Common Council — Minutes

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM, CITY HALL APRIL 28, 2026 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Chair Clough presiding. On roll call: Council Member Pavlac absent, all other members present. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Council Member Pavlac now present. Chair Clough called for nominations for Chair of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities for the upcoming year. Mayor Poeschel nominated Council Member Clough as Chair. Chair Clough called three times for further nominations. There being none. Motion Poeschel, second Gelhaus, to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Council Member Clough as Commission Chair. All Aye. Director of Public Works Friemoth reported on two burials at the Cemetery, Spring cleanup of the Cemetery and Parks is underway, removing ash trees, opening up park bathrooms, equipment and shop maintenance, hauling brush and compost, street sweeping, patching potholes, Spring yard cleanup went well, Water Department-daily testing and well rounds, utility locates, water meter change outs, doing sewer rounds, sampling and on call duties, running generators, following up on Commercial Cross Control inspections, Sewer Department-daily testing and treatment plant rounds, lift station inspections and maintenance, dealing with high flows from the recent rain events, R&R has finished televising and inspecting, no major deficiencies were found, the E. Twelfth Street Lift Station generator is slated for replacement at a cost of $35,000 (it’s over 30 years old and having issues), working with GFL to schedule a bulk item dumpster for the week of May 18th and hydrant flushing will begin in May. Director of Public Works Friemoth reported on the Head Wastewater Operator position vacancy. MSA Engineering would charge $7,700 per month dropping to $6,500 after a few months and then $5,000 per month after that. Wisconsin Rural Water Association has people who could act as Part-time Operators in Charge, they would be hired directly by the City, not through WRWA, for a monthly salary of $2,000 plus mileage. There is possibly a second backup person. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated the DNR has a 10-point system, four to six years (you get a point per year-you have to be physically in the plant) plus advanced courses for the rest of the point. Motion Poeschel, second Gelhaus, to recommend to the Common Council to hire directly part-time Sewer Department Operators In Charge not to exceed a monthly $2,000 salary plus mileage. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Petkovsek, that Water Bills Nos. 91 to 122 in the amount of $64,968.89 and Sewer Bills Nos. 53 to 75 in the amount of $104,848.68 be paid. All Aye. Motion Poeschel, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk * * * * * * * * * * * * COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM APRIL 28, 2026 7:00 P.M. The Common Council meeting 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 Clough reported on the April 15, 2026 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding: 1) discussion on QR codes, website self-guided Cemetery tours, STQRY.com demo, receiving a $1,500 Tourism Commission City Room Tax grant, 2) authorized entering into a one-year STQRY.com contract for the City historic homes and City Cemetery self-guided walking tour on-line, QR Codes and GIS system program in the amount of approximately $1,800, 3) discussion on the annual report to the Wisconsin Historical Society and Natural Park Service, 4) discussion on the current list of Federal/State known historic property and their historic markers, 5) reviewed current fund balances, 6) discussion on and approved payment of annual membership fee ($20) in the Wisconsin Association of Historic Preservation Commission. Council Member Petkovsek reported on the April 21, 2026 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding: 1) discussion on and recommendation to place all the Part-time employee applications as presented in a pool for the Cemetery, Parks, City Hall, Public Works and Recreation Departments to draw from as needed. The applicants are: Leroy Favett III, Dominic Goetting, Marvin Schoenherr, Scott Moseley, Will Prosser, Kyle Langreck, Caleb Bixby, Brynn Heck, Gavin Wampole and Lakota Henning and 2) discussion on the Head Wastewater Operator position vacancy. Mayor Poeschel reported on the April 21, 2026 meeting of the Board of Health regarding: 1) Health Officer Doris Bakker’s City annual health report and activities for 2025-2026, 2) discussion on cleaning up properties and property owner’s lack of pride in their properties, 3) the new garbage and recycling cart system has greatly improved the look of the City along with the large bulk item drop off dumpster collection and 4) discussion on and approval that each Council Member do an individual tour with the Director of Public Works. Mayor Poeschel reported on the April 21, 2026 meeting of the Finance Committee regarding: 1) discussion on Tax Incremental District #4 background information, 2) review of and discussion on Phase I-W. Fifth Street Reconstruction, Listeman Arboretum improvements, Developer’s incentive, administrative costs, one block W. Second Street Reconstruction, Phase I borrowing and repayment schedule and Tax Increments received, 3) proposed Phase II-W. Second Street and Ferguson Street project capital costs including sewer lining, removal of old blacktop, fine grading and paving, curb and gutters, manhole rehab, a new manhole installations on Second Street and Clay Street and fabric at an estimated cost of $550,000, 4) discussion on proposed Phase II borrowing of $550,000 with repayment schedule and future tax increments, possible refinancing of Phase I loans and 5) discussion on and recommendation to proceed with the TIF District #4-Phase II- W. Second Street and Ferguson Street project and to borrow $550,000 for the capital project expenditures as presented. Council Member Clough reported on the April 28, 2026 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) election of Council Member Clough as Commission Chair, 2) current activities, 3) discussion on Head Wastewater Operator position vacancy with the recommendation to hire directly Part-time Sewer Department Operators In Charge not to exceed a monthly $2,000 salary plus mileage and 4) 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 Personnel Committee item (1). Motion Petkovsek, second Clough, to accept the recommendation to place all the Part-time employee applications in a pool for the Cemetery, Parks, City Hall, Public Works and Recreation Departments to draw from as needed. