City Council

COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM APRIL 15, 2025 4:00 P.M. The Common Council meeting in annual session was called to order by Mayor Poeschel. On roll call: Council Member Rochester absent, all other members present. The City Clerk swore in William E. Neville, Daniel M. Clough and Rolly S. Gelhaus for their terms in their respective offices. The Council welcomed William E. Neville (First Ward Council Member), Daniel M. Clough (Second Ward Council Member) and Rolly S. Gelhaus (Fifth Ward Council Member) as newly elected and re-elected members. Mayor Poeschel announced that the purpose of this meeting is to reorganize the Council and make appointments of the various officials, boards, committees and commissions. Mayor Poeschel presented nominees for Council consideration. Weed Commissioner: Motion Neville, second Clough, that the Director of Public Works (2026) be re-appointed as Weed Commissioner. All Aye. Building Inspector: Motion Neville, second Gelhaus, that the Director of Public Works (2026) be re-appointed as Building Inspector. All Aye. Zoning Administrator: Motion Gelhaus, second Clough, that the Director of Public Works (2026) be re-appointed as Zoning Administrator. All Aye. Emergency Government Director: Motion Clough, second Petkovsek, that the Chief of Police (2026) be re-appointed as Emergency Government Director. All Aye. City Forester: Motion Neville, second Gelhaus, that the Cemetery Sexton/Parks Director (2026) be re-appointed as City Forester. All Aye. Official Newspaper: Motion Clough, second Gelhaus, that the Clark County Press (2026) be re-appointed as the City’s official newspaper. All Aye. City Hall Custodian: Motion Petkovsek, second Neville, that the City Clerk-Treasurer (2026) be re-appointed as City Hall Custodian. All Aye. Representative to the Municipal Ambulance Board: Motion Clough, second Neville, that Council Member Gelhaus (2026) be appointed as the City’s Representative to the Municipal Ambulance Board. All Aye. Representative to the Community Fire Hall Board: Motion Petkovsek, second Clough, that Council Member Rochester (2026) be re-appointed as the City’s Representative to the Community Fire Hall Board. All Aye. Historic Preservation Commission: Motion Neville, second Gelhaus, that Council Member Clough, Natalie Erpenbach, Nicole Keller, Dawn Voss, Eileen Hediger, Jeff Kluckhohn and Barb Miller, be appointed as members of the Historic Preservation Commission (2026), with Natalie Erpenbach as Chair. All Aye. Illegal Tax Committee: Motion Clough, second Gelhaus, that Council Members Gelhaus, Neville and Rochester be appointed as members of the Illegal Tax Committee (2026), with Council Member Gelhaus as Chair. All Aye. Solid Waste and Recycling Committee: Motion Clough, second Petkovsek, that Council Members Gelhaus, Neville and Rochester and the Director of Public Works be appointed as members of the Solid Waste and Recycling Committee (2026), with Council Member Gelhaus as Chair. All Aye. Committee on Finance: Motion Clough, second Neville, that the Mayor and entire Council shall constitute the Committee on Finance (2026), with Mayor Poeschel as Chair. All Aye. Board of Review: Motion Petkovsek, second Neville, that the Mayor and entire Council, with the City Clerk-Treasurer as Secretary, shall constitute the Board of Review (2026), with Mayor Poeschel as Chair. All Aye. Library Board: Motion Petkovsek, second Clough, that Council Member Neville (2026), Mary Sladich (2028) be re-appointed as members of the Library Board. All Aye. Other members are: Peggy Buchda (2026), Logan Grap (2026), John Gaier-School District Superintendent (2027), Margaret Gelhaus (2027) and Graeme Williams (2027). The Library Board elects its own Chair. Board of Health: Motion Neville, second Clough, that the Mayor and entire Council shall constitute the Board of Health (2026), with Mayor Poeschel as Chair. All Aye. Commission on Public Works/Utilities: Motion Neville, second Clough, that the Mayor and entire Council shall constitute the Commission on Public Works/Utilities (2026). All Aye. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities elects its own Chair. Zoning Board of Appeals: Motion Neville, second Petkovsek, that Council Member Clough (2026), Rolly Gelhaus (2028) and Mandy Krejci (2028) be appointed as members of the Zoning Board of Appeals, with Council Member Clough as Chair. All Aye. Other members are: Duane Poeschel (2026) and Lynn Schoengarth (2026). Planning Commission: Motion Clough, second Neville, that Mayor Poeschel (2026), Council Member Rochester (2026), Parks and Recreation Board Chair (2026), and Greg Glisczinski (2028) be re-appointed as members of the Planning Commission, with Mayor Poeschel as Chair. All Aye. Other members are: Amber Vine (2026), Natalie Erpenbach (2027) and Allan Hoesly (2027). Parks and Recreation Board: Motion Petkovsek, second Clough, that Council Member Neville (2026), Robin Harder (2028) and Sue Voigt-Representative of the School District (2028) be re-appointed as members of the Parks and Recreation Board, with Council Member Neville as Chair. All Aye. Other members are: Mandy Krejci (2026) and Jacob Ormond (2026), Julie Simek (2027), and Ryan Tews (2027). Police and Fire Commission: Motion Neville, second Clough, that Margaret Gelhaus (2030) be re-appointed as member of the Police and Fire Commission, with Margaret Gelhaus as Chair. Council Member Gelhaus – abstained. All