City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 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 two burials at the Cemetery, working on 2024 budgets, watering flowers, cleaning restrooms, working on Arboretum bridges (drilling holes in I-beams, painting and assembling), hauling brush, street sweeping, mowing ditches, equipment maintenance, Water Department-daily testing and well rounds, utility locates, meter reading, collecting lead and copper samples from around town, repaired Well No. 4 generator, finished up dirt work on leak repair sites, Sewer Department-daily testing and lift station rounds, raw pump maintenance, lift station maintenance, repaired two manholes which had bad concrete risers, started sewer main jetting, leaf pickup will begin in mid-October, we will not be raking leaves this year as the new leaf vac has an eight-foot reach, we received 7 ¼ inches of rain over the weekend and only had one sewer backup, the City is not liable for a sewer backup, but does have $5,000 no-fault sewer backup insurance coverage to help the property owner out. Motion Poeschel, second Neville, that Water Bills Nos. 254 to 282 in the amount of $131,479.09 and Sewer Bills Nos. 151 to166 in the amount of $84,869.78 be paid. All Aye. Motion Petkovsek, second Neville to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 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 meetings were declared approved. Mayor Poeschel reported on the September 12, 2023 meeting of the Finance Committee regarding: 1) discussion on the budget process and directions to department heads and committees, 2) received the Personnel Committee wage recommendations and 3) discussion on and setting the budget meeting schedule. Council Member Neville reported on the September 18, 2023 meeting of the Library Board regarding: 1) librarians’ reports, 2) discussion on office equipment, 3) discussion on the Storybook Trail, 4) work on and referral of the 2024 Library Board budget to the Finance Committee, 5) discussion on the WLA Conference, 6) discussion on the removal of a rotten tree, 7) discussion on exterior building painting, 8) discussion on replacing interior lights with LED, 9) payment of bills and 10) update on donation and carryover funds. Council Member Petkovsek reported on the September 18, 2023 meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding: 1) work on and referral of the 2024 Beautification budget to the Finance Committee, 2) discussion and approval to purchase the flowers for 2024 from Reit’s Garden Center and 3) discussion on ribbon cutting for the new benches in the Town Square Park on Friday, October 6, 2023 at 3:00 P.M. Council Member Clough reported on the September 20, 2023 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding: 1) discussion on the 2023 Historic Preservation Commission Action Plan, 2) discussion on the façade project for the Downtown Historic District buildings, 3) discussion on the self-guided Cemetery Tour of the City of Neillsville Cemetery, 4) work on and referral of the 2024 Historic Preservation budget to the Finance Committee, and 5) discussion on the Local History and Historic Preservation Conference in La Crosse, WI. Mayor Poeschel reported on the September 21, 2023 meeting of the Economic Development Commission regarding work on and referral of the 2024 Economic Development budget to the Finance Committee. Council Member Clough reported on the September 21, 2023 meeting of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners regarding: 1) current activities, 2) discussion on and recommendations to allow the transfer and reconveyance from Nina Henchen of Grave 1, Lot 2, Division Z, E ½, Map of 1969 to the City of Neillsville at the original purchase price of $200 and 3) work on and referral of the 2024 Cemetery budget to the Finance Committee. Mayor Poeschel presented the September 21, 2023 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) financial report, 2) discussion on the setup for Autumn Harvest Celebration, Saturday, October 14, 2023 in the downtown parking lot on West Street and 3) work on and referral of the 2024 Heritage Days budget to the Finance Committee. Council Member Rochester reported on the September 21, 2023 meeting of the Neillsville Community Fire Hall Board regarding: 1) payment of bills, 2) current activities, 3) discussion on and approval of the Firemen’s club requests to use the Fire Hall for their annual Steak Feed fundraiser and 4) work on and approval of the 2024 operating and capital budgets. Council Member Rochester reported on the September 25, 2023 meeting of the Airport Commission regarding: 1) discussion on the Bureau of Aeronautics Petition and Funding for maintenance of runways, runway lighting upgrades, drainage improvements, other taxiways and parking lot maintenance – no action taken and 2) work on and referral of the 2024 Airport operating and capital budgets to the Finance Committee. Council Member Neville reported on the September 25, 2023 meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board regarding: 1) current activities of the Recreation Department, 2) current activities of the Parks Department, 3) work on and referral of the 2024 Recreation Department to the Finance Committee, 4) work on and referral of the 2024 Parks Department budget to the Finance Committee, 5) discussion on the pickleball court at Listeman park and recommendations to approve the appropriation of $22,500 from City Parks and Recreation Room Tax funds for the pickleball court at Listeman Park, 6) discussion on park benches/table donations and locations – no action taken, 7) discussion on painting and repair to the Schuster Park South Shelter and recommendation to approve the appropriation of $10,500 from City Parks and Recreation Room Tax funds for painting and repairing the Schuster Park South Shelter and 8) discussion on painting and repairing the Town Square Park Gazebo – no action taken. Council Member Clough reported on the September 26, 2023 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities and 2) payment of bills. Mayor Poeschel declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Jerilyn St. Amand stated that people are unwilling to pay extra in property taxes to keep our Police Chief and Officers, the Council needs to think about, they need a pay raise. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Board of Cemetery Commissioners item (2). Motion Counsell, second Neville, to accept the recommendation to allow the transfer and reconveyance from Nina Henchen of Grave 1, Lot 2, Division Z, E ½, Map of 1969 to the City of Neillsville at the original purchase price of $200. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl stated the Beautification Committee has collected $4,000 in donations for the Town Square Park benches. Motion Clough, second Rochester, to accept and appropriate $4,000 in donations for Town Square Park benches to Account No. 57620 Parks Outlay and to thank the individuals for helping to beautifying our City. All Aye. Director of Public Works Friemoth presented a request from Carrie Morrell, 24 Clay Street, to keep six chickens under Ordinance Section 10-1-22. The lot is .39 acres. Council Member Clough stated that the property is on the edge of town and she has contacted the neighbors and it adjoins vacant lots and wooded area. Motion Neville, second Clough, to grant Carrie Morrell permission for 24 Clay Street to have up to six (6 hen) chickens, no roosters, subject to review if complaints are received or excess numbers of animals occur. All Aye. Chief of Police Mankowski stated than on October 4, 2023 from 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. Coffee with a Cop will be held at Hardees. Council Member Counsell asked about Homecoming activities and the additional law enforcement added. Chief of Police Markowski stated that they are keeping the peace and no property damage has occurred. City Clerk Roehl presented a thank you from City Attorney Bonnie Wachsmuth for the opportunity to represent the City of Neillsville for the past 25 years, a letter from the Chamber of Commerce regarding Autumn Harvest information and a letter from the School District of Neillsville on Homecoming information. Temporary Class “B” Retailers License (Beer Only) Application: Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce, Jose L. Neville, Agent, for the parking lot on West Street, for October 14, 2023 – Autumn Harvest Motion Clough, Second Rochester, to grant. All Aye. Soda Water License Application: Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce, Jose L. Neville, Agent, for the parking lot on West Street, for October 14, 2023 – Autumn Harvest Motion Petkovsek, Second Neville, to grant. All Aye. Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Kimberly O. Olson Motion Clough, Second Neville, to grant. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Neville, that City Bills Nos. 883 to 925 in the amount of $271,494.45, and TIF District No. 4 Account Bills No. 13 in the amount of $51,803.74 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Rochester, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************