City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM AUGUST 22, 2023 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Mayor Poeschel presiding. On roll call: Council Member Clough absent, all members present. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Director of Public Works Friemoth reported on one burial at the Cemetery, started the layout/design and ordered materials for the bridge in the Arboretum (part of the TIF District No. 4 project), cleaning restrooms, mowing and weed trimming, watering flowers, hauling brush, street sweeping, finished street line painting, tree trimming, street patching, Water Department-daily testing and well rounds, utility locates, meter changeouts, fixed three broken curb stops, flushing hydrants, mowed wells and booster station, Sewer Department- daily testing and lift station rounds, lift station maintenance, replaced rusted pipes at the Boon Boulevard lift station, took delivery of new sewer jetter, mowed at plant, lift station and raw plant, general maintenance. Director of Public Works Friemoth requested permission to dispose of City surplus equipment and vehicles through Integrity Sales and Auction (ISA) and WisconsinSurplus.com (both are on-line auction platforms). Discussion followed. Motion Counsell, second J. Neville, to recommend to the Common Council to authorize the Director of Public Works to sell/dispose of City surplus equipment and vehicles through Integrity Sales and Auction (ISA) and WisconsinSurplus.com. All Aye. Motion J. Neville, second W. Neville, that Water Bills Nos. 224 to 253 in the amount of $31,557.22 and Sewer Bills Nos. 136 to 150 in the amount of $118,576.74 be paid. All Aye. Motion W. Neville, second Petkovsek, to adjourn. All Aye. ________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor _________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM AUGUST 22, 2023 7:00 P.M. The Common Council met in regular session, Mayor Poeschel presiding. On roll call: Council Member Clough absent, all members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes of the previous meetings were declared approved. City Attorney Wachsmuth reported on the August 16, 2023 meetings of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding: 1) discussion on the 1964 World’s Fair Preservation Wisconsin Pavilion, 1201 E. Division Street, repair and maintenance needs, 2) discussion on the Self-Guided Cemetery Tour, 3) discussion with a downtown property manager on historic district properties and 4) photos of the Downtown Historic Property District were taken and discussed. City Clerk Roehl reported on the August 22, 2023 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) a closed session on reviewing candidate for Assistant Clerk-Treasurer position, 2) reconvening into open session and 3) the recommendation to hire Penny Gehrke as Assistant Clerk-Treasurer at $15.00 per hour starting September 1, 2023 with a one-year probation period. Mayor Poeschel reported on the August 22, 2023 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, 2) discussion on and recommendation to authorize the Director of Public Works to sell/dispose of City surplus equipment and vehicles through Integrity Sales and Auction (ISA) and WisconsinSurplus.com 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 item (3). Motion J. Neville, second Petkovsek, to accept the recommendation to hire Penny Gehrke as Assistant Clerk-Treasurer at $15.00 per hour, starting September 1, 2023 with a one-year probation period. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities item (2). Motion Counsell, second J. Neville, to accept the recommendation to authorize the Director of Public Works to sell/dispose of City surplus equipment and vehicles through Integrity Sales and Auction (ISA) and WisconsinSurplus.com. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel presented Matt Jorgensen’s letter of resignation from the Tourism Committee. Motion W. Neville, second Petkovsek, to accept Matt Jorgensen’s resignation as member of the Tourism Committee and to thank him for his service to the City of Neillsville. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl stated the Beautification Committee has collected $2,000.00 in donations for hanging baskets/decorations from area businesses and individuals. Motion J. Neville, second Counsell, to accept and appropriate $2,000.00 in donations for hanging baskets/decorations to Account No. 55340 Celebrations and to thank the businesses and individuals for helping beautifying our City. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl reported receiving a $300.00 donation from the Neillsville Kiwanis Club for flowers in the Sniteman Town Square flower garden. Motion W. Neville, second J. Neville, to accept and appropriate $300.00 to Account No. 55340 Celebrations and to thank the Neillsville Kiwanis Club for help in beautifying our City. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl reported receiving the following donations from the Listeman Foundation: Police Tasers - $1,200.00 and Christmas Decorations - $1,000.00. Motion Counsell, second W. Neville, to accept and appropriate $1,200.00 to Account No. 52100 Police Department Administration and $1,000.00 to Account No. 55300 Christmas Decorations and to thank the Listeman Foundation for their donations. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel stated the next item is a request from Mandy Krejci to keep three to four chickens at 1508 Johnson Street under Ordinance Section 10-1-22. