City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM, CITY HALL APRIL 9, 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 two burials at the Cemetery, changing oil in equipment, trimming and removing trees, organizing and rearranging office equipment, snow removal, sanding and salting roads, hauling brush and compost, equipment maintenance, Water Department – daily testing and well rounds, DNR water test samplings, installing meters and radio reads, run generators, Sewer Department – daily testing and lift station rounds, lift station maintenance and inspections, televising sewer mains, sent in the televising camera for repairs-lights not working, working on DNR Phosphorus report, repaired bar screen water hose, the new plow truck has been delivered, the annual recycling grant application has been completed and there was a lightening strike at the water booster plant, which took out a variable frequency drive (VFD) and fried the control panel. Motion Poeschel, second Rochester, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM APRIL 9, 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 meeting were declared approved. Council Member Petkovsek reported on the March 26, 2024 meeting of the Grants Committee regarding review and updating the list of grants in progress. Council Member Neville reported on the March 28, 2024 meeting of the Tourism Commission regarding: 1) discussion on and filing of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Annual 2023 Room Tax Report, 2) discussion on and moving the remaining 2022 Room Tax funds to the 2023 fund for disbursement, 3) discussion on 2023 Room Tax grant applications and 4) approval of grants to: Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce ($500 administration fee and $10,000 to support initiatives), Neillsville Heritage Days ($15,000 to support initiatives), Miss Neillsville ($500 to support initiatives), Miss Winter Carnival ($500 to support initiatives), Clark Cultural Art Center ($1,985.86 to support initiatives) and 1897 Clark County Jail Museum, Inc. ($1,500 to support initiatives). Mayor Poeschel presented the April 1, 2024 meeting of the Police and Fire Commission regarding: 1) discussion on proposed by-laws with alterations sent to Weld Riley for amendment and 2) discussion on Policies and Procedures document with alterations sent to Weld Riley for amendment. Council Member Clough reported on the April 9, 2024 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities. Mayor Poeschel declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. City Clerk Roehl presented the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Recreational Aid Grant for the City of Neillsville-O’Neill Creek Trail Head project final payment in the amount of $25,000. Council Member Clough stated that this ends this grant-$100,000 has been paid out and the $50,000 in matching grant received. Motion Petkovsek, second Neville, to accept and appropriate the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Recreation Aid Grant in the amount of $25,000 to Account No. 57620 Parks Outlay. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel presented a request from Mark Jones, Abby Vans, Inc., requesting permission for a second driveway on W. Fourth Street at 1115 W. Fourth Street for a parking lot driveway. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated the parking lot layout was redone, the existing driveway would be used for truck traffic and the new second driveway would be for an employee parking lot. Council Member Petkovsek asked if the neighbors were in support of this. Mark Jones, Abby Vans, reported that Bill and Mary Jane Selves are in support of the second driveway, a row of pine trees have been removed and will be replaced with maple trees. Motion Clough, second Counsell, to grant the request for a second driveway on W. Fourth Street for the property at 1115 W. Fourth Street. All Aye. Police Officer Hunter Imm reported on trainings, the new Ford Explorer will be outfitted soon, March parking enforcements, citations, warnings, incidents, office activity, officer activity, business patrols, citizen interactions, Town of Mentor contract policing and the Department’s 2024 goals. City Clerk Roehl reported that the City Annual Audit Report has been delayed due to the lead field auditor being out on maternity leave, extensions have been filed for State reporting purposes; the City had a Wisconsin Department of Revenue Levy Limit Worksheet audit-all calculations and support documentation was found in order and acceptable; Clark County Emergency Management will be doing monthly storm siren testing the first Wednesday each month through October; the annual Common Council Reorganizational meeting will be Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 4:00 P.M. followed by the Annual Board of Health meeting at 4:30 P.M.; Open Book will be Tuesday, April 30, 2024 from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.; Board of Review will be Monday, May 20, 2024 from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. Mayor Poeschel stated that this is National Library Week and the Council would like to acknowledge Library Director Janay Ziebell and her staff for all they do. Temporary Class “B” Retailers’ License (Beer Only) Application: Neillsville Men’s Club, Inc., John C. Subke, Agent, for the Clark County Fairgrounds, 1120 E. Division Street, for May 11, 2024-Midwest Rockbouncers Shootout Motion Clough, second Rochester, to grant. Council Member Neville-abstained, all other members-Aye. Motion carried. Soda Water License Application: Neillsville Men’s Club, Inc., John C. Subke, Agent, for the Clark County Fairgrounds, 1120 E. Division Street, for May 11, 2024-Midwest Rockbouncers Shootout Motion Counsell, second Clough, to grant. Council Member Neville-abstained, all other members-Aye. Motion carried. Motion Neville, second Petkovsek, that City Bills Nos. 320 to 372 in the amount of $238,636.72 be paid. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel announced a closed session per Section 19.85(1)(g) of Wis. Stats. allows a governmental body to confer with its legal counsel and closed session for the purpose of obtaining oral or written advise concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to present and prospective litigation directly involving the governmental body regarding reimbursement claim from James Mankowski and may reconvene in open session. Mayor Poeschel invited City Clerk Roehl to remain for the closed session. Motion Clough, second Counsell, to go into closed session per Section 19.85(1)(g) of Wis. Stats. allows a governmental body to confer with its legal counsel and closed session for the purpose of obtaining oral or written advise concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to present and prospective litigation directly involving the governmental body regarding reimbursement claim from James Mankowski and may reconvene in open session. On roll call: All Aye. CLOSED SESSION Motion Rochester, second Petkovsek, to reconvene into open session. All Aye. Motion Petkovsek, second Rochester, to reimburse Chief of Police James Mankowski $35,815.78 for legal fees, out of Police Department Administration-Supplies and Expenses, acknowledging that the Police Department will be over budget by $35,815.78 in 2024, doing this as a one-time instance, in showing support of the Chief of Police working through prior unusual circumstances, in this case the City will reimburse him. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Clough, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************