City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM APRIL 26, 2022 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Chair Clough presiding. On roll call: all members present. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Chair Clough called for nominations for Chair of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities for the upcoming year. Council Member Perrine nominated Council Member Clough. Second Council Member Neville. Chair Clough called three times for further nominations. There being none. All Aye. Director of Public Works Friemoth reported on two burials at the Cemetery, prepping ball fields, cleaning and opening restrooms, raking and spring cleaning parks, patching potholes, street sweeping, equipment maintenance, the boom truck repair is done, hauling brush, Water Department-daily testing and maintenance, meter change outs, BOOK II radio read installations are complete, utility locates, turned water on at the fairgrounds and parks, repaired a service leak on W. Fifth Street, Sewer Department-lift station rounds and plant maintenance, reviewed the books for problem areas, R & R Waste Systems is cleaning and televising sewer mains, had one residential backup on the customer’s side, sprayed down the clarifier and cleaned scum trough, the Street Department will start four ten-hour work weeks May 2, 2022, a reminder that garbage and recycling is not to be put out more than 24 hours before pickup and receptacle must be removed within 24 hours after pickup per City Ordinance Sec. 4-6-20, a reminder that people taking black dirt or gravel from the City’s stock pile can have a bucket or two-truck or trailer loads are not allowed and we don’t accept building materials. Motion Neville, second Counsell, that Water Bills Nos. 79 to 107 in the amount of $65,550.40 and Sewer Bills Nos. 55 to 79 in the amount of $95,329.11 be paid. All Aye. Motion Poeschel, second Perrine, to adjourn. All Aye. ________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair _________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM APRIL 26, 2022 7:00 P.M. The Common Council met in regular session, Mayor Poeschel presiding. On roll call: all members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Mayor Poeschel reported on the April 19, 2022 meeting of the Board of Health regarding: 1) Health Officer Bakker’s City annual health report and activities for 2021-2022, 2) discussion on updated the City’s Health and Sanitation and Public Nuisance ordinances and 3) discussion on and approval that each Council Member do an individual tour of their ward with the Director of Public Works. Mayor Poeschel reported on the April 19, 2022 meeting of the Planning Commission regarding: 1) discussion on and recommendation to approve a Conditional Use Permit for a rooming house at 401 W. Seventeenth Street, Parcel No. 261.0227.000 – Logan Grap, Forward GRP, LLC, 2) discussion on and recommendation to approve a Conditional Use Permit to use and install a driveway on the undevelopment W. Seventh Street right-of-way – Robert and Donna Pavlac and 3) discussion on and recommendation to approve a Conditional Use Permit for a rooming house at 319 State Street, Parcel No. 261.0378.000 – Pray’s Golden Gaits, LLC. City Clerk Roehl reported on the April 26, 2022 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding discussion on and recommendation to place all the Other Part-time employee applications as presented in a pool for Cemetery, Parks, City Hall, Public Works and Recreation Departments to draw from as needed. The applicants are: Braylon Boyer, Bryce Erickson, Sam Hayes, Gavyn McFarlane, Skylar Melvin, Jace Pekol and Carter Urban. Council Member Clough reported on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) election of Council Member Clough as Commission Chair, 2) current activities and 3) payment of bills. Mayor Poeschel declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Personnel Committee items. Motion Counsell, second Clough, to accept the recommendation to place all the Other Part-time employee applications in a pool for Cemetery, Parks, City Hall, Public Works and Recreation Department to draw from as needed. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel stated the City of Neillsville Health and Sanitation and Nuisance ordinances need updating where do we go from here. Discussion followed on it being a fairly complicated process, our current ordinances have some good points, but need updating, keeping it simple and not over complicated. Chief of Police Mankowski stated get the people who use the ordinances as an ad hoc committee to discuss changes, we want a good product with some teeth in it. Council Member Counsell stated the abatement language is very vague on what is going to happen to someone if they violate – what is it going to cost them. What charges and fees do we have. When have they been updated last. Do the State statutes allow some flexibility. How does the court look at these. Council Member Clough stated that if he gets one bug from the neighbor it costs him $700 to do upstairs and another $700 to do the downstairs. Chief of Police Mankowski agreed that there is a problem, what is the expectations, where does the Community stand. We send multiple letters, issue citations, they default and nothing gets done. We will have to work with the City Attorney to find out what we can and cannot do. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated there is not a lot more you can do, other than write citations. The City does not have the power to send them to jail. Understand our inside authority is very limited, the City cannot get a warrant to enter, a State Officer is needed, it is very difficult unless there is a zoning violation. Council Member Clough asked if a noxious order from garbage is enough. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated what is causing the odor, can you see something. Council Member Clough asked about putting a lien on their property. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated the Court collects the forfeiture. Council Member Counsell stated the City can fix the problem and put the cost on the tax bill. During this update we need to be sure that option is available. If we get the property back by the tax deed, it is better that we have cleaned it up. Mayor Poeschel proposed a committee of the Chief of Police Mankowski, City Health Officer Bakker, Director of Public Works Friemoth, Council Members Clough and Counsell. Council Member Counsell proposed adding Fire Chief Meyer to the Committee. 7:23 P.M. - Mayor Poeschel declared the Public Hearing on the Condition Use Permit for a rooming house at 401 W. Seventeenth Street, Parcel No. 261.0227.000 – Logan Grap/Forward GRP, LLC, owner and applicant now open. Director of Public Works Friemoth presented the application, public notice of this public hearing was in the Clark County Press and area land owners were notified. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated that the Planning Commission at its April 19, 2022 meeting discussed and recommended approval of the Conditional Use Permit. Mayor Poeschel called three times for appearances. There being none. 7:28 P.M. - Mayor Poeschel declared the Conditional Use Permit Public Hearing closed. Motion Petkovsek, second Counsell, to accept the Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve the Conditional Use Permit for a rooming house at 401 W. Seventeenth Street, Parcel No. 261.0227.000, Logan Grap/Forward GRP, LLC, owner. All Aye. Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Caroline A. Susa and Erin S. Voigt Motion Neville, second Clough, to grant all the listed licenses. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Perrine, that City Bills Nos. 401 to 445 in the amount of $143,717.28 be paid. All Aye. 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 Petkovsek, second Perrine, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************