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated that the property is at W. Seventeenth Street and Johnson Street and is .5 acres. Motion W. Neville, second Counsell, to grant Mandy Krejci permission for 1508 Johnson Street to have up to four (4 hens) chickens, no roosters, subject to review if complaints are received or excess numbers of animals occur. Council Member J. Neville-Nay, All other members-Aye. 4-Aye, 1-Nay, 1-Absent. Motion carried. Council Member Petkovsek asked if a chicken coop requires a building permit or has to be a certain size. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated building permits haven’t been done. Council Member Counsell asked about the 2023 Neillsville High School Homecoming. Chief of Police Mankowski stated that he contacted Dallas Neville, Wisconsin Emergency Police Services. Dallas Neville has nothing to do with the actual event, his service helps line up police officers to help with it. The cost runs $50.00 to $60.00 per hour per officer. Clark County Sheriff Scott Haines stated he would give us a hand, but as of yet no County officers have volunteered. Thorp and Stratford Police Departments may be able to help, but there would be a cost. Mayor Poeschel presented correspondence from the School. Council Member Counsell stated things have been escalating for the last two years, how are we going to stop this, last year picnic tables were placed in the street, we don’t want someone getting hurt or killed. The City needs a gameplan, put some teeth into the process, we need to spend some dollars, take pictures and ticket these folks. This is civil unrest, they need to know we expect them to respect others. Chief of Police Mankowski stated the problem is identifying the students when an officer is out numbered 50 to 1. The Police Department’s focus is to keep the peace, what kind of budget is the Council going to allow, how many officers can we hire. Council Member Petkovsek asked who cleans up the streets-the Street Department, who unwrapped the saran wrap from the fire hydrant. Mayor Poeschel stated last year the Police Department had $4,000.00 in overtime. Council Member W. Neville asked if any fines were issued last year. Chief of Police Mankowski replied “no”, we couldn’t identify them. Council Member W. Neville stated that if one or two individuals could be fined, it would send a message, we need homeowners help. Council Member Petkovsek stated most of the homeowners affected are elderly and some don’t want to get involved. Chief of Police Mankowski stated if there are no violations, there is no crimes, we can’t identify them, many are wearing dark clothing. Council Member J. Neville asked how many officers would be needed. Chief of Police Mankowski replied five or six officers, six to eight hours per night for seven nights. Council Member Counsell stated if would cost about $15,000.00. We talk about it, but have done nothing. Chief of Police Mankowski stated he will put out mutual aid requests and talk to Sheriff Haines again. Mayor Poeschel asked what message do we want to send out, do we want arrests and fines issued. Council Member Counsell replied “yes”, each year they try to one-upmanship the last year, enough is enough. Chief of Police Mankowski stated police presence will deter crime, we try to keep the peace without arrest, if we can, it is a win. Homecoming is a concern, it is our duty to do something, putting our officers out there outnumbered is not the answer. We would have three Neillsville officers plus five or six others. Council Member W. Neville asked if that was enough. Chief of Police Mankowski stated “no”, but it is what we have. The Clark County Sheriff said they will help, but they have no volunteers yet. Motion Counsell, second W. Neville, to authorize the Chief of Police to do what he feels is necessary to protect the City and get the extra help needed. All Aye. Council Member Counsell asked for an update on the City Attorney position. Mayor Poeschel stated letters have been sent out to four different law firms requesting proposals, September 1, 2023 is the deadline, the Personnel Committee will review the proposals, as Mayor he will recommend an appointment, the Council would confirm. Council Member Counsell stated that City Attorney Wachsmuth will give us a list of unfinished business at the end of the month. Mayor Poeschel stated that Wachsmuth’s last day is September 30, 2023, not August 31, 2023. City Clerk Roehl presented an invite to the Neillsville Public Library Storybook Walking Trail grand opening and ribbon cutting on Friday, August 25, 2023. Mayor Poeschel presented Jose Neville with a plaque for his 11 years, 4 months (April 2012-August 2023) of dedicated service to the City of Neillsville as Fourth Ward Council Member. Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Vickie A. Dux and Miranda S. Fabian Motion J. Neville, second W. Neville, to grant all the listed licenses. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second W. Neville, that City Bills Nos. 776 to 828 in the amount of $145,164.78, CDBG Housing Escrow Account Bill No. 14 in the amount of $2,200.00 and TIF District No. 4 Account Bill No. 10 in the amount of $4,080.00 be paid. All Aye. Council Member Petkovsek reported that six of the eight Town Square Park benches have been sponsored now and that she attended the Wisconsin Lutheran Social Services-LSS Deep River-Community Based Residential Facility open house on August 15, 2023. Motion W. Neville, second J. Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************