Neillsville City Council Approves Changes to Trick-or-Treat Hours for this Year

Friday, October 15th, 2021 -- 12:00 PM

The Neillsville City Council approved changing Neillsville’s Trick-or-Treat hours for this year.

City Clerk Rex Roehl stated the current Trick-or-Treat hours were set back in 2011 from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. on Halloween Day, October 31st, each year.

Recreation Director Judy Linder recommended changing the hours from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. this year, since October 31st falls on a weekend instead of a workday. After some discussion, the Council approved the change for this year only.

Council Member Dan Clough requested that the issue of cockroaches be put on the next agenda. Health Officer Doris Bakker has a proposal regarding inspection of rental properties.

Fire Chief Matt Meyer reported on the Third Quarter 2021. The Department provided units for the 4th of July fireworks, did a fire demo at the Marshfield Dental Clinic, at Heritage Days they had an accident rescue demo, they participated in the parade, and held a fireman’s water fight.

Also, they had a unit at the Motorhead Mafia Car show, worked with Park Place on fire hydrant mapping, did a fire demo for Russell’s, burned the City’s brush pile, worked on the 2022 budget, and set up a truck display for the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

They also provided a unit for the Granton Fall Fest parade, attended the Community Fire Hall and Rural Fire Association meetings, and four new firefighters were added to the Department including Lathum Schleis, Samantha Featherston, Clint Hannasch and Cody Kallian.

The Department responded to 17 calls including 4 in the City, which included 1 car accident, a transformer fire, ambulance lift assist, and a gas line leak.

They had 13 rural calls including a tree fire, a down power line, 3 car accidents, 3 ATV/UTV accidents, ambulance lift assist, and mutual aid calls to Granton and Curtiss.

The Jaws of Life passed reinspection tests and they’re working on turn out gear and SCBA grants and updates. Also, the City’s trucks are in good condition, however the 1978 International is 43 years old and cannot pass the pump test and the 1995 Freightliner is 26 years old.

Council Member Julie Counsell stated that she wanted to address recent articles appearing in the Clark County Press on October 6th and on our news on October 2nd of this year.

As a result of those articles, she received a number of calls regarding what her position is on the Rails to Trails project of the Neillsville Improvement Corporation. She stated there are many people that do not support that project and they let her know their thoughts.

Back in April, the motion she made, and voted in support of, was for the City’s application for a Wis DNR Stewardship Aids Grant for Acquisition and Development of Local Parks.

Her vote supported the Carl and Millie Opelt Park to be constructed and located east of Buck’s Creekside Bar. Before those news articles were published, she was not contacted by anyone about her vote and position.

Thus, to clarify, any inference in those articles that her motion and vote were in support of the development of a 13-mile trail along the former railroad corridor between Neillsville, Granton and Chili is wrong. Quite simply, she has not in the past, and does not now, support the development of such a trail.

Council Member Dave Harnisch reported on the October 12th meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding discussion of flower pots and hanging baskets, approved the purchase of forty-eight 16-inch hanging baskets with swivel hangers, and discussion on 2022 flowers.

They also approved having the grower pick the plants in the colors of yellow, lavender, and hot pink (rose) for the hanging baskets and pots, including a grass for the center of the pots, and approved requesting flower proposals from Falls Florist, Reiff’s Greenhouse and Reit’s Garden Center.

They also had a discussion on Christmas and Fall decorations, approved a gift certificate for Jim Wetzel for straw bales and corn stalks, discussion on a date for Christmas decorating, and discussion on flower pots for the new City Hall.

Mayor Diane Murphy reported on the October 5th, 7th, and 11th meetings of the Finance Committee regarding presentation of departments budgets, work on the 2022 budget, and adoption of the Wage Schedule for 2022.

They also reviewed major areas of revenues and expenditure changes, and recommendation of budget categories and levy amount of the 2022 budget to the Common Council for Public Hearing Tuesday, November 9th at 7:15 P.M.

The total budget is $3,521,685. The Proposed Levy including Tax Incremental Districts is $1,352,647, which is an increase of $69,021. Council Member Clough reported on the October 12th meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities and reviewed the Third Quarter 2021 Water & Sewer Financial Statements.

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