Grants Committee — Minutes

City of Neillsville MINUTES Grants Committee - Regular Meeting Tuesday, April 28, 2026 - 4:00 pm. City Hall 106 W Division St, Neillsville WI 1. The meeting was called to order by Chair Erpenbach at 4:01 pm. 2. On roll call:, Natalie Erpenbach, Deanna Heiman, Barb Petkovsek [arrived 4:06 pm], Brent Shoup and Jody Conner. Quorum present. 3. A motion was made by Heiman and seconded by Shoup to approve the Agenda. Voice vote, all aye, motion carried. 4. A motion was made by Heiman and seconded by Conner to approve the minutes of the January 27, 2026, Grants Committee Meeting as presented. Voice vote, all aye, motion carried. 5. Citizen appearances- None. 6. Ad Hoc Technology Committee a. Erpenbach reported on Technology Committee Meeting of April 20, 2026. Motion had been made at that meeting to recommend to City Council to proceed with Spectrum Business quote for City Hall Firewall, Internet and DDos services as well as “Ring Central” phone services. b. Erpenbach noted that since that meeting, additional information was collected and the that she is now recommending that this recommendation from the Technology Committee be paused until additional information is gathered regarding Dirks Group (current Managed Service Provider) can provide pricing and possible “Co- Managed” Services for Servers, Workstations and Users. c. Erpenbach will present this information at Common Council tonight. 7. Housing Loan programs discussed. a. Discussion held on the State of WI’s decision to recall all regional Housing Loan program funds back to the State Housing program. Available funds currently on hand with the Chippewa County Housing Authority have / will be sent to the state. Current housing loans (approximately 27 loans with a balance of approximately $330,000) will remain with the City. If and when repaid, these loan balance funds are to be returned to the State of WI Housing program Fund. b. The City has previously requested that the State of WI allow a Tax Incremental District (TID) Affordable Housing Extension by way of a City Resolution. The State has approved this TID #3 Extension and will allow the City of Neillsville to allow funds to accumulate that would fund a housing program to assist City families / individuals / landlords maintain and repair their primary residences. Per Erpenbach’s discussion with Clerk-Treasurer Roehl, the Grants Committee can begin the process of creating the Polices and Procedures for this Housing Program along with Application Forms and other documentation. Shoup and Conner agreed to work on this Project. Funds will be collected in 2027 and Housing Program can become active sometime in late 2027. 8. Committee discussed the following Grant Applications: a. Discussion and review of Grant applications that have been submitted but no decisions have been made as of the meeting date. No additional action taken: i. WI Emergency Management – Cybersecurity Grant Cycle 1 – Round 2 due 1/30/2026. No word received to date on this application. ii. Listeman Foundation Request for funds submitted April 3, 2026. No word received to date on this request. b. Grant applications that have been awarded and are in various stages of completion. i. WI Emergency Management - Cybersecurity Grant Cycle 1. $42,000 awarded. Erpenbach has submitted final fourth quarter 2025 report for reimbursement. To date we received reimbursement from the State for first, second and third quarters of 2025. Waiting for 4th Quarter 2025 reimbursement yet. Close out report needs to be done yet. ii. WI Emergency Management - Cybersecurity Grant Cycle 2- $82,600 awarded. Covers MSP costs Jan 2026 thru August 2027 plus MFA fobs ($1000). Jan expenses have been submitted. No reimbursement received yet. iii. WEDC – Community Development Investment Grant – Erpenbach is working with property owners on this CDIG grant for the renovation grant - 150 E. Division St. project. Project is moving along as planned. Hoping to be open in May, 2026. iv. Tourism Room Tax grants awarded to City of Neillsville. $1,500 to Historic Preservation Commission, $1,500 to Beautification and $500 to Murals Committee. 9. Old Business – Heiman gave a brief update on the THRIVE grant received by Neillsville Improvement Corporation and the continuing work being done at the School District of Neillsville level on the “Safe Routes to School” project. 10. New Business – None. 11. Adjournment – Motion by Heiman and seconded by Shoup to adjourn. Voice vote, all aye, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 5:08 pm. Next meeting date is Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 4:00 pm at City Hall. Respectfully submitted _________________________________ Natalie K Erpenbach, Recording Secretary