Neillsville City Council Discusses City Hall Sign

Thursday, May 12th, 2022 -- 11:01 AM

The Neillsville City Council discussed the City Hall sign.

Mayor Dewey Poeschel asked what would they like it to say and who is responsible? The sign is an opportunity to give everyone who drives by a message or impression of our community, events, functions, etc.

Council Member Julie Counsell stated they need to advertise the community, put together a list of activities, and designate a person to oversee it. It should never be bare. Council Member Dan Clough asked who does it now? Director of Public Works Luke Friemoth stated he does.

Council Member Barb Petkovsek stated that she was contacted by a citizen who would like to see the City’s website, sign and TV all coordinated. Chief of Police Jim Mankowski stated the City’s website needs updating, to make it more user friendly, as people can’t find what they are looking for.

Council Member Petkovsek asked how things get on the TV channel? City Clerk Rex Roehl stated that when things are received, Deputy Clerk Michelle Grap puts them on the TV channel. It’s mainly non-profit groups or City items.

Council Member Counsell stated Friemoth could have a part-time person do the sign, a form and process should be developed, and how many words do they have, etc. Council Member Joe Neville asked what if you have two events at the same time? What is the criteria for who goes up on the sign.

The Mayor then presented a request from Randy Fitzmaurice, Motorhead Mafia Car Club President, for closing W. Seventh Street, W. Sixth Street, West Street and the lower City parking lot on Saturday July 16th from 7:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. for a car and bike show, which the Council approved.

Mayor Poeschel then declared the Public Hearing on the Conditional Use Permit to use and install a driveway on the undeveloped W. Seventh Street right-of-way, with Robert and Donna Pavlac as applicant, in the City of Neillsville, open.

Director of Public Works Friemoth presented the application. Public notice of this public hearing was in the Clark County Press and area landowners were notified. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated that the Planning Commission at its April 19th meeting discussed and recommended approval of the Conditional Use Permit.

Mayor Poeschel called three times for appearances and, there being none, Mayor Poeschel declared the Conditional Use Permit Hearing closed. The Council then approved the recommendation.

Mayor Poeschel then presented a press release from John Schlice, MTAW Executive Secretary. The Municipal Treasurers Association of Wisconsin is proud to announce that Rex Roehl has completed the necessary requirements to maintain his designation of Certified Municipal Treasurer of Wisconsin and was awarded this coveted designation by the MTAW Board of Directors on April 28th.

In an organization of over 500 members, Rex Roehl is the first active member to have achieved the honor of fifth recertification. The individual must meet both extensive educational standards in addition to work experience to be recertified.

The certification must be renewed every 5 years by attending continuing educational classes and maintaining proficiency in their area of fiduciary responsibility. The MTAW awards Rex Roehl CMTW for this achievement.

Mayor Poeschel stated that the next item is the City email accounts for Council Members, Mayor and City Attorney. Council Member Clough stated this has come up before. Do we really need it? He finds it unwieldy to have multiple accounts. They should keep it simple.

Council Member Counsell stated she would like to have a City email account. You have to keep these records forever. City Attorney Bonnie Wachsmuth stated that there is no law requiring you to have an email account. Emails can be saved to a folder; they don’t have to be saved on the hard drive.

Mayor Poeschel asked who would be interested? Council Members Counsell, Neville, and Mayor Poeschel are interested. Council Member Petkovsek will let them know. Council Member Clough and the City Attorney are not interested.

Council Member Counsell stated that by having a City email, it could be listed with all the contact information the City puts out. Council Member Petkovsek stated the School District has an email icon on their website.

Chief of Police Mankowski stated to use the email icon you have to have Microsoft. Council Member Counsell recommend setting up Gmail accounts for each one and put them on the City’s website. City Clerk Roehl stated the cost to set up an email account is $158.50 per year through Bauernfeind with GoDaddy security.

They suggest a set up where the email would be fore Neillsville Mayor or Neillsville Ward 1, then, as new people are elected, only the password entry would have to updated to log in. It’s available, if you want it, last year when it was brought up no one signed up. Mayor Poeschel stated that he would follow up with Deputy Clerk Grap and Assistant Clerk Boyer on the email set up.

Then, at 7:20 P.M., Mayor Poeschel declared the Public Hearing on the Conditional Use Permit for a rooming house at 319 State Street, Bonnie Thunstrom and Joe Hastings/Pray’s Golden Gaits, LLC, owners and applicants, now open.

Director of Public Works Friemoth presented the application, public notice of this public hearing was in the Clark County Press and area landowners were notified.

Director of Public Works Friemoth stated that the Planning Commission at its April 19th meeting discussed and recommended approval of the Conditional Use Permit.

Mayor Poeschel called for appearances. Lynette Mueller stated there are currently three units in the building. Can they change the number of units and will someone be living there? Who watches over things?

Director of Public Works Friemoth stated they would have to get a building permit to do another unit and they have no intentions of living there. They would have to clean after each use. Discussion followed on short term rental, 30 days or less for room tax report, less than a year, etc.

Mayor Poeschel called three times for appearances. There being no further appearances, Mayor Poeschel declared the Conditional Use Permit hearing closed. The Council then approved the recommendation.

City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving donations from the Marguerite Listeman Foundation for the 4th of July Fireworks ($3,500) and Heritage Days ($2,000). The Council approved accepting the donation.

City Clerk Roehl stated that Ben Urlaub, Listeman Foundation, has contacted him and verbally stated that the Listeman Foundation has committed to $150,000 towards a new firetruck at $50,000 per year beginning in 2023.

For reports, Chief of Police Mankowski reported on:

• Trainings,
• Working on a part-time officer candidate,
• Squad car maintenance,
• April citations, complaints, business checks and activities.

City Clerk Roehl presented a Certificate of Appreciation from The Highground of the City’s continuing support and Board of Review will be Monday, May 16, 2022 from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M.

During appearance, Trena Abbott appeared to raise awareness of the monarch butterfly. The access off the end of W. Eighth Street by the compost pile going to the Sewer Plant has the right condition of shade and light to grow milkweed and a high level of eggs.

Last year this road was posted as a private road. There will be a researcher writing her doctoral thesis here this summer and they would like to gain access to this area. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated he would get her the private owners contact information.

Council Member Petkovsek stated that previously Mina Ozturk had contacted the Beautification Committee about becoming a monarch city. Council Member Clough reported on the Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities.

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