City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM, CITY HALL JULY 8, 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, cleaning park bathrooms, mowing, weed trimming, spraying weed roads, ballfield maintenance, Heritage Days setup, street sweeping, digging out and prepping patches throughout town, pothole patching, equipment maintenance, hauling brush and compost, Water Department-daily testing and well rounds, utility locates, meter change outs and radio installs, repaired a service leak on E. Fifth Street by the Court House, mowing and general clean up at the wells and booster, following up on abnormal water meter readings, Sewer Department-daily testing and lift station rounds, lift station maintenance and inspections, mowing and weed spraying at treatment plant and old plant, mixing basin clean up and maintenance dealing with high flows following rain events. Michael Voss, MSA Project Manager, presented a MSA Professional Services Agreement for Wastewater Treatment Plant Facility Plan/Operation and Needs Study at a cost of $45,000. The contract completion will be approximately by January 31, 2026. The current plant is approaching 30 years old. Voss stated the Scope of Services includes: wastewater treatment background data; collection system and inflow and infiltration analysis; establishing design conditions; evaluate conditions and capacity of existing facilities; screening and evaluation of wastewater alternatives; recommendation and implementation; and exclusions. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated one of the main concerns in meeting phosphorus limit, keeping up with the times and what options we have in the future. Council Member Petkovsek asked if the study cost would come from Sewer Utility funds or tax levy and can farmers still use phosphorus fertilizer in Clark County. Friemoth stated the study cost would be paid out of Sewer Utility funds. Voss stated that he knows of no County who has banned phosphorus. Council Member Gelhaus asked what is phosphorus removal. Voss stated that both the WI DNR and EPA want to keep phosphorus out of the water systems, phosphorus causes algae blooms, so what comes out of municipal treatment system pipes must reduce phosphorus to target levels, it also includes local farmer field runoffs. Council Member Neville asked about outside contractors. Voss replied none are anticipated in the study itself, but at the end some of the recommendations may require specific design and equipment to implement. Motion Poeschel, second Rochester, to recommend to the Common Council to approve the MSA Professional Services Agreement for a Wastewater Treatment Plan Facility Plan/Operation and Needs Study at a cost of $45,000. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl presented the Second Quarter 2025 Water and Sewer Financial Statements. Motion Poeschel, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM JULY 8, 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 June 24, 2025 meeting of the Grants Committee regarding: 1) reviewing and updating the list of grants in progress, 2) discussion on TAP Grant-Safe Routes to School Grant with Hailee Bushman, West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission on the grant process and possible recommendations and 3) discussion on items to possibly request funding for the Police Department. Council Member Rochester reported on the July 7, 2025 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding final details on setup and in event of rain. Council Member Clough reported on the July 8, 2025 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, 2) discussion on and recommendation to approve the MSA Professional Services Agreement for a Wastewater Treatment Plan Facility Plan/Operation and Needs Study at a cost of $45,000 and 3) reviewed the Second Quarter 2025 Water and Sewer Financial Statements. Mayor Poeschel declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Mayor Poeschel called for appearances and stated anyone wishing to speak will have to write their name on the notepad and will have a limit of three minutes to speak. Edward DuBois, Clark County Press Editor, stated that there is an error on page 11 of this weeks’ Clark County Press. It stated that prizes from the mini-rod would be announced at the parade on July 12, 2025, the parade is on July 13, 2025. There is conflicting information in the story. A correction will be run. Joe Martinez stated that the Council should know the Goetz Quarry is being expanded to 140 acres for mining of sand and gravel. This pit is south of town on Maple Road leased to Haas Brothers. He has created a Facebook page to let people know. He has never met Brad Goetz or the Haas Brothers. This process has been going on for three years and the Pine Valley Town Board only let people know last month. Martinez addressed health impacts, it is not a scare tactic, his own health is a testament to that, he was an engineer in the business for over 50 years. Residents will do everything they can to stop this and the City of Neillsville should be concerned as Neillsville is in the heart of Pine Valley. The Town of Pine Valley will be holding a town hall meeting on July 21, 2025. Jason Haas, Haas Sons, Inc., stated he and his brother have been in the business for over 25 years, he is sorry about Martinez’s health issues. Their company is not just opening a mine, they are expanding what’s there, they are applying for 140 acres instead of having to repeat the process, as it has taken three years to get started. The Town of Pine Valley Chair didn’t know how to do a Conditional Use Permit, the Town has struggled with this. There are three different competitors in this area, the crusher would only be there for 2 or 3 weeks and dust is controlled by watering. Jacob Haas stated the mining business is a heavily regulated industry. We have been crushing for five years, the impact on the environment is minimal. In business since 1984, we have never gotten a citation, have complied with all government regulations, we have pride in our business and being part of the Clark County community. This is being blown way out of proportion. Fred Schindler, Clark County Supervisor from Curtiss, and Marawood Construction Service who has a sand pit on County Highway H. This subject is blown out of proportion. They have a ten-acre body of water and 80 to 100 dump trucks a day there. They produce sand. MSHAW came in and tested all our individuals from 7 A.M. to 4 P.M. one day and there was no issues, concerns or violations. He is here to support Haas. Al Kvitek stated he has a home on the Cunningham and concerned about the wildlife, water clarity, traffic with 80 to 100 trucks on State Highway 73, home property values. Mayor Poeschel stated the City has nothing to do with this – it is in the Town of Pine Valley. Timothy Vue stated that you may not have anything to do in Pine Valley, but the mine is in your backyard. There are concerns – health, water pollution, land destroyed, what about 50 to 100 years from now. As a leader of the City you should be concerned. Okay, do an independent study, if someone has cancer, will they pay. Pine Valley has done nothing, we live there, they don’t live by the pit, they don’t care. Mayor Poeschel called twice for any other appearances. Jennifer Bender stated Marawood is awesome, they showed what they do. The Haas pit by Loyal looks ugly. Sixty percent of the reclaimed pits are down the road, you left a hole there. Contact a suburban attorney, the City has jurisdiction within three miles. Going to Marshfield – sand all over the road, like fog, statistics don’t prove it. Joe Neville reminded everyone this weekend is Neillsville’s Heritage Days with events Thursday through Sunday. He thanked the City crew and Police Department for helping with events. He is against the sand mine. Mayor Poeschel called twice for any other appearances. Brenda Kvitek stated a new road .2 miles from their driveway, accidents happen, trucks don’t slow down, a bridge on the curve, it’s a joke, who wants to look at a sand pile. Mayor Poeschel called twice for any other appearances. Joseph Pagenkopf stated road weight limits impact moving farm machinery, if you are going South on State Highway 73 and turn onto Maple Road will there be alternative routes for heavy trucks and machinery. Mayor Poeschel called three times for further appearances – there being none. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/ Utilities item (2). Motion Neville, second Clough, to accept the recommendation to approve the MSA Professional Services Agreement for a Wastewater Treatment Plan Facility Plan/Operation and Needs Study at a cost of $45,000. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl presented the Second Quarter 2025 City Financial Statements and an information sheet on the City of Neillsville Murals Project - “Artwork for All to See and Enjoy”. Chief of Police Mankowski introduced Retired U.S. Marshall Dallas Neville and reported on training, Patrol Officer Mertzig has resigned to take a full-time position with Marathon County, more help is needed, our part-time pay is way below others, the copy machine lease has been renewed and updated, squad car maintenance, June parking enforcements, citations, warnings, office activities, officer activities, business patrols and contract policing. Council Member Rochester asked about employees of businesses parking on the streets and issuing citations. Chief of Police Mankowski stated they do what they can being short staffed. Tavern Operators License Applications: Lisa A. Anderson, Jessica L. Kriegel, Janet M. Wampole Motion Neville, second Clough, to grant all the listed licenses. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Rochester, that City Bills Nos. 591 to 634 in the amount of $187,708.89 be paid. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Petkovsek, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************