City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM, CITY HALL APRIL 22, 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. Chair Clough called for nominations for Chair of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities for the upcoming year. Council Member Neville nominated Council Member Clough, second Council Member Rochester. Chair Clough called three times for further nominations. There being none. Motion Poeschel, second Petkovsek, to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Council Member Clough as Commission Chair. All Aye. Director of Public Works Friemoth reported on no burials at the Cemetery, Spring clean-up is underway, tree removal, stump grinding, opening of Cliff’s Park restrooms, equipment maintenance, street sweeping, pothole patching, Water Department-daily testing and well rounds, utility locates, meter change outs and radio reads, repaired a service leak on W. Seventh Street, repaired a water main valve on W. Seventh Street, installed a new fluoride pipe at the Treatment Plant, the Filter Vessel is leaking on the weld seam, Sewer Department-daily testing and lift station rounds, lift station maintenance and inspections, R&R System Cleaning, Inc. is in town cleaning and televising sewer manholes and mains. Director of Public Works Friemoth thanked the Grants Committee for their help in securing a WI Department of Health Oral Health Fluoride Grant. The initial request was for $3,445.36 and the State has requested that the City add double wall spill containment, tubing and personal protective equipment (PPE). Director of Public Works Friemoth stated that the Public Service Commission (PSC) Simplified Water Rate Case is a simple way to increase water rates for an inflationary type adjustment. An application is submitted to PSC and a public notice to customers, but does not require a public hearing. As of March 1, 2025 the PSC rate increase factor is 3.0% with the overall rate of return of 6.2%. Discussion followed. The last full rate increase was in 2013 and done by the City’s auditors. The 2024 rate of return was <6.94%>. All our radio read installations should be done by July, 2025. Motion Poeschel, second Rochester, to recommend to the Common Council to proceed with a PSC Simplified Water Rate Case. All Aye. Director of Public Works Friemoth presented a proposal from Struck & Irwin Paving, Inc. for two coats of micro-surfacing to preserve the existing pavement in the C.C. Sniteman Town Square Park/Gazebo parking lot at a cost of $11,000. Discussion followed on funding from parking permits. Motion Poeschel, second Gelhaus, to recommend to the Common Council to accept the proposal from Struck & Irwin Paving, Inc. for two coats of micro-surfacing in the C.C. Sniteman Town Square Park/Gazebo parking lot at a cost of $11,000. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Petkovsek, that Water Bills Nos. 101 to 129 in the amount of $192,221.69 and Sewer Bills Nos. 60 to 79 in the amount of $84,496.09 be paid. All Aye. Motion Gelhaus, second Rochester, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM APRIL 22, 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. Mayor Poeschel reported on the April 15, 2025 meeting of the Board of Health regarding: 1) Health Officer Doris Bakker’s City annual health report and activities for 2024-2025, 2) discussion on measles, cleaning up properties and property owners’ lack of pride in their properties and 3) discussion on and approval that each Council Member do an individual tour with the Director of Public Works. Council Member Clough presented on the April 16, 2025 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding: 1) discussion on the 1897 Clark County Jail, 2) discussion on the National Park Service Paul Bruhn grant application, 3) reviewed the status of the new Historic Preservation Commission website, local contractor’s list, tax credit links and HPC forms and self-guided Cemetery tour, 4) reviewed account balances and 5) approved an expense report reimbursement request for website and QR Code costs. Mayor Poeschel reported on the April 21, 2025 meeting of the Commission on Economic Development regarding discussion on and recommendation to accept the Offer to Purchase Industrial Park land, Parcel No. 261.1376.010, from M2 Real Estate, Mark and Julie Begert, of 4.66 acres for $37,000 with the stipulation that they have five (5) years to build or the City can buy back the land for the original purchase price. Council Member Clough reported on the April 22, 2025 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) election of Council Member Clough as Commission Chair, 2) current activities, 3) discussion on and recommendation to proceed with the Public Service Commission (PSC) Simplified Water Rate Case, 4) discussion on and recommendation to accept the proposal from Struck & Irwin Paving, Inc. for two coats of micro-surfacing to preserve the existing pavement in the C.C. Sniteman Town Square Park/Gazebo parking lot at a cost of $11,000 and 5) payment of bills. Mayor Poeschel declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Economic Development item. Motion Neville, second Rochester, to accept the recommendation to accept the Offer to Purchase Industrial Park land, Parcel No. 261.1376.010, from M2 Real Estate, Mark and Julie Begert, of 4.66 acres for $37,000 with the stipulation that they have five (5) years to build or the City can buy back the land for the original purchase price. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities items (3 and 4). Motion Clough, second Gelhaus, to accept the recommendation to proceed with a Public Service Commission (PSC) Simplified Water Rate Case. All Aye. Motion Petkovsek, second Rochester, to accept the recommendation to accept the proposal from Struck & Irwin Paving, Inc. for two coats of micro-surfacing to preserve the existing pavement in the C.C. Sniteman Town Square Park/ Gazebo parking lot at a cost of $11,000. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel presented the Professional Services Agreement with Innovative Public Advisors for the Innovative Planning Grant at a cost of $23,500. Motion Clough, second Neville, to approve the Professional Services Agreement with Innovative Public Advisors in the amount of $23,500 as presented. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel stated that the next item is a request from Caitlin Fischer to keep three (3) chickens at 11 State Street. This lot is 0.25 acres. Motion Neville, second Gelhaus, to grant Caitlin Fischer permission for 11 State Street to have up to three (3) chickens, no roosters, subject to review if complaints are received or an excess number of animals occur. All Aye. Fire Chief Matt Meyer reported on the First Quarter 2025. Attending the Clark County Emergency Services meeting in Spencer, attending the ribbon cutting for the new Chili Fire Station, ordered the 4th of July fireworks, attending the Chili Fire Department Fire Chief Fischer memorial service, provided a tank and water for the Winter Carnival Polar Plunge, changing the Smokey Bear sign, attended the Community Fire Hall and Rural Fire Association meetings, met with the CVTC building manager for a pre-plan, met with the sprinkler contact on the new Gross Ford building, held the annual Wildland fire training with the DNR, did ice rescue training on Jerry Pfieffer’s pond (thanks for the use of his pond and shop) and all the ladders have passed testing. Fire Chief Meyer reported on 17 calls: 5-City: gasoline spill at gas station, commercial alarm-nothing found, garage fire, cancelled enroute and a 20lb L.P. tank being drug by the hose behind a truck. 12-Rural: smoke odor in home, intentional alarm activation at the hospital, 2 down power lines with grass fires, wood pile fire, 3 two-vehicle accidents, 2 one-vehicle accidents, 2 mutual aid calls to Granton for structure fires. Fire Chief Meyer reported that the Firefighters have purchased an air compressor to fill breathing air bottles for the SCBA’s. This project was completed with Steak Feed proceeds and private donations at a cost of $52,209.18 plus electrical upgrades at no cost to the City or Townships. This eliminates the need to rent cascade bottles and purchase air. Fire Chief Meyer reported one firefighter has left the department and three new firefighters have completed the 96 hour Firefighter I class, have gone through the live burn and are ready to enter buildings. They have a couple more nights of Hazmat training. This is a huge commitment of their personal time – thank you – Isaac Balderas, Logan Erickson and Kevin Mikos. City Clerk Roehl reported that 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.; the Highground Welcome Center Grand Opening and ribbon cutting will be May 2, 2025; Spring Cleanup week is April 21 to 24, 2025; County Highway K and H intersection will be closed from May 5th to July 3rd for construction. Temporary Class “B” Retailer’s License (Beer Only) Applications: Neillsville Men’s Club, Inc., John C. Subke, Agent, for the Clark County Fairgrounds, 1120 E. Division Street, for May 10, 2025 – Midwest Rockbouncers Shootout Motion Neville, second Rochester, to grant. All Aye. Tavern Operator’s License Applications: Cheyenne M. Rawley and Tami L. Scharf Motion Clough, second Gelhaus, to grant all the listed licenses. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Rochester, that City Bills Nos. 344 to 392 in the amount of $208,841.17 be paid. All Aye. Motion Rochester, second Petkovsek, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************