Neillsville City Council Approves New Equipment for Public Works, Columbarium Project, and More

Monday, January 30th, 2023 -- 2:00 PM

The Neillsville City Council approved the purchase of some new equipment for the Public Works/Utilities Department.

The Council accepted the recommendation to purchase a Leaf Vac ($88,500); Plow Truck ($218,000); Sub-compact Utility Tractor ($20,500) and a Backhoe with hammer ($146,950 after a trade-in credit of $30,000) for a total of $473,950 with funds to be borrowed later this summer.

The Council also accepted the recommendation to allow the Board of Cemetery Commissioners to move forward with the Columbarium project pending the securing of financing. A Columbarium is a room or building with niches for funeral urns to be stored.

The Board also accepted the recommendation to approve the Boon Subdivision Plat Map Amendment moving lot lines and creating a new Certified Survey Map. The Council also approved to create a full non-lapsing fund for Historic Preservation to build up to $10,000 by allowing unused annual budget funds to rollover beginning in 2023.

City Clerk Rex Roehl stated currently the Historic Preservation is a partial non-lapsing fund account where donations, item sales (calendars, postcards, etc.) and formerly Tour of Homes proceeds are kept. If the Historic Preservation goes full non-lapsing, everyone needs to be aware that in years they exceed their annual appropriations, their carryover will be reduced.

Heritage Days is billed for any overage and Beautification overage comes out of their carryover funds. Both Heritage Days and Beautification raise funds to support their efforts not relying on the City funds only. Remember non-lapsing status cuts both ways.

City Attorney Bonnie Wachsmuth read a resolution regarding the Vibrant Spaces Grant Program. Council Member Joe Neville asked what exactly is the Vibrant Spaces Grant Program? Deanna Heiman, with the Neillsville Improvement Corporation, stated it is a new program of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

It follows along with the Placemaking Exercise that was done a few years ago. The Placemaking Exercise looked at what type of improvements would get people into and enjoy the community and a bike trail was identified. The Vibrant Spaces Grant has to be applied for by a municipality.

It is similar to the DNR grant, there is no risk or obligation on the City. If the grant is awarded, the Neillsville Improvement Corporation, NIC, would pay for the work done and the paid bills would then be submitted to WEDC for reimbursement.

Creating this relationship with WEDC could lead to other offerings in the future. Council Member Julie Counsell stated that the resolution doesn’t say anything about the one-to-one match. She doesn’t want the City to be responsible.

She would like to have seen the grant application ahead of time. The grant was out November 15th with a closing date of January 31st. This is just like the taxi being pushed through at the last minute.

Heiman stated that she just found out about the grant ten days ago. The City is never under any risk or obligation to spend. WEDC has the funds sent aside. NIC has to provide the paid invoices for reimbursement.

The grant application has to go through the City and this resolution was modeled after the previous DNR grant application. Council Member Counsell asked about the missing information on the application?

Deanna Heiman stated the information is not missing. Unless the resolution is approved to submit the grant application there is no need for the City’s identification number and budget information. The budget is immaterial to what you are doing tonight, there is no risk to the City.

Council Member Dan Clough stated this grant is a State grant. The State has the money set aside. If you get the grant and don’t submit the invoices, you get no money. All this resolution does is authorize the Mayor to sign the documents.

City Attorney Wachsmuth expressed concern about the way the resolution is worded. “For any financial aid” could be sometime in the future. “For Vibrant Spaces” should be added for clarification and instead of referring back to the DNR grant memorandum of understanding.

Mayor Dewey Poeschel stated that in order to get the grant dollars, NIC has to pay the bills and then invoices are submitted for reimbursement. The Council did approve the resolution.

The Council also heard a resolution regarding State Statutes that ATV/UTV need the “authorization to operate” on highways within the City. The DOT website also states this. An enacted ordinance needs this strict language.

City Attorney Wachsmuth stated they have to be properly posted before they can operate on the highways. Last time an ordinance was updated, she was told the Council didn’t want references to State Statutes in the ordinances. Council Member Counsell stated keep it as simple as possible for the citizens.

Why not use the language from the motion where the speed limit is up to 35 mph? City Attorney Wachsmuth stated they have to look at the route signs. Mayor Poeschel stated they will not look in the ordinance book. They will look at the posted sign. The Council approved the resolution.

Neillsville Police Chief Jim Mankowski reported that Jason Wampole has started the 18-week Police Academy. He also introduced Halle Fecker. She is from Stratford and will graduate with a two-year Police Science degree in May.

She will be doing an internship with them and if things go well, she will be sent to the Fall Police Academy-you will see her around. Halle Fecker talked about herself and why she would like to be a Police Officer.

Also, a resident stated that the Vibrant Spaces Grant is to help develop and enhance public spaces. She goes to all these meetings and this is the first she heard of Vibrant Spaces. Who is going to provide matching funds, Neillsville Improvement Corporation (NIC) or the City?

The City’s number one priority should be fixing the roads, especially Highway 10 and Hewett Street. They need maintenance year-round. There are cracks in the seams which could down a motorcycle. These roads are the City’s first impression.

People can find grants for their pet projects. They need townhouses or side-by-side houses. They need to advertise in other states to attract people here, to see what we have in Clark County.

Natalie Erpenbach stated that she is on the Grants Committee and deadlines come up quickly and you have to jump on the ones you need. They are working to revamp and reorganize the Grants Committee.

When looking for a grant, consider what needs to be done, prioritize those needs, and work your way down the list. She does research for grants for other entities and she does feel that the City is missing out.

The Board also heard the various committee reports. Mayor Poeschel reported on the January 12th meeting of the Planning Commission regarding:

• Discussion on the Beautification Committee’s request to place an arch in Prock Park-tabled;
• Discussion on installing an additional softball field at Listeman Park-no action taken;
• Discussion on a Columbarium at the City Cemetery, this project has been referred to the Grants Committee to investigate possible funding for an estimated $55,000 project with the recommendation to allow the Board of Cemetery Commissioners to proceed with the project pending financing being obtained;
• Eric Hauge, TruMark Land Surveying, presented a request for a Boon Subdivision Plat Map Amendment moving lot lines and creating a new Certified Survey Map (CSM)-discussion on and recommendation to approve the Plat Map Amendment and create a new CSM;
• And discussion on the S.C. Swiderski development preliminary site design.

Council Member Counsell reported on the January 17th meeting of the Library Board regarding:

• Librarians’ reports;
• Discussion on a Library Director’s credit card;
• Discussion on an overall building check;
• Discussion on and filed the Library Director’s Performance Review;
• Discussion on converting the work room into office space;
• Discussion on a new marquee for the front of the Library;
• And updates on donation and carryover funds.

Mayor Poeschel reported on the January 18th meeting of the Police and Fire Commission regarding:

• A closed session for interviewing candidates for firefighter positions-adjourned in closed session.

Council Member Clough reported on the January 18th meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding:

• Discussion on the 2023 Historic Preservation Commission Action Plan;
• Discussion on grant and loan assistance program and contact information;
• Discussion on an approved a request to the City Council to allow unused annual budgeted lapsing funds (beginning in year 2023) to be moved to the Historic Preservation non-lapsing fund to support the mission and goals of the Historic Preservation Commission as outlined in City Ordinance Chapter 3, Section 1-3-1, 4);
• Discussion on historic property inquires from homeowners and updating the forms on the City’s website;
• Discussion on and approved submitting Wisconsin Association of Historic Preservation Commissions membership dues;
• Discussion on the Annual report to the Wisconsin Historical Society;
• And reviewed funds on hand.

Council Member Neville reported on the January 19th meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding:

• Discussion on entertainment;
• Discussion on and hiring of Home Grown Tomatoes Band for Sunday afternoon after the parade;
• Discussion on children’s events;
• Discussion on advertising, signs and banners;
• Discussion on donation letters;
• Approved applying for the City of Neillsville Tourism Grant;
• And discussion on Grand Marshalls, theme, food vendors and pottery.

Council Member Clough reported on the January 24, 2023 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding:

• Ccurrent activities;
• Discussion on and recommendation to purchase a Leaf Vac ($88,500); Plow Truck ($218,000); Sub-compact Utility Tractor ($20,500) and a Backhoe with hammer ($146,950 after a trade-in credit of $30,000) for a total of $473,950 with funds to be borrowed after this summer;
• And payment of bills.

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