Neillsville City Council Hires Part time IT Employee

Saturday, September 18th, 2021 -- 9:13 AM

The Neillsville City Council approved hiring a part time employee for IT services.

The Council approved to accept the recommendation to hire Barb Boyer as an other part-time employee for IT services at $20 per hour effective September 16th. The Council also approved the recommendation to accept the portion of the Roger Heineck property at 1004 E. Second Street extended into the right-of-way of E. Second Street. City Clerk Rex Roehl stated there is a statutory process for the abandonment of a proposed right-of-way. A motion is needed to proceed with the process. The Council approved to proceed with that process. The Council also approved a resolution that would create a 4th TIF District for the City of Neillsville. The Council also heard a request from the Neillsville Fire Department to close W. Eight Street from Grand Avenue to Hewett Street and West Street from W. Eighth Street to the rear parking lot of the Brickyard Bar & Grill for their steak feed fundraiser on October 2nd from approximately 2:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. The Council approved that request. The Council also approved two donations from the Listenman Foundation including $1,000 for Christmas decoration and $8,600 for the water fountain for O’Neill Creek. City Clerk Rex Roehl also opened and read the following proposals for a $550,000 loan to finance the purchase and remodeling of the former BMO Bank building/property at 106 W. Division Street for a new City Hall. Citizens State Bank was 2.30% for a ten-year repayment, Associated Bank was 2.82% for a ten-year repayment and Unity Bank was 2.83% for a ten-year repayment. The Council approved the Citizens State Bank proposal for financing the $550,000 City Hall building loan at 2.30% with no fees and ten-year repayment.

Mayor Diane Murphy also presented Michelle Pickett a plaque thanking her for her 14 1/3 years of service as a Parks & Recreation Board Member (2007-2021). Chief of Police Jim Mankowski reported on LGBTQ+ training, personnel opening, August citations, warnings, complaints, business checks and activity hours. Council Member Dan Clough reported that the DNR grant application that was filed was for two programs. The Recreational Trails Program grant was not received; however, they are still in the running for the Stewardship Local Assistance or Federal Land & Water Conservation Fund grant.City Clerk Roehl received a letter from Clark County stating the Clark County Tentative Supervisory District Plan was adopted on September 9th. The City of Neillsville has until October 18th to adjust its ward boundaries and pass a resolution adjusting those boundaries. The City of Neillsville retains its two County Supervisors; therefore they will have three smaller wards and two larger wards to maintain the City’s five ward setup. City Clerk Roehl reported on the Federal Mask Requirement for the taxi service, since the City receives federal funds. The Federal orders are not affected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court decision of March 31st. City Clerk Roehl also presented a letter from James D. Mohr proposing that the City consider a designated walking trail from the City to the new hospital.

City Clerk Roehl reported on the August 30th meeting of the Police and Fire Commission regarding a closed session on reviewing Firefighter candidates and reconvening into open session to hire Lathum Schleis, Samantha Featherston, Clint Hannasch and Cody Kallian as Firefighters, subject to a one-year probation period.

Council Member Dave Harnisch reported on the August 30th, September 2nd and 10th meetings of the Beautification Committee regarding discussion on the Prock Park dedication on September 2nd at 2:00 P.M., discussion on Fall and Winter decorations, discussion on landscaping at the new City Hall, discussion on landscaping at the Neillsville Library, discussion on 2022 plants and flowers, authorized sending a letter to Amos and Barb Yoder vacating the 2022 contract, discussion on recognizing Kathy Turner for her years on the Beautification Committee, discussion on a new sign for the tree in the Town Square, authorized a new sign and post recognizing the Pierce Family for donating the tree in the Town Square, work on and referral of the proposed 2022 Beautification budget to the Finance Committee, the dedication ceremony at Prock Park, discussion with Matt Miller, Eason Horticultural Resources, on flower pots and baskets, discussion on funds, discussion on and authorized getting quotes from Matt Miller to replace forty baskets, discussion on 2022 flowers, and discussion on flower pots for the new City Hall.

Council Member Joe Neville reported on the September 8th meeting of Heritage Days Committee regarding work on and referral of the 2022 Heritage Days budget to the Finance Committee.

Mayor Murphy reported on the September 9th meeting of the Property Committee-City Hall and Police Department regarding insulation work is done, HVAC work is done, the cooling system needed addition of work and coolant, plumbing fixes are done, electrical fixes are done, automatic switches are in process, Stratford Sign Company has received the down payment and are working on the City Hall monument sign, Kuhn’s Decorating will be doing the carpet tile installation, Russell’s has completed the tile installation in the vault and IT room, Erickson Construction has installed the cabinets and countertops and waiting on the flooring installation to finish, TDS is set to install the telephones, Charter has replaced the incorrect modem and waiting on the flooring installation to finish to set up equipment, Ray’s Electric is cabling the office areas, Audio Architects won’t come in until everyone else is done and cleaned up, the Beautification Committee has requested the purchase of larger pots for flowers and has been pruning and weeding around the new City Hall location, authorized the purchase of three larger pots for flowers, still working on directional signage, tables and chairs and discussion on Police Department needs at the old City Hall building.

Council Member Neville reported on the September 9th meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding a closed session on reviewing and interviewing candidates for the City Custodian position and non-union employees wages and benefits,  reconvening into open session, the recommendation to the Finance Committee a 2% increase in wages for all non -union employees across the board, and the recommendation to hire Barb Boyer as an other part-time employee for IT services at $20 per hour effective September 16th.

Council Member Neville reported on the September 9th meeting of the Airport Commission regarding work on and referral of the proposed 2022 Airport operating and capital budgets to the Finance Committee.

Mayor Murphy reported on the September 9, 2021 meeting of the Planning Commission regarding discussion on the Roger Heineck property, 1004 E. Second Street, extends 50 feet into E. Second Street right-of-way and the owner wants to deed that portion to the City, the recommendation to accept the portion of the Heineck property extended into the right-of-way of E. Second Street, discussion on the Gary Nauertz request for possible purchase or easement on right-of-way westward extension of W. Tenth Street, and the recommendation to abandon and deed the right-of-way to Gary Nauertz provided he covers all associated legal fees and costs.

Council Member Dan Clough reported on the September 14th meeting of the Commission of Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities.

Finally, a resident reported that both President Biden and Governor Evers had ordered the flags lowered to half staff at the end of August, however none of the City flags were lowered.

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