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Neillsville Common Council Approves Items From Parks and Recreation Board

Thursday, September 29th, 2022 -- 12:00 PM

The Neillsville Common Council approved a couple items from the Parks and Recreation Board.

First, the Council approved the recommendation to change the tennis court at Listeman Park into a pickleball court. Second, Director of Public Works Friemoth stated that the drain tile installation in Listeman Park would tie into the W. Fifteenth Street storm sewer line and drain into Listeman Pond.

The Council approved to install drain tile at Listeman Park by the playground area to help dry it out faster by the toys. City Clerk Roehl reported that the regular meeting of Tuesday, November 8th is also the Fall General Election Day.

The Council approved moving the November 8th meeting to Thursday, November 10th at 4:30 P.M. Mayor Dewey Poeschel presented Diane Kren’s letter of resignation from the Tourism Commission, which the Council accepted.

A resident asking for an operator’s license was brought up again at the meeting. This individual has applied several times, but has been denied due to instances in her past. Neillsville Police Chief Jim Mankowski’s position has not changed on this item and he does not recommend issuing the license. The Council did deny the license again.

During the appearances portion of the meeting, a Board Member of the Neillsville Improvement Corporation, stated that NIC was invited to the Town of Fremont Board meeting on September 14th to share information on Rails to Trails from Neillsville to Granton to Chili, 13 miles along the Xcel power line.

There seems to be some confusion about the City of Neillsville’s involvement. The City of Neillsville co-signed the DNR grant application. A Councilperson at the town meeting implied the City was on the hook for $50,000 and that it was taxpayer money.

She stated that was a grant and not a loan, meaning it doesn’t have to be repaid. NIC is excited about the project and construction has begun. There will be a sidewalk, ADA accessible restrooms, play station area, adult exercise workstations, canoe and kayak launch area, a Lion’s club picnic shelter, etc. NIC’s goal is to help with the Clark County and Neillsville area tourism.

Council Member Julie Counsell stated that she was the Council Member at the Town of Fremont Board meeting. There are taxpayer dollars being used; DNR grants are funded by tax dollars. She went on to clarify that if all conditions of the grant are not meant, it will have to be paid back.

Also, Angela Eckman, Chippewa Valley Technical College, Campus Business Development Manager for Chippewa Falls and Neillsville, stated the Neillsville Campus is near and dear to her personally as she has family in the Greenwood/Neillsville area.

She was there to address the presence of the Neillsville Campus because she is disappointed by what she hears, people saying things about what is being offered, and how the campus is being utilized.

Eckman stated with the passing of the referendum, CVTC is building a transportation center and emergency services building. While these are not local buildings, both programs can provide for local services. The current problem is CVTC cannot find a local instructor for the transportation program. It is not for a lack of effort in looking. They are working on returning the CNA program, but the State is slow in responding.

Eckman stated that CVTC has been active in the community with the Chamber, June Dairy breakfast, Fall Festival, etc., career fairs (Mayville, OEM, Cummins, etc.), worker training for businesses (safety, leadership, blueprint reading, etc.), partnering with Grassland for hazardous material handling and training staff for emergency services, and hosting area association meetings.

Eckman stated the Neillsville campus is unique as it is on the intersecting edge of four technical colleges and provides the opportunities for collaboration. You may not see a packed parking lot, but there is effort, resources, passion and dedication to this facility.

Council Member Counsell thanked Eckman for coming. She said it would be nice to get periodic updates and next time you should be on the agenda. One resident stated a lot of people don’t know the CVTC Campus is up there; people want to go back to school and continue learning.

Eckman stated this is important feedback and asked what target audience was being addressed? The resident replied that people who work during the day want night classes. Eckman asked who they are? The resident also stated better communication with people is needed because people are afraid to come to the Council Meetings.

Also, Chief of Police Mankowski invited everyone to stop by Hardee’s on October 2nd from 7:30 A.M to 9:30 A.M. to have coffee with a cop and a letter from Maggie Gelhaus addressing Homecoming toilet paper and pranks. Homecoming activities are civil unrest.

They may be City ordinance violations, but not criminal activities, the managing of 75 to 100 children is overwhelming. He will be meeting with the School to try and come up with a plan for next year.

City Clerk Roehl presented an invitation from the Neillsville Branch of Simplicity Credit Union to stop in and hear about their plans for their new building with drive through anytime this week-September 26th through 30th.

The Council also heard the various Committee Reports. Mayor Poeschel reported on the September 13th meeting of the Finance Committee regarding:

  • Discussion on the budget process and directions to department heads and committees;
  • And discussion on and setting the budget meeting schedule.

Council Member Joe Neville reported on the September 15 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding:

  • Financial report;
  • Discussion on music/bands;
  • And discussion on donations/sponsorship letters.

Council Member Neville reported on the September 15th meeting of the Neillsville Community Fire Hall Board regarding:

  • Payment of bills;
  • Thank yous to-Mickey Marty for fixing some bricks on the building, the Street crews for painting the parking lines and the Firemen’s club for purchasing seven new tables;
  • Discussion on and approval for the Firemen’s Club to use the Fire Hall for their annual Steak Feed fundraiser;
  • And work on and approval of the 2023 operating and capital budgets.

Council Member Dan Clough reported on the September 19th meeting of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners regarding:

  • Current activities;
  • And work on and referral of the 2023 Cemetery budget to the Finance Committee.

Council Member Neville reported on the Parks and Recreation Board regarding:

  • Current activities of the Recreation Department;
  • Current activities of the Parks Department;
  • Work on and referral of the 2023 Recreation Department budget to the Finance Committee;
  • Work on and referral of the 2023 Parks Department budget to the Finance Committee;
  • Discussion on and approval of an arch to be put up by the larger rock in Prock Park;
  • Discussion on and approval to change the tennis court at Listeman Park into a pickleball court;
  • Discussion on and recommendation to the Planning Commission to move forward with a splash pad park at Cliff’s Park;
  • And discussion on and approval to install drain tile at Listeman Park by the playground area to help dry it out faster by the toys.

Council Member Clough reported on the September 21st meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding:

  • Discussion on the 2022 and 2023 Historic Preservation Action Plans;
  • Discussion on creating a flyer of possible grand and loan assistance sources;
  • Discussion on additional sources of Historic Preservation Commission related funding opportunities;
  • Reviewed fund balances;
  • Work on and referral of the 2023 Historic Preservation budget to the Finance Committee;
  • Discussion on and approval to reimburse David Harnisch and Natalie Erpenbach for full cost of registrations for attending the Annual Local History and Historic Preservation Conference being held October 13th and 14th in Wausau;
  • And discussion on property owners needing building permits and Certificate of Appropriateness.

Council Member Neville reported on the September 22nd meeting of the Airport Commission regarding:

  • Current activities;
  • And work on and referral of the 2023 Airport operating and capital budgets to the Finance Committee.

Council Member Barb Petkovsek reported on the September 26th meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding:

  • A closed session on Police Union contract negotiations;
  • And non-union employees-adjourned in closed session.

Council Member Counsell reported on the September 27th meeting of the Library Board regarding:

  • Librarian’s reports;
  • Work on and referral of the 2023 Library Board budget to the Finance Committee;
  • Discussion on the Library Director and Children’s Librarian attending the ARSL and WLA conferences in November;
  • And updated on donations and carryover funds.

Council Member Clough reported on the September 27th meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding:

  • Current activities;
  • Rescheduling the regular Tuesday, November 8th meeting to Thursday, November 10th at 4:15 P.M.;
  • And payment of bills.

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