Common Council — Minutes

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM, CITY HALL MARCH 10, 2026 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 two burials at the Cemetery, snow and ice removal-plowing, hauling, clearing sidewalks and sanding, removing ash trees (stump grinding will be contracted out later), equipment and shop maintenance, patching potholes, Water Department-daily testing and well rounds, utility locates, meter change outs, identified a leak at the E. Fourth Street apartments, general treatment plant maintenance, handling abnormal meter reading and complaints, Sewer Department-daily testing and treatment plant rounds, lift station inspections and maintenance, wash down an cleaning influent channel, troubleshooting lift station float system, pulled and cleaned mixers and the Highway 10 generator needs a new control panel, voltage regulator and circuit breaker. Director of Public Works Friemoth opened and read the following proposals for Unleaded Motor Vehicle Fuel and Diesel Motor Vehicle Fuel: Gas N’ Go – Gross Motors 12 cents per gallon discount off the pump price for unleaded & on-road diesel fuel River Country Co-op 8 cents per gallon discount off the pump price for unleaded, on-road & off-road diesel fuel Kwik Trip, Inc. 12 cents per gallon discount off the pump price for unleaded and on-road diesel fuel Discussion followed. Motion Petkovsek, second Neville, to recommend to the Common Council to accept the Gas N’ Go – Gross Motors proposal for 12 cents per gallon discount off the pump price for unleaded motor vehicle fuel and on-road diesel motor vehicle fuel and the River County Co-op proposal for 8 cents per gallon discount off the pump price for off-road diesel motor vehicle fuel. All Aye. Director of Public Works Friemoth requested permission to advertise for asphalt bids, for the E. Second Street final layer and patches. Motion Poeschel, second Rochester, to recommend to the Common Council to advertise for asphalt bids. All Aye. Director of Public Works Friemoth requested permission to advertise for Industrial Park Farmland Lease bids. Motion Neville, second Rochester, to recommend to the Common Council to advertise for Industrial Park Farmland Lease bids. All Aye. Motion Poeschel, second Gelhaus, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk * * * * * * * * * * * * COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM MARCH 10, 2026 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 Rochester reported on the March 4, 2026 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding: 1) discussion on Glow Run and route, 2) discussion on and authorized hiring the Loyal Mini Rodders for Friday at the American Legion, 3) discussion on tent rental, 4) discussion on and authorized having the Chicken Feed on Sunday, 5) discussion on American Legion events, 6) discussion on and approved the theme “A Balanced Legacy – Keeping Neillsville Running for Over 40 Years”, 7) discussion on kid events, 8) discussion on volleyball tournament, 9) discussion on, recommendation and request to close streets and 10) discussion on and authorized requesting a quote for event weather insurance. Council Member Rochester reported the March 5, 2026 meeting of the Neillsville Community Fire Hall Board meeting regarding: 1) payment of bills, 2) current activities including thanking the City crew for doing the snow removal and 3) reviewed and filed the 2025 Financial Report. Council Member Clough reported on the March 10, 2026 meeting of the Commission of Public Works/Utilities regarding: 1) current activities, 2) opening, discussion on and recommendation to accept the Gas N’ Go – Gross Motors proposal for 12 cents per gallon discount off the pump price for unleaded motor vehicle fuel and on-road diesel motor vehicle fuel and the River County Co-op proposal for 8 cents per gallon discount off the pump price for off-road diesel motor vehicle fuel, 3) discussion on and recommendation to advertise for asphalt bids and 4) discussion on and recommendation to advertise for Industrial Park Farmland Lease bids. Mayor Poeschel declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Ann Clark encouraged the City Council and its Committees to do something to celebrate the 250th birthday of our Country. Please do something. Judy Zickert, Neillsville Improvement Corporation President, stated that the City of Neillsville was one of ten communities selected for the 2026 THRIVE Rural Wisconsin Program which provides up to $50,000 in grants plus two-years of planning and grant writing assistance through WEDC’s Office of Rural Prosperity. The Neillsville Improvement Corporation (NIC) application, on behalf of the City, recognizes that creating a west-bound non-motorized trail to The Highground and other Clark County location (Levis Mound and Hatfield) would create a significant impact on our local rural economy and encourage trail users to stop, shop and dine locally and further redevelop Neillsville’s downtown. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Heritage Days Committee item (9). Motion Clough, second Gelhaus, to approve the request from the Heritage Days Committee to close the following streets as follows for Heritage Days Events: Thursday, July 9, 2026 West Street – from W. Fifth Street to W. Sixth Street Friday, July 10, 2026 Boon Boulevard – from the North Legion Hall driveway to Lucille Lane for Loyal Mini Rodders Saturday, July 11, 2026 Willow Street – from E. Division Street to Center Street Sunday, July 12, 2026 West Street – from W. Fourth Street to W. Sixth Street W. Fifth Street – from Hewett Street to Mama G’s parking lot W. Sixth Street – from Hewett Street to Grand Avenue E. Second Street – from Hewett Street to Court Street Court Street – from E. First Street to E. Fifth Street E. First Street – from Hewett Street to Court Street Hewett Street – from Division Street to E. Sixth Street (parade route times) All Aye. Mayor Poeschel asked if there were any questions on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities items (2, 3, and 4). Motion Gelhaus, second Rochester, to accept the recommendation to accept the Gas N’ Go – Gross Motors proposal for 12 cents per gallon discount off the pump price for unleaded motor vehicle fuel. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Rochester, to accept the recommendation to accept the Gas N’ Go – Gross Motors proposal for 12 cents per gallon discount off the pump price for on-road diesel motor vehicle fuel and the River County Co-op proposal for 8 cents per gallon discount off the pump price for off-road diesel motor vehicle fuel. All Aye. Motion Rochester, second Gelhaus, to accept the recommendation to advertise for asphalt bids. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Rochester, to accept the recommendation to advertise for Industrial Park Farmland Lease bids. All Aye. City Clerk Roehl opened and read the following proposals for a $62,000 loan to finance a squad car. Citizens State Bank of Loyal 5.05%, three-year repayment Unity Bank 5.52%, three-year repayment Simplicity Credit Union 5.99%, monthly payments over three years Discussion followed. Motion Neville, second Gelhaus, to accept the Citizens State Bank proposal for financing the $62,000 squad car loan at 5.05% with no fees and three-year repayment. All Aye. Motion Petkovsek, second Clough, to approve the City’s job descriptions except for the Police and Fire Departments as presented, with a review to be done every two years or when a vacancy occurs. Council Member Clough stated that these have been through legal review. Council Member Petkovsek stated there were no changes in the job descriptions. The attorney only made formatting changes for uniformity. Council Member Gelhaus stated the job descriptions can be changed at any time. All Aye. Motion Neville, second Rochester, that City Bills Nos. 205 to 250 in the amount of $271,045.98 be paid. All Aye. Motion Petkovsek, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. __________________________________ Duane G. Poeschel, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk * * * * * * * * * * * *