City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM, CITY HALL MARCH 11, 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 three burials at the Cemetery, snow removal, flowers ordered and baskets dropped off, equipment maintenance, salting and sanding roads, Water Department-daily testing and well rounds, utility locates, meter change outs and radio installs, 540 radios have been ordered to finish out the whole City by about mid-Summer, touching up patches from main breaks, started meter reading, Sewer Department-daily testing and lift station rounds, lift station maintenance and inspections, mapping and scheduling 2025 Sewer main lining projects with contractors, and cleaning mixing basin. Council Member Counsell asked what the new garbage company does when people moving out leave huge piles out. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated he calls the property owners and notifies them they have to make arrangements for a special pickup, the weekly pickup will not pickup excess bags left beside the cart. Jerilyn St. Amand asked if that applies to businesses with overflowing dumpsters. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated that businesses are not part of the City’s residential garbage/recycling contract. Director of Public Works Friemoth requested permission to go out for bids on logs from tree removals. This would be an on-going project. Motion Poeschel, second Counsell, to recommend to the Common Council to authorize the Director of Public Works to advertise for bids on logs from tree removals on an on-going basis. All Aye. Director of Public Works Friemoth requested permission to go out for vehicle fuel bids. Motion Counsell, second Rochester, to recommend to the Common Council to authorize the Director of Public Works to advertise for vehicle fuel bids. All Aye. Motion Poeschel, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM MARCH 11, 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 Petkovsek reported on the February 25, 2025 meeting of the Grants Committee regarding reviewing and updating the list of grants in progress. Council Member Petkovsek reported on the March 3, 2025 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) a closed session on Public Works Department performance evaluation, 2) reconvening into open session, 3) discussion on employee job descriptions and applying for a Wisconsin Department of Revenue 2024 Innovative Planning Grant – Jay Shambeau and Jesse Wildes, Innovative Public Advisors, will help with the grant submission process at no cost, if the grant is awarded, then they would be retained to conduct a study of the City’s Police, Public Works and municipal staff at a cost of $23,500 and 4) a discussion on the City’s pay schedule, the Public Works step program, etc. Council Member Clough reported on the March 11, 2025 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, 2) discussion on and recommendation to authorize the Director of Public Works to advertise for bids on logs from tree removals on an on-going basis and 3) discussion on and recommendation to authorize the Director of Public Works to advertise for vehicle fuel bids. Mayor Poeschel declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Chief of Police Mankowski reported that Police Officer Halle Fecker has now completed her probation period and now welcome her as a regular officer. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities items (2 and 3). Motion Neville, second Clough, to accept the recommendation to authorize the Director of Public Works to advertise for bids on logs from tree removals on an on-going basis. All Aye. Motion Petkovsek, second Rochester, to accept the recommendation to authorize the Director of Public Works to advertise for vehicle fuel bids. All Aye. Clark County Sheriff Kerry Kirn introduced himself. He started part-time with Clark County in July, 1991 and worked his way up. He was appointed Clark County Sheriff by Governor Evers effective January 1, 2025. Discussion followed on collaboration and a good working relationship between the Sheriff’s Department and the City Police Department. Brittany Mews, Clark County Health Department Health Officer/Director, introduced herself and asked for the City’s consideration in adoption of the Clark County’s Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Ordinance. Mews gave a background on hemp, highlights of the ordinance, and the benefits for the City to mirror and adopt the County ordinance, a flyer on Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC, a copy of the Clark County ordinance, a letter the County sent to Clark County retailers notifying them of the new countywide ordinance and Clark County Health Department’s AODA webpage. Chief of Police Mankowski stated that the City doesn’t have the authority to enforce the County ordinance, in order for us to enforce it we have to adopt our own ordinance. Motion Clough, second Neville, to forward the Clark County Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid ordinance to the City Attorney to draft a City ordinance for the Council’s review. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel stated the next item is a request from Olga Alonso, to keep four (4) chickens at 217 Sunset Place, they have a double lot, total of 0.44 acres. Council Member Clough stated that it is a large corner lot, with the Arboretum across the street and only two neighbors. Motion Petkovsek, second Rochester, to grant Olga Alonso permission for 217 Sunset Place to have up to four (4) chickens, no roosters, subject to review if complaints are received or an excess number of animals occur. All Aye. Chief of Police Mankowski reported on training, part-time personnel, the purchase of squad car computers, the need for a strategic long term plan for equipment replacement, squad car maintenance, February parking enforcements, citations, warnings, office activity, calls for service, officer activities, business patrols and Town of Mentor contract policing. City Clerk Roehl reported on an email from the Wisconsin Department of Administration regarding the discontinuation of the Local Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Small Cities Housing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) and notice that State Representative Karen Hurd will be holding In-District office hours on March 17, 2025 at the Loyal City Hall. Motion Neville, second Rochester that City Bills Nos. 200 to 245 in the amount of $275,979.99 be paid. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel announced a closed session per Section 19.85(1)(c) of Wis. Stats. to consider employment, promotion, compensation, performance or evaluation of public employees over which the City of Neillsville has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility, specifically wages, benefits and conditions of employment as related to Public Works Department performance evaluation and may reconvene into open session. Motion Neville, second Clough, to invite the Director of Public Works Friemoth and City Clerk Roehl to remain for the closed session. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Rochester to go into closed session per Section 19.85(1)(c) of Wis. Stats. to consider employment, promotion, compensation, performance or evaluation of public employees over which the City of Neillsville has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility, specifically wages, benefits and conditions of employment as related to Public Works Department performance evaluation and may reconvene into open session. On roll call: All Aye. CLOSED SESSION Motion Counsell, second Rochester, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************