City Council

COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM APRIL 19, 2022 4:05 P.M. The Common Council meeting in annual session was called to order by City Clerk-Treasurer Rex R. Roehl. On roll call: all members present. The City Clerk swore in Duane G. Poeschel, Barbara A. Petkovsek and Jose L. Neville for their terms in their respective offices. The Council welcomed Duane G. Poeschel (Mayor), Barbara A. Petkovsek (Third Ward Council Member) and Jose L. Neville (Fourth Ward Council Member) as newly elected and re-elected members. The meeting was turned over to Mayor Poeschel. Mayor Poeschel called for appearances. Jerilyn St. Amand congratulated everyone on their election, now is the time to move on and get things done. Mayor Poeschel announced that the purpose of the meeting is to reorganize the Council and make appointments of the various officials, boards, committees and commissions. Mayor Poeschel presented nominees for Council consideration. President of the Council: Council Member Counsell stated that it should be done at the end after organization is complete. Health Officer: Motion Neville, second Clough, that Doris Bakker (2024) be re-appointed as Health Officer. All Aye. Weed Commissioner: Motion Counsell, second Clough, that the Director of Public Works (2023) be re-appointed as Weed Commissioner. All Aye. Building Inspector: Motion Neville, second Counsell, that the Director of Public Works (2023) be re-appointed as Building Inspector. All Aye. Zoning Administrator: Motion Petkovsek, second Clough, that the Director of Public Works (2023) be re-appointed as Zoning Administrator. All Aye. Emergency Government Director: Motion Clough, second Counsell, that the Chief of Police (2023) be re-appointed as Emergency Government Director. All Aye. City Forester: Motion Perrine, second Clough, that the Cemetery Sexton/Parks Director (2023) be re-appointed as City Forester. All Aye. Official Newspaper: Motion Clough, second Petkovsek, that the Clark County Press (2023) be re-appointed as the City’s official newspaper. All Aye. City Hall Custodian: Motion Clough, second Neville, that the City Clerk-Treasurer (2023) be re-appointed as City Hall Custodian. All Aye. Representative to the Municipal Ambulance Board: Motion Petkovsek, second Clough, that Council Member Perrine (2023) be appointed as the City’s Representative to the Municipal Ambulance Board. All Aye. Representative to the Community Fire Hall Board: Motion Perrine, second Clough, that Council Member Neville (2023) be re-appointed as the City’s Representative to the Community Fire Hall Board. All Aye. Historic Preservation Commission: Motion Counsell, second Clough, that Council Member Clough, Natalie Erpenbach, David Harnisch, Nicole Keller, Jeff Kluckhohn, Barb Miller and Julie Simek be re-appointed as members of the Historic Preservation Commission (2023), with Natalie Erpenbach as Chair. All Aye. Illegal Tax Committee: Motion Petkovsek, second Clough, that Council Members Counsell, Neville and Perrine be re-appointed as members of the Illegal Tax Committee (2023), with Council Member Counsell as Chair. All Aye. Solid Waste and Recycling Committee: Motion Counsell, second Clough, that Council Members Counsell, Neville and Perrine and the Director of Public Works be re-appointed as members of the Solid Waste and Recycling Committee (2023), with Council Member Counsell as Chair. All Aye. Committee on Finance: Motion Perrine, second Clough, that the Mayor and entire Council shall constitute the Committee on Finance (2023), with Mayor Poeschel as Chair. All Aye. Board of Review: Motion Clough, second Perrine, that the Mayor and entire Council, with the City Clerk-Treasurer as Secretary, shall constitute the Board of Review (2023), with Mayor Poeschel as Chair. All Aye. Library Board: Motion Neville, second Clough, that Council Member Counsell (2023) and Mary Sladich (2025) be re-appointed as members of the Library Board. All Aye. Other members are: Peggy Buchda (2023), Logan Grap (2023), John Gaier-School District Superintendent (2024), Margaret Gelhaus (2024) and Graeme Williams (2024). The Library Board elects its own Chair. Board of Health: Motion Counsell, second Perrine, that the Mayor and entire Council shall constitute the Board of Health (2023), with Mayor Poeschel as Chair. All Aye. Commission on Public Works/Utilities: Motion Petkovsek, second Perrine, that the Mayor and entire Council shall constitute the Commission on Public Works/Utilities (2023). All Aye. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities elects its own Chair. Zoning Board of Appeals: Motion Neville, second Clough, that Council Member Perrine (2023), Julie Counsell (2025) and Mandy Krejci (2025) be appointed as members of the Zoning Board of Appeals, with Julie Counsell as Chair. All Aye. Other members are: Diane Murphy (2023) and Lynn Schoengarth (2023). Planning Commission: Motion Clough, second Counsell, that Mayor Poeschel (2023), Council Member Counsell (2023), Parks and Recreation Board Chair (2023) and Greg Glisczinski (2025) be re-appointed as members of the Planning Commission (2023), with Mayor Poeschel as Chair. All Aye. Other members are: Amber Vine (2023), Natalie Erpenbach (2024) and Alan Hoesly (2024). Parks and Recreation Board: Motion Petkovsek, second Counsell, that Council Member Neville (2023), Cody Friemoth (2023), Robin Harder (2025) and Sue Voigt-Representative of the School District (2025) be appointed as members of the Parks and Recreation Board (2023), with Council Member Neville as Chair. All Aye. Other members are: Jacob Ormond (2023), Wendell Attoe (2024) and Nate McDonald (2024). Police and Fire Commission: Motion Clough, second Petkovsek, that Brad Lindner (2027) be appointed as member of the Police and Fire Commission, with Margaret Gelhaus as Chair. All Aye. Other members are: Robert Johnson (2023), Tim A. Voigt (2024), Margaret Gelhaus (2025) and Allan Hoesly (2026). Airport Commission: Motion Counsell, second Clough, that Council Member Neville (2023), Director of Public Works (2023) and Bob Petkovsek (2028) be re-appointed to the Airport Commission, with Council Member Neville as Chair. All Aye. Other members are: Brian Barth (2023) and DeWayne Seelow (2027). All Aye. Board of Cemetery Commissioners: Motion Neville, second Clough, that Council Members Clough and Perrine, City Clerk-Treasurer, Douglas Bjerke and Lori Pekol be appointed as members of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners (2023), with Council Member Clough as Chair. All Aye. Commission on Economic Development: Motion Neville, second Clough, that Mayor Poeschel (2023), Barb Petkovsek (2025) and Julie Simek (2025) be appointed as members of the Commission on Economic Development, with Mayor Poeschel as Chair. All Aye. Other members are: John Gaier (2023), Jana Marden (2023), Daniel Clough (2024) and Carrie Morrell (2024). Grants Committee: Motion Clough, second Perrine, that Council Member Petkovsek (2023), Director of Public Works (2023), Jody Conner (2025) and Natalie Erpenbach (2025) be appointed as members of the Grants Committee, with William Neville III as Chair. All Aye. Other members are: Tim Brekke (2023), Margaret Gelhaus (2023) William Neville III (2024) and Brent Shoup (2024). Mayor Poeschel stated he would like to look at the Grants Committee ordinance and possibly reword it, so they look for and write grants for other things instead of just the housing programs. Discussion followed. Personnel Committee: Motion Clough, second Counsell, that Mayor Poeschel, Council Members Petkovsek, Clough and Counsell be appointed as members of the Personnel Committee (2023), with Council Member Petkovsek as Chair. All Aye. Property Committee: Motion Petkovsek, second Neville, that Council Members Clough, Counsell and Neville, Mandy Krejci and Julie Simek be appointed as members of the Property Committee (2023), with Council Member Clough as Chair. All Aye. Heritage Days Committee: Motion Clough, second Petkovsek, that Council Member Neville, Dale Erickson, Michelle Friemoth, Logan Grap, Barb Miller, Amanda Mortenson, Diane Murphy, Tom Opelt, Jerry Pfeiffer, Justin Poeschel and Krista Rueth be appointed as members of the Heritage Days Committee (2023), with Council Member Neville as Chair. All Aye. Beautification Committee: Motion Neville, second Clough, that Council Member Petkovsek, Doris Bakker, Kathy Brugger, Margaret Gelhaus, David Harnisch, Linda Hemp, Barb Miller and Janice Miller be appointed as members of the Beautification Committee (2023), with Council Member Petkovsek as Chair. All Aye. Transit Committee: Motion Petkovsek, second Counsell, that Council Member Perrine, Daniel Clough, Jana Marden and Amber Vine be appointed as members of the Transit Committee (2023), with Council Member Perrine as Chair. All Aye. Tourism Committee: Mayor Poeschel stated as a six-member committee it takes four members to be a quorum, he would like to downsize the Committee to five members, making three members a quorum. Council Member Counsell stated it can be less than six members. Motion Neville, second Clough, to downsize the Tourism Committee to five members with Council Member Petkovsek, Deanna Heiman, Diane Kren, Amber Vine and James Voss as members of the Tourism Committee (2023), with Council Member Petkovsek as Chair. All