107.5FM WCCN The Rock - The Coolest Station in the Nation
ESPN 92.3FM WOSQ
92.7FM WPKG
Memories 1370AM 98.5FM
98.7FM / 1450AM WDLB - Timeless Classics
Listen Live: 107.5 THE ROCK • 92.7 FM
Family owned radio stations serving all of Central Wisconsin

Neillsville City Council Approves Donation

Thursday, February 10th, 2022 -- 12:01 PM

The Neillsville City Council approved a donation.

City Clerk Rex Roehl reported on receiving a $497.71 donation from Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church Trust Fund for the Police Department. Chief of Police Jim Mankowski would like it to be placed in the Police Training budget line, which the Council approved.

Council Member Dan Clough presented a Memorandum of Understanding between the Neillsville Improvement Corporation and the City of Neillsville for use of recreation land located on City property.

Council Member Clough stated that the City applied for and was awarded a DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant in the amount of $50,000. The DNR has requested the MOU between NIC and the CITY, because currently NIC is the owner of the land.

As part of the grant, a 25-year covenant is placed on the land to assure the DNR Grant is used for recreational purposes if the land is transferred to the City in the future.

City Attorney Bonnie Wachsmuth stated a paragraph was added that NIC, as Fiscal Agent, shall be directly responsible for the costs associated with the Project. The Council approved the Memorandum of Understanding.

Council Member Clough also stated that the City has received the Outdoor Recreation Aids Grant Contract with the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which includes the covenant. The DNR has already signed it. The Council approved the contract and Mayor Diane Murphy thanked Council Member Clough for all the time and work put in on this project.

Mayor Murphy reported a League of Wisconsin Municipalities bulletin regarding the State of Wisconsin’s projected budget surplus and how Cities and Villages have seen a steady decrease in shared revenues since 2003, as well as, strict levy limits. The League is urging its members to contact their representatives and push for restoring the shared revenues that were cut.

Council Member Joe Neville reported on the February 3rd meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding:

  • Discussion on recruitment of Police Officers and;
  • A closed session on comparisons of Neillsville wages and benefits to other municipalities.

City Attorney Wachsmuth presented the February 4th meeting of the Police and Fire Commission regarding:

  • Discussion on comparisons of Neillsville wages and benefits to other municipalities, hiring and retention of Police Officers;
  • Closed session on vacant Police Officer positions;
  • Reconvening into open session;
  • The hiring of Ethan Enhalt as a Regular Full-Time Police Officer;
  • The hiring of Erik Backlund as a Regular Full-Time Police Officer and the hiring of Nicholas Spanske as an Other Part-Time Police Officer.

Council Member John Perrine reported on the February 7th meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board regarding:

  • Presentation by Dan Clough, Neillsville Improvement Corporation (NIC) on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Outdoor Recreation Aids Grant for the Rails to Trail project and;
  • Discussion on and approval of placing the bathroom facility on City property.

Council Member Clough reported on the February 8th meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities.

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