City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM SEPTEMBBER 13, 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. Director of Public Works Friemoth reported on seven burials at the Cemetery, trimming trees, mowing and weed trimming, weed spraying, work on the Hewett Street (LRIP) project, work on W. Fifth Street (Ayers Street to Oak Street), equipment maintenance, hauling brush, Water Department-daily testing and well rounds, utility locates, reading meters, hydrant flushing is complete, valve repair on W. Twenty-First Street, water valve maintenance and cleaning, scrapping and cleaning fenced in area and storage, replaced the fire hydrant damaged by a traffic accident on Hewett Street and W. Eighteenth Street, Sewer Department-daily lift station rounds and maintenance, replaced intake filters for sludge tank blowers, equipment and grounds maintenance, assisted the Water Department with hydrant and valve work, finished the Fall DNR Recycling Grant report, working on the 2023 budget and the park restrooms will be closed during homecoming week. Motion Counsell, second Perrine, to adjourn. All Aye. ________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair _________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM SEPTEMBER 13, 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. Council Member Petkovsek reported on the August 22 and September 8, 2022 meetings of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) a closed session on Police Union contract negotiations-adjourned in closed session; 2) a closed session on Police Union contract negotiations and non-union employees-adjourned in closed session. Council Member Neville reported on the August 25, 2022 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) discussion on the 2022 event, 2) setting the 2023 event date as July 6, 7, 8 and 9, 2023 and 3) work on and referral of the 2023 Heritage Days budget to the Finance Committee. Mayor Poeschel reported on the August 30, 2022 meeting of the Commission on Economic Development regarding: 1) discussion on and motion to move forward on the pre-work to create a TIF district based on the Swiderski proposal and 2) work on and referral of the 2023 Economic Development budget to the Finance Committee. Council Member Clough reported on the September 13, 2022 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding recent activities. Mayor Poeschel declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Jerilyn St. Amand asked what the difference was between the Lisenby and Swiderski projects. Mayor Poeschel replied the Lisenby project would be more for the younger people, where as the Swiderski project would lean more to the fifty-five and over group. Jerilyn St. Amand stated that the people in the community are looking to own, but don’t want to deal with the maintenance. They want side-by-side condos. When the Hospital was built, they sent out a survey asking what type of housing the community wanted and the majority wanted owner occupied housing. Mayor Poeschel stated that the public hearing on the Conditional Use Permit for a retail nursery and garden north of the W. Seventh and Forest Street intersection, Parcel Nos. 261.0923.000 and 261.1418.000, Donna Pavlac, owner and applicant, was held at the August 23, 2022 Common Council meeting, however action was not listed on the agenda. The Planning Commission has recommended approval. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to accept the Planning Commission recommendation to approve the Conditional Use Permit for a retail nursery and garden north of the W. Seventh Street and Forest Street intersection, Parcel Nos. 261.023.000 and 261.1418.000, Donna Pavlac, owner and applicant, based on the amount of land she has and she is not near a busy intersection. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Economic Development item (1). Motion Petkovsek, second Perrine, to move forward on the pre-work to create a Tax Incremental District (TID) based on the S.C. Swiderski development proposal. Council Member Counsell questioned if this means we do not do any further negotiations, we need to do our due diligence. Mayor Poeschel stated this lets them know we will be working with them, we will be having discussions, there are a lot of details involved. Council Member Clough stated that there is a process to go through. Mayor Poeschel called the vote. All Aye. Chief of Police Mankowski presented a proposal to provide limited police services to the Town of Mentor, Clark County. The Town of Mentor had contracted with the Village of Merrillan, but when their Chief of Police retired, the contract ended. Mankowski met with Chairman Timothy Gile in mid-July to discuss the proposal. He received a copy of the Village of Merrillan contract, which was shared with the Mayor and the City Attorney. Chief of Police Mankowski stated the City of Neillsville would provide ten (10) hours a month for code (ordinance) enforcement. The Clark County Sherriff’s Department does not do local code enforcement, they would continue to be the contact for everything