Aye. City Hall and Police Department Properties Committee: Mayor Poeschel stated with the move of City Hall completed this Committee has been disbanded. President of the Council: Council Member Counsell nominated Council Member Neville. Mayor Poeschel called three times for further nominations. Second Council Member Petkovsek, that Council Member Neville be appointed President of the Council (2023). All Aye. Representative to the TIF Districts Joint Board of Review: City Clerk-Treasurer Roehl stated that Mayor Poeschel currently serves as the School District of Neillsville Representative, he cannot do both. Mayor Poeschel asked if anyone would like to represent the City. Council Member Clough volunteered stating he has served in the past. City Clerk Roehl reported that the Board of Review will be Monday, May 16, 2022 from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. Motion Perrine, second Clough, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ BOARD OF HEALTH COUNCIL ROOM APRIL 19, 2022 4:30 P.M. The Board of Health met in annual session, Mayor Poeschel presiding. On roll call: all members present. Also present: City Health Officer Doris Bakker, Chief of Police James Mankowski, Director of Public Works Luke Friemoth and City Clerk-Treasurer Rex R. Roehl. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Health Officer Bakker presented the City’s annual health report and activities for 2021-2022 regarding: liquor, beer and wine license inspections; cockroaches; an abundance of cats; lead abatement; bed bugs; garbage; etc. Bakker gave an example of how fast a cockroach problem can spread. If you step on a cockroach egg, it’s on the bottom of your shoes, you stop at a store or business, then go home, look at the multiple points of potential spread. Then there is dealing not only with the original site, but all the other sites. An exterminators cost initially plus monthly visits for a year. Bakker reported on challenges with both owners and occupants not cooperating. Some out of town landlords have never met their renters or been to the property. An inspection should be done when properties are transferred. Bakker stated people are putting garbage out earlier than 24 hours for collection, some times days ahead. You are inviting animals to tear things apart and creating a health hazard. Bakker strongly recommended updating our City Ordinances, ours are not effective, we have to add some things and put in some teeth. Bakker thanked Director of Public Works Friemoth, Chief of Police Mankowski and the Clerk’s office for all their help. Discussion followed on bed bugs, absentee landlords, holding people accountable, what can be done from a legal standpoint, what are the legal issues of enforcing, inspection of rentals before they are rented out again, with the downtown buildings being so close bugs can go through the walls next door. Chief of Police Mankowski stated that he has information from other cities on how they deal with it, it is time consuming and costly. Rental properties are difficult, we need some teeth in our ordinances, until we receive a call or they have a licensed inspection, there is not much we can do. When the way you live is causing a problem to others, we try and explain what they are doing wrong. Mayor Poeschel asked why does it take so long to change an ordinance, why does it drag on so long. Do we need to form an ordinance committee. Council Member Counsell stated it takes time, once you open an ordinance it leads to many thoughts and directions. The fence ordinance took months to complete. Mayor Poeschel stated we need to look at the nuisance problem, not just talk about it, get it taken care of. The Clerk’s office will send out copies of the City’s nuisance ordinance so we can look at them. Council Member Counsell reported on getting a call on the trailer park roads. They are so narrow, that when people park on them there is concern that emergency vehicles cannot get through. Chief of Police Mankowski stated that he has explained this concern to the trailer park owner. Discussion followed on putting out reminders on water bills, Facebook, etc. on some of the City’s ordinances like for garbage collection, etc. Discussion followed on the annual inspection tour. The City ordinance does not require a tour. Discussion followed on the Joint Board of Health tour versus individual tours by Council Members. Motion Neville, second Counsell, that each Council Member do an individual tour of their ward with the Director of Public Works by June 1, 2022 and that a report of properties be made for the entire Council. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************