City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM, CITY HALL JANUARY 28, 2025 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, snow removal, trimming trees, a dead tree fell on the slide and a few spring toys at Tock Field while cutting (working with insurance for replacements), hauling brush, compost and wood chips, salting and sanding roads, equipment maintenance, Water Department-daily testing and well rounds, utility locates, meter change outs and radio installs, working on inventory, repaired water main break on W. Eighteenth Street and Johnson Street, assisted with three service leaks, Sewer Department-daily testing and lift station rounds, lift station maintenance and inspections, repaired underground two inch water pipe at the Sewer Plant. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated that the 18-month review of the Lutheran Social Services Neillsville Deep River Facility between Chief of Police Mankowski has revealed no issues. Director of Public Works Friemoth reported that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has move the U.S. Highway 10 from State Highway 73 to the East County Line back a year, currently scheduling it for 2028. Jerilyn St. Amand stated she does not know who to contact at the DOT, but Highway 10 is horrendous. Director of Public Works Friemoth presented a quote from Gross Auto Group for a 2019 Dodge Ram truck for the Water Department in the amount of $31,164.50 for the truck plus $9,900.00 for a plow. Gross is also offering a $4,000 trade-in allowance for the old 2008 Chevrolet 2500. The funding is available in the Water Department Capital Improvement Fund. Motion Neville, second Petkovsek, to recommend to the Common Council the purchase of the 2019 Dodge Ram truck with plow from Gross Motors in the amount of $41,064.50. All Aye. Discussion followed on whether to trade-in the 2008 Chevrolet 2500 with plow, put it out for silent auction bids as a unit (truck and plow) or separate it for individual bids on the truck and plow. Motion Neville, second Poeschel, to recommend to the Common Council to advertise the 2008 Chevrolet 2500 truck with plow for sale by silent bid. All Aye. Motion Poeschel, second Counsell, that Water Bills Nos. 360 (2024) and 1 to 37 (2025) in the amount of $107,920.37 and Sewer Bills Nos. 1 to 28 in the amount of $79,671.32 be paid. All Aye. Motion Poeschel, second Rochester, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk  ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM JANUARY 28, 2025 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 Rochester reported on the January 15, 2025 meeting of the Airport Commission regarding discussion on and recommendation approving the Amendment of the Bureau of Aeronautics Petition and Funding to include snow removal equipment. Council Member Clough reported on the January 15, 2025 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding: 1) discussion on status of the 1897 Clark County Jail building, 2) discussion on the National Park Service Paul Bruhn grant application, 3) discussion on updating forms and website, 4) discussion on updating the Historic Preservation Commission Action Plan for 2025, and 5) reviewed fund balances. Mayor Poeschel reported on the January 16, 2025 meeting of the Planning Commission regarding discussion on and recommendation that the City enter into an agreement with West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission to create a project plan for a City of Neillsville Tax Incremental Financing District #5. Council Member Clough reported on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, 2) discussion on and recommendation to purchase a 2019 Dodge Ram truck with a plow from Gross Auto in the amount of $41,064.50, 3) discussion on and recommendation to advertise the 2008 Chevrolet 2500 truck with plow for sale by silent auction, and 4) payment of bills. Mayor Poeschel declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Jerilyn St. Amand expressed concerns about leasing the Industrial Park land, because of the birds and butterflies out there, no one knows that that land is available for businesses to buy, it is not advertised very well, there is no For Sale signs. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Airport Commission item. This is the first reading of this resolution. The public hearing will be at the February 25, 2025 meeting. Mayor Poeschel read the following resolution: RESOLUTION PETITIONING THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION FOR AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT AID WHEREAS, the City of Neillsville, Clark County, Wisconsin hereinafter referred to as the sponsor, being a municipal body corporate of the State of Wisconsin, is authorized by Wis. Stat. §114.11, to acquire, establish, construct, own, control, lease, equip, improve, maintain, and operate an airport, and WHEREAS, the sponsor desires to develop or improve the Neillsville Municipal Airport, Clark County, Wisconsin, "PETITION FOR AIRPORT PROJECT" WHEREAS, the foregoing proposal for airport improvements has been referred to the city plan commission for its consideration and report prior to council action as required by Wis. Stat. §62.23(5), and WHEREAS, airport users have been consulted in formulation of the improvements included in this resolution, and  WHEREAS, a public hearing was held prior to the adoption of this petition in accordance with Wis. Stat. §114.33(2) as amended, and a transcript of the hearing is transmitted with this petition, and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the sponsor that a petition for federal and (or) state aid in the following form is hereby approved: The petitioner, desiring to sponsor an airport development project with federal and state aid or state aid only, in accordance with the applicable state and federal laws, respectfully represents and states: 1. That the airport, which it is desired to develop, should generally conform to the requirements for a General Aviation type airport as defined by the Federal Aviation Administration. 2. The character, extent, and kind of improvements desired under the project are as follows: Acquire Snow Removal Equipment; Clear and maintain runway approaches as stated in Wis. Admin. Code Trans §55, and any necessary related work. 3. That the airport project, which your petitioner desires to sponsor, is necessary for the following reasons: to meet the existing and future needs of the airport. WHEREAS, it is recognized that the improvements petitioned for as listed will be funded individually or collectively as funds are available, with specific project costs to be approved as work is authorized, the proportionate cost of the airport development projects described above which are to be paid by the sponsor to the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (hereinafter referred to as the Secretary) to be held in trust for the purposes of the project; any unneeded and unspent balance after the project is completed is to be returned to the sponsor by the Secretary; the sponsor will make available any additional monies that may be found necessary, upon request of the Secretary, to complete the project as described above; the Secretary shall have the right to suspend or discontinue the project at any time additional monies are found to be necessary by the Secretary, and the sponsor does not provide the same; in the event the sponsor unilaterally terminates the project, all reasonable federal and state expenditures related to the project shall be paid by the sponsor; and WHEREAS, the sponsor is required by Wis. Stat. §114.32(5) to designate the Secretary as its agent to accept, receive, receipt for and disburse any funds granted by the United States under the Federal Airport and Airway Improvement Act, and is authorized by law to designate the Secretary as its agent for other purposes. "DESIGNATION OF SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION AS SPONSOR'S AGENT" THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the sponsor that the Secretary is hereby designated as its agent and is requested to agree to act as such, in matters relating to the airport development project described above, and is hereby authorized as its agent to make all arrangements for the development and final acceptance of the completed project whether by contract, agreement, force account or otherwise; and particularly, to accept, receive, receipt for and disburse federal monies or other monies, either public or private, for the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance and operation of the airport; and, to acquire property or interests in property by purchase, gift, lease, or eminent domain under Wis. Stat. §32 .02; and, to supervise the work of any engineer, appraiser, negotiator, contractor or other person employed by the Secretary; and, to execute any assurances or other documents required or requested by any agency of the federal government and to comply with all federal and state laws, rules, and regulations relating to airport development projects.  FURTHER, the sponsor requests that the Secretary provide, per Wis. Stat. §114.33(8)(a), that the sponsor may acquire certain parts of the required land or interests in land that the Secretary shall find necessary to complete the aforesaid project. "AIRPORT OWNER ASSURANCES" AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the sponsor agrees to maintain and operate the airport in accordance with certain conditions established in Wis. Admin. Code Trans §55, or in accordance with sponsor assurances enumerated in a federal grant agreement. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE Mayor and Clerk be authorized to sign and execute the agency agreement and federal block grant owner assurances authorized by this resolution. Jeff Gaier, Airport Manager, stated the State of Wisconsin is trying to use up the Federal 2022 money allotment before unused funds have to be returned. Our current snow removal equipment is over ten years old and the State says it is eligible for replacement. The new equipment will be in the $300,000 price range with the City’s share being 2.5% to 5% of the total. The City has the funds on hand from the COVID-BIL Grant dollars received. Motion Neville, second Counsell, to accept the recommendation to proceed to public hearing on the Resolution Petitioning the Secretary of Transportation for Airport Improvement Aid with Agency Agreement and Federal Block Grant Owner Assurances. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Planning Commission item. Council Member Counsell stated that we keep talking about fixing our roads and now they want to borrow $1.7 million to expand water and sewer services in the Boon Addition when they already have utility services. Mayor Poeschel stated that this would get a full loop put in for water as the City is working with a developer for an extensive building development. Council Member Counsell stated the developer’s incentives would be on top of that. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated the $1.7 million would be the worst-case scenario, if a sewer lift station is needed. Connecting the water loop would provide better fire flow pressure for that area. Motion Petkovsek, second Clough, to accept the recommendation to approve the Agreement between the City of Neillsville and the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission for the Planning of Tax Increment Financing District #5 in the amount not to exceed $11,500. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities items (2 and 3). Motion Counsell, second Rochester, to accept the recommendation to purchase a 2019 Dodge Ram truck with a plow from Gross Motors in the amount of $41,064.50. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Neville, to accept the recommendation to advertise the 2008 Chevrolet 2500 truck with plow for sale by silent auction. All Aye. Director of Public Works Friemoth presented the Snow Removal and Parking Lot Agreement between the City of Neillsville, Neillsville Improvement Corporation, Inc. (NIC) and Irving Schutte for the 1962 Easement for driveway, park and playground purposes. Friemoth stated this started with concerns about plowing the parking lot, since some of the area is newly paved and some of the area is in rough shape, then the City’s Attorney said the City cannot plow a private parking lot. The area to be plowed is a 15-foot-wide strip along the south side of the parking lot from Hewett Street to the park/trailhead. Motion Petkovsek, second Rochester, to approve the Snow Removal and Parking Lot Agreement between the City of Neillsville, Neillsville Improvement Corporation, Inc., and Irving Schutte. All Aye. Director of Public Works Friemoth presented the old Landfill Hunting Agreement with Hold Harmless and request to advertise. Discussion on adding grandparents and grandchildren to the list of immediate family members under Lease Covenants; under Termination removing reimbursement language – leaving giving sixty days prior written notice; the lease term being only one year until we see how it goes; restricting the lease to only City resident and City taxpayers. Motion Counsell, second Clough, to approve the old Landfill Hunting Lease Agreement with the above changes and authorizing the advertising of the lease by sealed bid. All Aye. Director of Public Works Friemoth presented the Industrial Park Farmland Lease Agreement and request to advertise. Discussion followed on Practices – restricting it to harvesting hay only, no planting of till crops like corn, etc. Motion Neville, second Rochester, to approve the Industrial Park Farmland Lease Agreement for harvesting of hay crops only and authorizing the advertising of the lease by sealed bid. All Aye. Chief of Police Mankowski presented the “Let’s All Work To Fight Drug Abuse” booklet. There is a drug issue in our community. This booklet will help you recognize substance abuse and addiction. It talks about Fentanyl, Opioids, Prescription Drugs, Heroin, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Vaping and E-cigs, Club Drugs, Hallucinogens, Marijuana, Alcohol and Alcoholism, etc. Mankowski stated this booklet will be distributed to a couple of businesses and the High School free of charge thanks to our sponsors: Sniteman Pharmacy, Atmus, OEM, MEC, Gross Motors, American Heart Association, JMZ Auto Body, Simplicity, and Super 8. Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Shaunta S. Decorah and Brandi K. Ringwelski Motion Clough, second Rochester, to grant all the listed licenses. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Counsell, that City Bills Nos. 57 to 106 in the amount of $361,106.46 be paid. All Aye. Council Member Petkovsek reported on attending the Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) virtual visioning session on the Neillsville Campus on January 21, 2025. CVTC is working to re-establish the Neillsville Campus, CVTC is looking for a CDL instructor and a face-to-face English as a Second Language Teacher for Spanish. If anyone is interested contact CVTC. Motion Clough, second Rochester, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************