other members – Aye. Motion carried. Other members are: Allan Hoesly (2026) and Brad Lindner (2027), Robert Johnson (2028) and Tim A. Voigt (2029). Airport Commission: Motion Clough, second Neville, that Council Member Rochester (2026), Director of Public Works (2026) and Mandy Krejci (2029) be appointed as members of the Airport Commission, with Council Member Rochester as Chair. All Aye. Other members are: DeWayne Seelow (2027) and Bob Petkovsek (2028). Board of Cemetery Commissioners: Motion Neville, second Petkovsek, that Council Members Clough and Gelhaus, City Clerk-Treasurer, Mandy Krejci and Lori Pekol be appointed as members of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners (2026), with Council Member Clough as Chair. All Aye. Commission on Economic Development: Motion Clough, second Gelhaus, that Mayor Poeschel (2026), William Neville (2028) and Julie Simek (2028) be re-appointed as members of the Commission on Economic Development, with Mayor Poeschel as Chair. All Aye. Other members are: John Gaier (2026) and Justin Poeschel (2026), Daniel Clough (2027) and Carrie Morrell (2027). Grants Committee: Motion Neville, second Gelhaus, that Council Member Petkovsek (2026) and Brent Shoup (2028) be re-appointed as members of the Grants Committee, with Natalie Erpenbach as Chair. All Aye. Other members are: and Jody Conner (2026), Natalie Erpenbach (2027) and Deanna Heiman (2027). Tourism Committee: Motion Clough, second Petkovsek, that Council Member Neville, Margaret Grap, Amber Vine, Susan Voigt and James Voss be re-appointed as members of the Tourism Commission (2026) with Council Member Neville as Chair. All Aye. Personnel Committee: Motion Clough, second Neville, that Mayor Poeschel, Council Members Gelhaus, Neville and Petkovsek be appointed as members of the Personnel Committee (2026), with Council Member Petkovsek as Chair. All Aye. Property Committee: Motion Neville, second Gelhaus, that Council Members Clough, Gelhaus and Rochester, Mandy Krejci and Kory Poeschel be appointed as members of the Property Committee (2026), with Council Member Clough as Chair. All Aye. Heritage Days Committee: Motion Clough, second Petkovsek, that Council Member Rochester, Dale Erickson, Michelle Friemoth, Logan Grap, Barb Miller, Jose Neville, Katie Mohr, Tom Opelt, Jerry Pfeiffer, Justin Poeschel and Michael Winder be re-appointed as members of the Heritage Days Committee (2026), with Jose Neville as Chair. All Aye. Beautification Committee: Motion Neville, second Clough, that Council Member Petkovsek, Doris Bakker, Kathy Brugger, Margaret Gelhaus, Linda Hemp, Barb Miller, Janice Miller and Donna Pavlac be appointed as members of the Beautification Committee (2026), with Council Member Petkovsek as Chair. All Aye. Transit Committee: Mayor Poeschel stated that with the discontinuation of the City of Neillsville Taxi Service this Committee is no longer needed. Motion Neville, second Clough, to disband this Committee. Discussion continued. Council Member Gelhaus – abstained. All other members – Aye. Motion carried. President of the Council: Mayor Poeschel called for nominations. Council Member Petkovsek nominated Council Member Neville as President of the Council. Mayor Poeschel called three times for further nominations. There being none. Motion Petkovsek, second Clough, to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Council Member Neville as President of the Council (2026). All Aye. City Clerk Roehl reported that the Open Book will be Monday, April 28, 2025 from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. by telephone, Board of Review will be Monday, May 19, 2025 from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. and State Representative Karen Hurd and State Senator Jesse James will be holding a joint listening session at the Neillsville American Legion on Monday, April 21, 2025 from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Motion Neville, second Clough, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ BOARD OF HEALTH COUNCIL ROOM APRIL 15, 2025 4:30 P.M. The Board of Health met in annual session, Mayor Poeschel presiding. On roll call: Council Member Rochester absent, all other members present. Also present: City Health Officer Doris Bakker, Director of Public Works Luke Friemoth and City Clerk-Treasurer Rex R. Roehl. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Health Officer Bakker presented the City’s annual health report and activities for 2024-2025 regarding: liquor, beer and wine license inspections; there have been major problems; looking forward to the new set of ordinances; environmental concerns with unoccupied buildings and even a few occupied buildings; lack of maintenance and cooperation from landlords; piles of wood attracting rats; the new garbage and recycling container helping to keep a food source out of access from bird and critters. Discussion followed on measles, Spring cleanup, property owners lacking pride in maintaining their properties, etc. Discussion followed on the annual inspection tour. The City ordinance does not require a tour. Discussion followed on a joint Board of Health tour versus individual tours by Council Members. Motion Neville, second Clough, that each Council Member do an individual tour with the Director of Public Works by June 1, 2025 and a report of properties be made. All Aye. Motion Gelhaus, second Petkovsek, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************