Neillsville City Council Approves Items for New City Hall

Thursday, May 13th, 2021 -- 12:05 PM

The Neillsville City Council approved several items regarding the new city hall.

The Council approved the electrical quote for automatic switches and election booth lighting for $1,900.  They also approved the hiring of Bauernfeind and Audio Architects for the new City Hall project for audio visual, server, router, cabling services, etc.

They also approved going with Charter internet services, approved the purchase of a second copy machine for $6,191, approved the ordering of tables and chairs for the Council and Election Board for $4,428, and approved the purchase of a vacuum cleaner up to $500.

The Council also approved to refer the advertising for an Other Part-time custodian position to the Personnel Committee.  The Council also approved to accept the recommendation to hire Diane Duhr for the Other Part-time Assistant Clerk-Treasurer position at $15.00 per hour effective on or after May 17th with a one year probation period.

The Council also approved to accept the recommendation of a $210,000 budget for the new City Hall move and Police Department. Mayor Diane Murphy read Council Member Julie Counsell’s resignation as member of the Property Committee-City Hall and Police Department and the Council approved the resignation.

The Council then approved appointing Council Member Dave Harnisch as a member of the Property Committee-City Hall and Police Department. Mayor Murphy then read Police Officer Brett Chwala’s resignation from the Police Department.  Chwala’s last day of work will be May 18th.

The Council then accepted Police Officer Brett Chwala’s resignation as presented and thanked him for his four years (2017-2021) of service to the City of Neillsville.  The Council approved to refer the Police Officer vacancy to the Personnel Committee.

Discussion then followed on the Police Department remaining in the current downtown location with future expansion into the current City Hall when vacated. Mayor Murphy stated that Chief of Police Jim Mankowski wants to stay downtown.

Chief Mankowski stated that he doesn’t want to lose space, wants less clutter and the ability to spread out. The current Council room would provide more room for training and you don’t want another vacant building downtown.

Council Member Dan Clough stated keeping the Police Department downtown has always been a part of the discussion.  The Council approved keeping the Police Department downtown, but one member voted nay.

The Council then heard the various Committee Reports. City Attorney Bonnie Wachsmuth presented the May 3rd meeting of the Police and Fire Commission regarding the election of Margaret Gelhaus as Commission Chair, and discussion on Police Officer’s salaries and the City’s 15-mile residency requirement.

They also referred to the Personnel Committee the Commission’s concerns over salary and residency requirements and strongly support an increased competitive like size department salary and elimination of residency requirements and discussion on equipment needs and training.

They also had a discussion on having the City Clerk’s office continuing to keep taking the minutes for Commission meetings, a closed session on vacant Police Officer positions, hiring Alexander Marth and Erick Backlund as Other Part-time Police Officers and moving Alexander Marth to the vacant Full-time Police Officer position effective June 1st.

Mayor Murphy reported on the May 4th meeting of the Property Committee-City Hall and Police Department regarding discussion on and approval not to proceed with an elevator or lift at this time, working on a second insulation quote, and working on a quote for plumbing items.

They also are working on a quote for exterior lighting, working on a second quote for re-working the teller station area, discussion on and approval of electrical quote for automatic switches and election booth lighting, discussion on signage, and working on a second quote for flooring.

They also had a discussion on heating and cooling systems, discussion on and approval to hire Bauernfeind and Audio Architects for the new City Hall project for audio visual, server, router, cabling services, etc., and discussion on and approval to go with Charter internet services.

They also had a discussion on and approval to purchase a second copy machine, discussion on removal of safety deposit boxes and remote drive-up lanes equipment, discussion on and approval to order tables and chairs for the Council and Election Board, an are working on a second snowblower quote.

They also had a discussion on and approved advertising a part-time janitorial position for up to 1,200 hours per year, discussion on and approval to purchase a vacuum cleaner, flag poles have been ordered, discussion on keyless entry, a plaque honoring the Listeman Foundation, and disposal of old appliances, etc.

Council Member Joe Neville reported on the May 6th meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding a closed session on reviewing applications and interviewing candidates for the Assistant Clerk-Treasurer position.

City Clerk Rex Roehl reported on the May 11th meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding the recommendation to hire Diane Duhr for the Other Part-time Assistant Clerk-Treasurer position at $15.00 per hour effective on or after May 17th with a one year probationary period.

City Clerk Roehl reported on the May 11th meeting of the Finance Committee regarding discussion on and recommendation of a $210,000 budget for the new City Hall move and Police Department project. Council Member Clough reported on the May 11th meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities.

Also, Chief of Police Mankowski reported on a neighborhood officer program, training, prescription drug take back program, promotion of Alex Marth to full-time patrolman, resignation of Patrolman Brett Chwala, equipment purchases, squad cars, working on Open Police Reports from 2019 and April citations, warnings, complaints , business checks and activity hours.

City Attorney Bonnie Wachsmuth stated that she was asked to review retaining of public records and what is requested. Virtually everything is a public record if it involves City of Neillsville business. It includes all types of records including emails, tweets, etc. if you are doing them in official capacity.

Everything in that capacity has to be saved whether on a Neillsville account or your personal account. You don’t have to save personal drafts or notes, personal material or published materials. The presumption is it is an open record and must be retained for seven years whether you are in office or not.

Council Member John Perrine asked about the handouts from the Clerk’s office. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated you have to save the email, not necessarily the attachments. Council Member Counsell stated everyone on a committee must also comply with the open records law and City Attorney Wachsmuth agreed.

At that point, a resident in attendance stated the open records law applies to the Clerk, Director of Public Works and any employee whoever it may be.  Another resident then called a point of order saying appearances are over and the first resident should not have spoken. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated it is up to the Council if they let the resident speak. Council Member Harnisch stated just slide your emails into a file when you get them.

City Clerk Roehl presented a thank you from the Neillsville Senior Center for the City’s annual support contribution and a notice from the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission who is administering a new Microenterprise Grant Program funded by a Coronavirus Relief Award for small businesses with less than five employees.

Finally, a resident asked if there was consideration of broadcasting the City Council meetings on TDS, as well as Charter and she wished the Neillsville Police Department a happy National Police Week.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.