City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM, CITY HALL FEBRUARY 25, 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 four burials at the Cemetery, snow removal, tree removal, Winter Carnival volleyball setup and extra snowplowing, opening sidewalks to the Fairgrounds and Listeman Arboretum, equipment maintenance, salting and sanding roads, Water Department-daily testing and well rounds, utility locates, meter change outs and radio installs, working on inventory, replacing gas lines at the booster station, dirt work for the generator propane tank, generator setup, Sewer Department-daily testing and lift station rounds, lift station maintenance and inspections, washed down influent channel and bar screen, used the vac trailer to clean out grit in the channel, lab and building maintenance, repairs and cleaning. Jerilyn St. Amand stated that she hit a pothole by the Armory and damaged her running board. She has filed a claim with her insurance company. What is the City going to do about all the potholes. Director of Public Works Friemoth requested permission to advertise for asphalt bids, for Second Street and patches. Motion Counsell, second Poeschel, to recommend to the Common Council to advertise for asphalt bids. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Rochester, that Water Bills Nos. 38 to 70 in the amount of $80,394.80 and Sewer Bills Nos. 29 to 46 in the amount of $36,667.96 be paid. All Aye. Motion Poeschel, second Rochester, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM FEBRUARY 25, 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 February 13, 2025 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) discussion on the Truck Show, 2) discussion on activities and games for children, 3) discussion on sponsorships, 4) discussion on the parade and road closings, 5) discussion on the volleyball tournament, 6) booked the tent, 7) discussion on portable toilets, 8) hired Home Grown Tomatoes for the Sunday band and 9) approved Central Wisconsin Broadcasting, Inc. as the 2025 Grand Marshal. Council Member Clough reported on the February 19, 2025 meeting of the Historic Preservation Committee regarding: 1) discussion on the 1897 Clark County Jail building, 2) discussion on the National Park Service Paul Bruhn grant application, 3) discussion on new Murals project and 4) discussion on local contractors list, updating forms and website, tax credit links and self-guided Cemetery tour. Council Member Clough reported on the February 25, 2025 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, 2) discussion on and recommendation to advertise for asphalt bids and 3) payment of bills. Mayor Poeschel declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Jerilyn St. Amand stated that other towns put their Council meeting packet on their websites. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities item (2). Motion Clough, second Neville, to accept the recommendation to advertise for asphalt bids. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving an $850 grant from the Clark County Community Foundation, Inc. for the Beautification Committee – Prock Park project. Motion Rochester, second Counsell, to accept and appropriate $850 to Account No. 55340 Celebrations – Beautification Committee (Prock Park). All Aye. Police Sergeant Hunter Imm reported on trainings, squad car maintenance, January parking enforcements, citations, warnings, office activity, calls for service, officer activities, business patrols and Town of Mentor contract policing. City Clerk Roehl reported that the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Equalization Bureau, State and Local Finance Division, has issued its Final Major Class Comparison for 2024. It shows that 2024 was the third year of non-compliance assessment for the City. City Clerk Roehl presented a letter from Crime Stoppers of Clark County WI, Inc. requesting a donation. 7:10 P.M. – Mayor Poeschel declared the Public Hearing in the matter of State and Federal Aid for the Improvements at the Neillsville Municipal Airport, N3770 Miller Avenue, Neillsville, WI – Resolution Petitioning the Secretary of Transportation for Airport Improvement Aid now open. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated that public notice of this public hearing was in the Clark County Press of February 5, 2025, the first reading of this resolution was done at the January 28, 2025 Common Council meeting and the Airport Commission recommended approval at its January 15, 2025 meeting. Director of Public Works Friemoth proceeded with the second reading of the resolution. Mayor Poeschel called for appearances. Jeff Gaier, Airport Manager, appeared in support of adopting the Resolution, our current snow removal equipment is over ten years old and the State says it is eligible for replacement. Mayor Poeschel called three times for further appearances – there being none. 7:20 P.M. – Mayor Poeschel declared the public hearing closed. RESOLUTION NO. 636 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. RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY:____________________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel (Mayor) ____________________________________________ Barbara A. Petkovsek (Third Ward Council Member) ____________________________________________ Clarissa M. Rochester (Airport Commission Chair, Fourth Ward Council Member) _______________________________ Rex R. Roehl, City Clerk Motion Petkovsek, second Rochester, that Resolution No. 636 be adopted. All Aye. Tavern Operator’s License Application: Eugene P. Bieneck Motion Clough, second Neville, to grant. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Counsell, that City Bills Nos. 147 to 199 in the amount of $834,165.27 be paid. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Rochester, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************