else. The proposed hourly rate covers our expenses, any court time would be an additional billing. We are helping out a neighbor, if it does not work out, it can be cancelled by giving a 60-day notice, the prices can by changed by notice also. Council Member Clough stated that the City will still be covered. Chief of Police Mankowski stated that the City of Neillsville is our primary responsibility. Council Member Counsell asked that this be included in the monthly Police Department report. Motion Petkovsek, second Neville, to approve the proposal with the Town of Mentor, Clark County for limited police services. All Aye. City Attorney Wachsmuth read the following resolution stating that the City has worked with these individuals many times throughout the years. RESOLUTION NO. 619 RESOLUTION IN RECOGNITION OF CURT WITYNSKI AND GAIL SUMI WHEREAS, since 1987, Curt Witynski has been providing leadership, guidance, and advocacy to benefit the cities and villages of Wisconsin; and WHEREAS, since 2011, Gail Sumi has given voice to, and enlightened and informed Wisconsin’s local leaders through her direction and coordination of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities’ multiple channels of communication, including editing and production of the The Municipality; and WHEREAS, Mr. Witynski and Ms. Sumi have been thought leaders and trusted advisors for local officials, both elected and appointed; and WHEREAS, Curt Witynski and Gail Sumi have contributed in countless ways to the prosperity and success of local government in Wisconsin; and WHEREAS, in addition to their tireless efforts on behalf of municipal government, Curt Witynski and Gail Sumi have been role models for thousands of local leaders; and WHEREAS, Mr. Witynski and Ms. Sumi will be retiring from daily service to local government at the end of calendar year 2022, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Neillsville expresses its profound gratitude to Curt Witynski and Gail Sumi for their service; and BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Neillsville congratulates them both on their careers of leadership and wishes them well in future endeavors. ___________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor _____________________ Rex R. Roehl, City Clerk Motion Clough, second Neville, that Resolution No. 619 be adopted. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel presented a request from the Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce for use of C.C. Sniteman Town Square Park, parking lot and Gazebo and the East Library parking lot for the Autumn Harvest Fest Celebration, to hang a banner on the Gazebo announcing the event and to close Armory Avenue from Hewett Street to Court Street on October 8 and 9, 2022. Discussion on problems with the Farmer’s Market vendors last year. Chief of Police Mankowski will handle it. Motion Petkovsek, second Neville, to grant the Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce request for use of C.C. Sniteman Town Square Park, parking lot and Gazebo and the East Library parking lot for the Autumn Harvest Fest Celebration, to hang a banner on the Gazebo announcing the event and to close Armory Avenue from Hewett Street to Court Street on October 8 and 9, 2022. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel presented a request from the Neillsville Fire Department to close W. Eighth Street from Grand Avenue to Hewett Street and West Street from W. Eighth Street to the rear parking lot of the Brickyard Bar and Grill for their steak feed fundraiser on October 1, 2022 from approximately 2:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. Motion Counsell, second Perrine, to grand the Neillsville Fire Department request to close W. Eighth Street from Grand Avenue to Hewett Street and West Street from W. Eighth Street to the rear parking lot of the Brickyard Bar and Grill for their steak feed fundraiser on October 1, 2022 from approximately 2:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. All Aye. Chief of Police Mankowski reported on trainings, Officer Wheatley has completed field training and will be on patrol, paper shredders have been purchased, squad car maintenance, August parking enforcement, citations, compliments, complaints, business checks and activities. Soda Water License Applications: Karl O. Maly, Karl’s #1 Stop Game Shop, 118. W. Sixth Street Motion Clough, second Perrine, to grant. All Aye. Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Judy S. Lindner, Debra A. Perkol and Samantha R. Ramey Motion Neville, second Petkovsek, to grant all the listed licenses. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Perrine, that City Bills Nos. 835 to 892 in the amount of $149,156.86 and TIF District No. 4 Account Bills Nos. 14 and 15 in the amount of $130,321.12 be paid. All Aye. Council Member Petkovsek thanked City Clerk Roehl and Deputy Clerk Grap for their work on costing spreadsheets for the Police Union contract negotiations. Motion Neville, second Counsell, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************