Neillsville City Council Approves Moving First Meeting of August

Friday, July 15th, 2022 -- 11:00 AM

The Neillsville City Council approved moving the first meeting of August to a different day.

City Clerk Rex Roehl reported that the regular meeting of Tuesday, August 9th is also the Partisan Primary Election day. The Council approved to reschedule that meeting for Monday, August 15th.

The Council then discussed, again, the hazardous material ordinance for the City. City Attorney Bonnie Wachsmuth recreated the City ordinance to better match the state. Council Member Julie Counsell stated she had a big problem with the proposed ordinance.

She felt it had taken something needing a little change and made it a mountain. They are really talking about the type of cans and how many gallons. How will the citizens know? Not everyone can or knows how to research the State Statutes or administrative code.

It makes it more difficult for the Police Department. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated the Police Department has to enforce all the laws. At the last meeting she understood that she was told to look at the State Statutes and make the City ordinance comply.

Mayor Dewey Poeschel stated that the City Ordinance can be stricter. Discussion followed on storage of combustible material; the different ordinance sections; fixing the current ordinance with minor changes, instead of incorporating the huge State Statutes and Wisconsin Administrative Code documents; etc.

An initial motion was made, but it failed to receive a second, so the motion died. Council Member Barb Petkovsek asked with tweaking the current ordinance, is something else needed to refer to the State Statutes or Administrative code? City Attorney Wachsmuth replied no, people are to have a general knowledge of State Statutes and code.

They don’t have to have it referenced in every ordinance. Discussion followed on changing ordinance Section 3-4-7, number of gallons stored, types of storage containers, removing Section 3-4-11 lighting, etc. City Attorney Wachsmuth will draft an ordinance.

The Council then heard the new ordinance regarding the City’s Personnel Committee, which the Council approved. The Council also approved appointing Lori Pekol as a member of the Beautification Committee.

Chief of Police Jim Mankowski reported on the contacting Kevin Radman, new owner of the Neillsville Trailer Park. The new owner lives in West Virginia, not Milwaukee, so he cannot attend a meeting. The LLC has a registered Agent at a post office box in Milwaukee.

He has hired Nicole Egland as the Park Manager. Chief of Police Mankowski has met with Egland and explained the City’s concerns. They have provided copies of the park rules, application screening and rental agreements.

It is nice to have rules, but they need to be enforced. How will violations be rectified? They need to know someone will manage the trailer park. It is not the City’s job and they should not have to tell them how to run their business. The City has to hold them to a standard.

Council Member Counsell stated documents have been provided, but how will nuisance issues be addressed? Chief of Police Mankowski stated he would contact Nicole Egland to come to a meeting.

Council Member Dan Clough thanked the Public Works crews for the great job they did during the Heritage Days events. He also stated the City’s table at Farm Technology Days had a couple thousand people visit and take flyers; it was very worthwhile as a lot of information was given out.

Council Member Joe Neville thanked the Chief of Police Mankowski and his Department, Director of Public Works Friemoth and his crew, Parks Director Barth and his crew, the Heritage Days Committee members and Heritage Days sponsors for helping to provide the free Heritage Days event.

Council Member Neville also read thank you notes received. Chief of Police Mankowski stated it was nice to see people having fun and engaging others. A lot of compliments were received. This is his second year working the event and no arrests had to be made.

Chief of Police Mankowski reported on completing the 20-week Armour College Command Staff College, other trainings, equipment purchases to outfit new officers, squad car maintenance, June citations, complaints, business checks and activities.

Fire Chief Matt Meyer reported on:

• The Second Quarter 2022;
• Attending a Clark County Emergency Services meeting in Abbotsford;
• Receiving a generator donation from the Lions Club;
• Attending a mock school bus mass casualty training in Granton;
• Our new firefighters have completed the entry level training and can now enter building fires;
• Changing the Smokey Bear sign;
• Meeting with fire truck salesmen;
• Did a wild prairie burn for Rick Sturtz;
• Conducted annual hose testing;
• Provided an engine and tender for a live burn in a burn trailer at the Fairground for CVTC;
• Provided a truck for the Senior send off Skit night;
• Attended two Town of Hewett meetings regarding storm damage from the December 15th tornado;
• Completed the semiannual business inspections;
• Provided a truck to send off two track team members to State;
• Filled six swimming pools;
• Purchased ice/water rescue equipment;
• Attended Rural Fire Association and Community Fire Hall Board meetings;
• Did a foster home inspection in the Town of Pine Valley;
• The Department responded to 14 calls, 4-City: one faulty alarm, one burnt bacon, one gas meter and a structure fire;
• 10-Rural: three grass fires, barn fire, two ATV accidents, tractor accident, motorcycle accident, car accident, dump truck accident.

City Clerk Roehl presented the Second Quarter 2022 City Financial Statements.

Council Member Petkovsek reported on the July 6, 2022 meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding:

• Discussion on replacing the downtown banners;
• Discussion on the weeding schedule;
• Discussion on Prock Park plaque and updates;
• And discussion on products and prices on benches for the Town Square Park.

Council Member Neville reported on the July 6, 2022 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding:

• Discussion on and walk through on setup.

Council Member Clough reported on the July 12, 2022 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding:

• Current activities;
• Rescheduling the regular Tuesday, August 9, 2022 to Monday, August 15, 2022 at 3:30 P.M.;
• And reviewed the Second Quarter 2022 Water and Sewer Financial Statements.

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