City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM OCTOBER 24, 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 one burial at the Cemetery, winterizing the Cemetery water lines, mowing and mulching leaves, starting to shut down and winterize park restrooms, working on Arboretum bridges – one completed (part of TIF District No. 4 project), hauling brush, mowing landfill, installing sanders on plow trucks, leaf pick-up in progress, Water Department – daily testing and well rounds, utility locates, meter change outs and radio installs, exercising water main valves, booster plant maintenance, Sewer Department – daily testing and lift station rounds, lift station maintenance, working on chemical feed pump, raw pump failed, looking into replacement, started sludge hauling, surplus equipment auction on integritysales.com is in progress October 23 to 25, 2023, tent set up and take down for the Chamber of Commerce Autumn Harvest Celebration. Mayor Poeschel asked about the Arboretum project and the new City dump truck. Director of Public Works, Friemoth, stated the Arboretum project includes two bridges and two culverts. The plow truck build has been delayed, once it gets to the dealer they will have to install the box, plow, etc. Jerilyn St. Amand asked where the pump failed. Director of Public Works, Friemoth stated at the raw lift station. Motion Poeschel, second Neville, that Water Bills Nos. 283 to 319 in the amount of $86,318.78 and Sewer Bills Nos. 167 to 187 in the amount of $85,699.13 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Petkovsek, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM OCTOBER 24, 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. Council Member Petkovsek reported on the October 16, 2023 meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding: 1) discussion of Fall decorations, 2) discussion on and approval to give Jim Wetzel a $50.00 Chamber gift certificate as a thank you for Fall decorations, 3) discussion on flowers for 2024, 4) discussion on Christmas Decorating and ordering decorations from Kranzations and 5) discussion on putting up downtown Christmas decorations on November 20, 2023. Council Member Rochester reported on the October 17, 2023 meeting of the Airport Commission regarding: 1) discussion on the Bureau of Aeronautics Petition and funding for maintenance on runways, runway lighting upgrades, drainage improvements, taxiway and parking lot, the entitlement funding is for approximately $300,000 and requires no City matching funds and 2) the recommendation to the Planning Commission to approve petitioning the Secretary of Transportation for Airport Improvement Aid. Council Member Petkovsek reported on the October 19, 2023 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding: 1) discussion on and approved a Historic Preservation Certificate of Appropriateness, for 118 Clay Street roofing and painting, 2) discussion on the 2023 Historic Preservation Action Plan – letter to property owners, updating the list of contractors, 3) discussion on a historic property plaques and ordering one for the Gates house, 4) discussion on the self-guided cemetery tour, 5) discussion on bringing back the “Tour of Homes” program and 6) discussion on fund balances. Council Member Petkovsek reported on the October 19, 2023 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) discussion on and recommendation to accept Mathew Thoma’s Letter of Resignation effective October 24, 2023, 2) discussion on and recommendation to promote from within, the hiring of Logan Marshall, as a Regular Full-Time Water and Sewer Utility Operator, with the conditions of working weekends, obtaining both Water and Sewer Utility certifications, maintaining a CDL and pay based on the Public Works Step Program for new hires of $17.66 per hour ($17.41 plus $0.25 Utility differential) and 3) a closed session regarding reviewing Workers Compensation claim by firefighter – adjourned closed session. Council Member Clough reported on the October 24th, 2023 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activity and 2) 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 (1 and 2). Motion Neville, second Counsell, to accept the recommendation to accept Mathew Thoma’s Letter of Resignation effective October 24, 2023 and to thank him for his seven years (2016- 2023) of service to the City of Neillsville. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Rochester, to accept the recommendation to promote from within, the hiring of Logan Marshall, as a Regular Full-Time Water and Sewer Utility Operator, with the conditions of working weekends, obtaining both Water and Sewer Utility certifications, maintaining a CDL and pay based on the Public Works Step Program for new hires ($17.41 plus $0.25 Utility differential). All Aye. City Clerk Roehl presented on Equalized Value Determination Request – TID Base Personal Property Removal for TIF District No. 4. Effective January 1, 2024 the State of Wisconsin has exempted personal property from taxation. This does not affect TIF Districts No. 2 and No. 3, since when they were set up those TIF Districts were vacant land without personal property; however, when TIF District No. 4 was set up it included both real estate and personal property in the base value. The 2023 Act 12 allows municipalities with TIF Districts affected by the change to request a Department of Revenue adjustment to base value. The Request Form PE-606 has been filled out and verified by the City’s assessor and we are requesting permission to file it. The Personal Property Base Value Removal Request is for $101,300 reducing the TIF District No. 4 base value to $6,329,100. Motion Clough, second Neville, to authorize the submission of an Equalized Value Determination Request TID Base Personal Property Removal request adjustment for TIF District No. 4. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel presented Police Office Jason Wampole’s Letter of Resignation effective November 20, 2023. Motion Clough, second Petkovsek, to accept Jason Wampole’s Letter of Resignation effective November 20, 2023 and to thank him for his service to the City of Neillsville. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel recommended the appointment of Council Member Rochester and Katie Mohr as members of the Heritage Days Committee. Motion Neville, second Clough, to accept the recommendation and appoint Council Member Rochester and Katie Mohr as members of the Heritage Days Committee (2024). All Aye. “Class B” Retail Fermented Malt Beverages and Intoxicating Liquor License Application; JTACO, LLC, Green Lantern, Nathan Q. Dickerson, Agent, 231 W. Seventh Street Motion Neville, second Rochester, to grant. All Aye. Soda Water License Applications: JTACO, LLC, Green Lantern, Nathan Q. Dickerson, Agent, 231 W. Seventh Street Motion Clough, second Neville, to grant. All Aye. Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Bridget C. R. Lokken Motion Petkovsek, second Rochester, to grant. All Aye. Motion Councell, second Neville, that City Bills Nos. 975 to 1018 in the amount of $129,884.34 be paid. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Rochester, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************