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Finance Committee item (5). Motion Gelhaus, second Clough, to accept the recommendation to proceed with the TIF District #4-Phase II-W. Second Street and Ferguson Street projects and to borrow $550,000 for the capital project expenditures as presented. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities item (4). Motion Neville, second Gelhaus, to accept the recommendation to hire directly Part-time Sewer Department Operators In Charge not to exceed a monthly $2,000 salary plus mileage. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl reporting on receiving a $210 donation from For Craft Sakes, LLC for the Beautification Committee-Murals project. Motion Clough, second Pavlac, to accept and appropriate $210 to Account No. 55340 Celebrations-Beautification Committee (Murals project). All Aye. Council Member Gelhaus asked about future murals. Council Member Petkovsek stated one is planned for during Heritage Days and other sites are being worked on. Natalie Erpenbach stated that both the City Hall and Police Department Managed Service Provider Contracts with The Dirks Group expires on June 30, 2026 and will auto-renewal for another 24-month contract unless either party notifies the other of its intention not to renew no less than thirty days before the contract term expires. Erpenbach stated that the Grants Committee sub-committee for Technology is looking for renewal prices from The Dirks Group for a shorter contract term, not making any changes for six months to a year until the internal changes-transitions to an Administrator/Director of Public Works and new Clerk-Treasurer are stable, taking a fresh look at “co-managed” systems to become more self-sufficient and involved in our networks monitoring and maintenance. Erpenbach stated the City currently has a Wisconsin Department of Emergency Management Cybersecurity grant in place through August of 2027, with another grant pending. The Technology Committee is aware that Spectrum Business offers a “co-managed” option. Spectrum is currently the City Hall and Police Department internet service providers. Spectrum also offers a phone system, currently the City Hall has TDS. Fire Chief Matt Meyer reported on the First Quarter 2026. Ordering the 4th of July fireworks, provided a tank and water for the Winter Carnival Polar Plunge, provided an escort out of town and back into town for the Girls Basketball going to State, attended the State Fire Convention in Green Bay, the State Fire Prevention coordinator did a 2% Fire Dues audit and we received a $50,000 donation from an anonymous donor. Assistant Fire Chief Strangfeld attended the Community Fire Hall and Rural Fire Association meetings. Fire Chief Meyer stated the Department had it’s annual DNR wildland fire training with the Augusta Range Station, had an ice rescue training, working on driveway access pre-planning on some rural driveways, seven firefighters attended a confined space/manure pit rescue training in Pittsville, the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Clark County provided a dementia living training, toured the new Gross Ford and Gross Auto Body Shop for pre-planning. Fire Chief Meyer stated the annual ladder testing was concluded and all passed in good condition, the new SCBA’s are in use and the firefighters really like them, interviews were held for new firefighters and four were selected (Caleb Holger, Vincent Murphy, Spencer Lieburn, Noble Melvin) and will begin the schooling. Fire Chief Meyer reported 20 calls: 11-Rural: 2 grass fires, mutual aid to Central Fire for a structure fire (tender only), Mutual Aid to Hatfield Fire for a structure fire (full response), 2 two-vehicle accidents, a one-vehicle accident, a vehicle versus buggy accident, a lift assist, a coroner assist and a cancelled enroute, 9-City: a structure fire, a possible re-kindle at the structure fire, smoke removal from a cooking fire at an apartment complex, 2 gas odors- nothing found, a one-vehicle accident, a cancelled alarm before leaving the station, a cancelled two-vehicle accident before leaving the station, a cancelled before leaving the station for a truck versus power pole. Fire Chief Meyer wished Roehl a happy retirement and thanked him for all the help he has provided. City Clerk Roehl reported that the Open Book will be two days this year. Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. will be in-person with a representative of the Assessor at City Hall and Friday, May 1, 2026 from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. will be by telephone with a representative of the Assessor. Board of Review will be Monday, May 18, 2026 from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. Motion Neville, second Clough, that City Bills Nos. 376 to 413 in the amount of $77,848.59 be paid. All Aye. Mayor Poeschel presented City Clerk-Treasurer Rex R. Roehl with a plaque in appreciation of his 42 years of service (1984-2026) to the City of Neillsville and wished him a happy retirement. Roehl thanked everyone, past and present for the last 42 years. I will miss the people the most. I leave with these two sayings: “Dumb looks are still free” and “I have enjoyed everyone who came through the doors-some when they come in, some when they left”. Thank you. Motion Petkovsek, second Gelhaus, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk * * * * * * * * * * * *