City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM DECEMBER 12, 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 no burials at the Cemetery, tree trimming and removal, working on Arboretum bridges (part of TIF District No. 4 project), snow removal, salting and sanding, equipment maintenance, Christmas decorating, hauling brush, leaf pick up is done, Water Department – daily testing and well rounds, meter reading, water main valve exercising, utility locates, hydrant inspections and winterization, Sewer Department – daily testing and lift station rounds, lift station maintenance and winterization, serviced generators at the plant sewer plant and lift stations, troubleshooting wastewater samples. Motion Poeschel, second Counsell, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM DECEMBER 12, 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 November 28, 2023 meeting of the Grants Committee regarding review and updating the list of grants in progress. Council Member Rochester reported on the November 20, 2023 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) discussion on Friday night bands, 2) discussion on and approval of sending out donation request letters, 3) discussion on Uncommon Denominator band contract for Saturday night, 4) discussion on Miss Neillsville checkbook and 5) discussion on and approval of a contract with Chippewa Valley Sound for Friday and Saturday night shows at a cost of $3,000 plus Friday night hotel rooms. Council Member Clough reported on the December 12, 2023 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities. Mayor Poeschel declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Mayor Poeschel swore in Jake Mertzig as a City Police officer. Mayor Poeschel presented the following nomination list of polling place officials and voting registration deputies: Ward I – Jana Marden, Janice Mayer, Gayle Vatne Ward II – Kathy Brugger, Denise Clough, Greg Glisczinski Ward III – Carol Harnisch, Mary Hartung, Brent Shoup Ward IV – Sharon Bjerke, Natalie Erpenbach, Mary Nauertz Ward V – Margaret Gelhaus, Lynda Hilliard, Karen Venne This represents eight Republicans and seven Democrat representatives in the polling place. Their terms of office will be two years, from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025. Voter Registration Deputies – Kay Anason and Debbie Tlusty This represents one Republican and one Democrat voter registration deputy. Their terms of office will be for two years, from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025. Motion Neville, second Counsell, to accept the Mayor’s nominations as presented for polling place officials and voter registration deputies and appoint them to two-year terms 2024-2025. Council Member Clough abstained. 4-Aye, No-Nay, 1-Abstained. Motion carried. City Clerk Roehl presented a request from Police Department employees to carryover 2023 unused vacation time due to personnel shortages not allowing for time to be taken off. There is a total of 120 hours. Employees are James Mankowski (80 hours) and Derek Wheatley (40 hours). Motion Counsell, second Rochester, to allow the Police Department employees to carryover their unused 2023 vacation hours to 2024, to be used by March 31, 2024. All Aye. Recreation Director Jessica Brown presented a request for use of the City Hall basement for a Toddler/Child Play program. It is a new program funded by the $10,000 Listeman grant. The basement area is heated, carpeted and permanent. She could setup the area with the play equipment and not have to take it down and store it after each use. She will be there to supervise, the program would be for six years of age and under, the parent is required to stay. Council Member Counsell asked if there would be a charge and if we had checked with our insurance company. Recreation Director Brown stated that there would be a program charge and she had contacted the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and there is no concern. Motion Petkovsek, second Clough, to approve the used of the City Hall basement for a Toddlers/Child Play program. All Aye. Chief of Police Mankowski stated as he is completing his fourth year as Chief of Police, he has worked hard building a team of police officers, training them and providing the promise change that he was hired to deliver, now he is asking the Council for its trust. Trust that things are being done correctly, take time to thank our police officers. Chief of Police Mankowski reported on receiving the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Award for completion of required leadership courses. He is the first Neillsville Chief of Police in department history to achieve this. Chief of Police Mankowski reported on trainings, Police Officer Mertzig will being field training in January, Police Officer Fecker will being field training the last week in December, the 2019 Ford squad will be placed in service soon, the 2013 Dodge Charger squad will be auctioned off, November parking enforcements, citations, warnings, incidents, office activity, calls, officer activity, business patrols, citizen interactions, Town of Mentor contract policing (starting in January, 2024 the monthly commitment will increase from 10 hours to 15 hours). Mayor Poeschel read a letter from Bob Venne, B & F Machine Shop, regarding courthouse parking on E. Sixth Street. A few courthouse workers are abusing the parking situation, by play a cat and mouse game of moving cars around, instead of using the courthouse parking lots. They don’t care about his customers or older people who need to use the courthouse. In Stevens Point they have an ordinance and parking signs that say “No Re-Parking” – parking is allowed one time per calendar day. City Clerk Roehl presented a note from State Representative Donna Rozar and State Senator Jesse James that they will be holding a listening session on Friday, December 15, 2023 in Neillsville. Hotel/Motel Room Tax Permit Applications: Forward GRP, LLC, Neillsville House, Logan Grap, Agent, 401 W. Seventeenth Street Lu & Co, LLC, Selah: The Black River Lodges, Heather E. Grambsch, Agent, 1214, 1216, 1218 W. Fourth Street Tufts’ Mansion B & B, LLC, James A. Voss, Agent, 26 Hewett Street Motion Neville, second Clough, to grant all the listed permits. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Counsell, that the City Bills Nos. 1129 to 1179 in the amount of $83,857.27 and CDBG Housing Escrow Account Bill No. 15 in the amount of $1,700.00 be paid. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Clough, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************