanson said the owner wants to deed the property to the city, and the city would have to tear down the building. On the other hand, the city would then own the property.

Johanson said the estate owners have told him they can't afford to take care of the problem. He advised the council this method would be least costly. If the council did not approve it, the city would have to take it to court, where the land would end up as a forfeited. Ultimately, there would be court costs and the city would still have to clean up the land but would not own it.

"The city would probably not get their money back either way," Johanson said.

The council voted in favor of having the property deeded to it.

In other action, the council:

o Approved an agreement with United Hospital District regarding the extension of paving on First Avenue Southwest.

The hospital will pay for engineering for paving the entire street, even though it is only having the street paved 35 feet past the new Winnebago Adolescent Treatment Center driveway.

Furthermore, UHD will pay about $75,000 for road construction up front, and the city will pay back everything but engineering and design costs over 18 months. Road construction won't start until the treatment center is complete.

o Asked for more information on a proposed ambulance purchase. The department wants to purchase a new 2009/10 Braun Chief XL Prestige Type III ambulance - a newer version of it's 2002 ambulance. It would cost $155,241 and come from North Central Ambulance Sales and Service. It replace the department's 1995 rig.

Winnebago ambulance has $371,400 available for rig replacement. A representative said they would like to make the purchase before 2010 because Ford is going to start making a new engine.

The department would like both rigs to be the same for continuity and would like to have a rig with a trusted engine.

Councilman Rick Johnson wanted to see quotes from other sellers. The other council members agreed.