City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM, CITY HALL DECEMBER 10, 2024 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Chair Clough presiding. On roll call: Council Members Neville and Petkovsek absent, all other members present. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Director of Public Works Friemoth reported on two burials at the Cemetery, picking up branches in the parks, tree trimming, snow removal, putting up Christmas decorations and checking lights, hauling brush, salting and sanding roads, equipment maintenance, picked up a large branch that fell on the road, Water Department-daily testing and well rounds, rehab on Well No. 4 has been approved by the DNR, utility locates, winterizing hydrants, installing meters and radio reads, Sewer Department-daily testing and lift station rounds, lift station maintenance and inspections, winterizing around the Wastewater Treatment Plant, inspected sewer lateral repair on Grand Avenue, finished installation of portable shelter around the bar screen. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated that GFL has started delivery of the garbage and recycling carts on Monday. These carts cannot be used until the new year as Waste Management will not pick them up. Advertising has been and will be on Facebook and WCCN. Further directions and information will be provided with the property tax bills. Residents can keep the Waste Management recycling bins, if they don’t want the old bins they can be dropped off at City Hall. Jerilyn St. Amand asked if you had to call ahead to drop off the old bins and she stated that some contractors staying at the Super 8 motel were commenting on how bad the City roads are. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated that the old recycling bins could be dropped off anytime, no appointment needed. Motion Poeschel, second Rochester, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM DECEMBER 10, 2024 7:00 P.M. The Common Council met in regular session, Mayor Poeschel presiding. On roll call: Council Member Petkovsek absent, all other members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Mayor Poeschel presented the December 10, 2024 meeting of the Police and Fire Commission regarding: 1) a closed session to interview candidates for the other Part-Time Police Officer positions, 2) reconvening into open session, 3) promotion of Police Officer Adam Olson from Part-Time to Full-Time Police Officer starting April 1, 2025 at $27.75 per hour and 4) Violet Marquez and Salvador Marquez as Part-Time Police Officers pending a background investigation, medical, physical evaluation and drug screening. Council Member Clough reported on the December 10, 2024 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 presented Vincent Gomez’s request for a waiver of Sec. 3-6-3 Residency Restrictions for Sex Offenders from 500 feet to approximately 308 feet from the Library. Vincent Gomez presented his background information. Chief of Police Mankowski stated that he met with Gomez and talked with Probation and Parole and has no problem with the Council approving an ordinance wavier at this time. Gomez has struggled to find a place to live and has been living in a tent in the past. Mayor Poeschel stated requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Samantha Larabee, Probation and Parole Agent, stated Gomez has been in compliance and following all the rules, he is on GPS monitoring and has support from the landlord. Motion Rochester, second Counsell, to grant Vincent Gomez’s request for waiver of City Ordinance Sec. 3-6-3 Residency Restrictions for Sex Offenders. All Aye. Chief of Police Mankowski reported on training, personnel, squad car maintenance, parking enforcement, citations, warnings, incidents, office activity, officer activity, business patrols and Town of Mentor contract policing. Council Member Counsell announced that she would not be seeking re-election in the Spring and encouraged anyone interested in the Fifth Ward Council Member position to run as it is a very worthwhile and fulfilling position. City Clerk Roehl presented a thank you from the Kathleen Barth family for flowers sent to her funeral and a thank you from the Neillsville Fire Department to William and Mary Jane Selves for the donation of $10,000 toward the purchase of two new fire hoses to outfit the new City Fire truck/pumper. 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 and 1218 W. Fourth Street Shivaa WI, Inc., Super 8, Vishnubhai G. Chaudhari, Agent, 1000 E. Division Street Tufts’ Mansion, LLC, James A. Voss, Agent, 26 Hewett Street Motion Counsell, second, Neville, to grant all the listed permits. All Aye. Tavern Operators’ License Application: Jordyn N. Anderson Motion Clough, second Rochester, to grant. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl stated that the next meeting has been rescheduled to Monday, December 23, 2024 at 7:00 P.M. since the regular meeting date is on Christmas Eve Day. Motion Neville, second Rochester, that City Bills Nos. 1090 to 1128 in the amount of $110,738.41 be paid. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Clough, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************