City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM, CITY HALL JANUARY 23, 2024 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, snowplowing and hauling, sidewalk snow removal, shop maintenance, tree trimming, hauling brush and compost, equipment maintenance, repairing decorative light poles, repairing street signs, Water Department – daily testing and well rounds, delivering shut off notices, working on inventory, the annual DNR audit was done – waiting on the report, Sewer Department – daily testing and lift station rounds, lift station maintenance and inspections, the bar screen is down with a broken gear box – looking into repair costs and time frame – using manual one now, trimming tree by the Grand Avenue bridge by the County garage. Director of Public Works Friemoth reported on being contacted by Katie Cook, Clark County Health Department, they have received a grant to implement traffic calming measures to prevent childhood injuries. The Clark County Health Department would pay up to $10,000 in material and the City would provide any labor. The project chosen would extend the sidewalk along Willow Street from the School south to E. Second Street then cross the intersection going west along the northside of E. Second Street until it meets the current sidewalk and from the E. Second Street intersection south along the westside of Willow Street until it meets the Schuster Park walking trail. Motion Poeschel, second Counsell, that the Water Bills Nos. 388 (2023) and 1 to 24 in the amount of $23,329.80 and Sewer Bills Nos. 1 to 18 in the amount of $42,726.93 be paid. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Poeschel, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM JANUARY 23, 2024 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 Clough reported on the January 17, 2024 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding: 1) discussion on a letter to property owners, real estate agents, insurance agents and bankers, 2) discussion with 140 W. Fifth Street property owner on information for potential historic property listing, 3) discussion on and approval of the 2024 Historic Preservation Action Plan, 4) discussion on and approval of Wisconsin Association of Historic Preservation Commission annual membership ($40) and 5) discussion on Commission member vacancy. Council Member Rochester reported on the January 18, 2024 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) financial report, 2) discussion on ideas for new events and games, 3) discussion on and approval of booking James Wedgwood Comedy Ventriloquist for Sunday, July 14, 2024, 4) donation letters have been sent, 5) discussion on and approved a special 30th anniversary piece-orders will be taken, 6) discussion on and approved renting three inflatables, 7) working on ordering a tent and 8) discussion on ticket takers and bartenders. Council Member Petkovsek reported on the January 22, 2024 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) discussion on a draft letter to communicate to employees, benefits and total employee compensation information 2) a closed session regarding reviewing Workers Compensation claim by a firefighter, 3) reconvening into open session, 4) discussion on and recommendation to accept the resignation of Assistant Clerk-Treasurer Penny Gehrke and 5) discussion on the Clerk-Treasurer office vacancy. Council Member Clough reported on the January 23, 2024 meeting of the Commission on Public Works /Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, 2) working with the Clark County Health Department on a grant for sidewalk installation to the school along the Willow Street and E. Second Street intersection area and 3) payment of bills. Mayor Poeschel declared all reported filed as presented with the City Clerk. Motion Neville, second Counsell, to accept the recommendation to accept the resignation of Assistant Clerk-Treasurer Penny Gehrke and to thank her for her service to the City of Neillsville. All Aye. Fire Chief Matt Meyer reported on the Fourth Quarter 2023. Attending Clark County Emergency Services meeting in Hatfield, holding the Firemen’s Annual Steak Feed – thanks for the strong community support, Fire prevention week tours and talks, attending an all-day farm rescue class at Heiman Holsteins by Marshfield, annual Fall yard cleanup for retirees, providing crossing guard for Halloween Trick-or-Treating hours, conducted a live house burn at Kevin and Jenny Erickson’s (the training involved both the Greenwood and Granton Fire Departments, the Ericksons took care of all the pre-inspections and DNR permit fees, the Firemen’s Club took care of the outside instructors fees – it was on excellent training which doesn’t come along very often), attended Community Fire Hall and Rural Fire Association meetings, fire extinguisher demonstrations for Cummin’s employees. The Department responded to 14 calls: 8-Rural: sparking wire on tree, a one-car accident, two two-car accidents, two chopper/tractor fires, a pickup/camper fire and structure fire; 6-City: Two EMS lift assists, a faulty smoke alarm, two gas/smoke odor calls, and an elevator malfunction. Thank you to the City crew for the snow removal at the Fire Hall, the Jaws extraction tool has been serviced, the firemen purchased two nozzles, a couple of the firemen will be retiring, we will need to start looking for replacements, the new firetruck is at Pierce and plans have been approved, with build date to start June 28, 2024 and completion in August, 2024. Police Chief Mankowski reported that the Simplicity Credit Union – Neillsville Branch ribbon cutting and open house will be January 25, 2024. City Clerk Roehl reported that the Clark County Highway Department administration office, commissioner and operations manager have relocated to Loyal. The equipment maintenance shop will be moving by the end of February. Plow routes will still be based out Neillsville (South) and Owen (North). City Clerk Roehl reported that the 2024 Board of Review has been scheduled for Monday, May 20, 2024 from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Mark R. Olson, Amber L. Vouers, Terri S. Warren Motion Clough, second Rochester, to grant all listed licenses. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Clough, that City Bills Nos. 46 to 108 in the amount of $1,389,692.72 and CDBG Housing Escrow Account Bill No.1 in the amount of $39, 346.98 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Rochester, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************