Neillsville City Council Approves New Shop Furnaces, a Recreation Grant, and More

Friday, February 17th, 2023 -- 9:00 AM

The Neillsville City Council approved replacing two shop furnaces.

The Council accepted the recommendation to replace two overhead shop furnaces at the Street Department shop building at an estimated cost of $7,800 with funding coming from the Public Buildings account.

City Clerk Rex Roehl presented the Clark County Community Foundation, Inc. 2022 Recreation Grant in the amount of $1,000 for the Listeman Park Pickleball Court, which the council accepted. Mayor Dewey Poeschel presented Brian Barth’s letter of resignation from the Airport Commission, which the Council accepted.

Neillsville Chief of Police Jim Mankowski reported on:

• Installation of the new management system;
• Doing alcohol checks with an 18 year old assistant, the individual was not served by anyone;
• Trainings,
• Officer Wampole has started the Police Academy;
• The hand-held radar unit has been replaced;
• Squad car #7 has been placed in service;
• January parking enforcement, citations, warnings, incidents, office activity, calls, officer activities, business patrols;
• And Town of Mentor patrol.

Neillsville Fire Chief Matt Meyer reported on the Fourth Quarter 2022:

• The Fireman’s annual steak feed was well attended;
• Attended an Emergency Services meeting in Chili;
• Held fire prevention week activities for Kindergarten classes, Ehlen’s Daycare and St. John’s School;
• Firemen served as pallbearers for Retired Fire Chief Duane “Pete” Peterson’s funeral and the large US flag was set up and flown from Spencer’s and Owen’s ladder trucks;
• Provided a truck for the Clark County Highway Department’s move over display/picture;
• Did Fall yard cleanup for retired firefighters and widows;
• Provided crossing guards for Halloween Trick-or-Treat;
• Met with School personnel on bomb threat procedures;
• Attended both Rural Fire Association and Community Fire Hall meetings;
• The second round of business inspections have been done;
• Four new firemen have completed entry level classes and can now enter buildings.

The Department responded to 23 calls:

13-City:

• 2 false alarms,
• 3 lift assist,
• 2 structure,
• 1 car accident,
• 1 two car accident,
• 1 chimney,
• 1 smoke alarm,
• 1 natural gas odor,
• And a bomb threat at school.

10-Rural:

• Milk truck rollover,
• ATV accident,
• 2 down power lines,
• 2 false alarms,
• 2 vehicle accidents,
• semi rollover,
• And dump truck accident.

The City’s trucks are in good condition, the new truck is on order, it will be 21 to 22 months before delivery, the equipment is in good condition.

Council Member Dan Clough stated Winter Carnival is coming up February 24 to 26, 2023. Also, 7th District US Representative Tom Tiffany will be holding a listening session at the American Legion Hall February 15, 2023 at 9:30 A.M. and 69th Assembly Representative Donna Razor will be holding a listening session at the Thirsty Bookworm on March 2, 2023 at 7:00 P.M.

The Council also heard the Committee Reports. Council Member Barb Petkovsek reported on the January 25, 2023 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding:

• Discussion on employee health insurance and health insurance deductible reimbursement with a motion to leave health insurance benefits the way they are,
• Discussion on updating the Employee Handbook and set up a work group to work on the update;
• And discussion on the City Attorney position and how it serves the City.

Mayor Poeschel presented the February 7, 2023 meeting minutes of the Police and Fire Commission regarding:

• A closed session on candidates for the firefighter positions;
• And reconvening into open session with the hiring of Taylor Hill, Isaac Balderas, Logan Oldham, Quentin Fausett and Trevor Taubenhein as firefighters.

Council Member Petkovsek reported on the February 1, 2023 meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding:

• Discussion on the 2022 Winter decorations and ideas for 2023 Winter decorations;
• Discussion on ideas for a City of Neillsville Theme;
• Discussion on Prock Park design and development work with Kranzations on a metal arch with the wording “Prock Park” across the top to be placed on the existing “Welcome to Neillsville” sign;
• Discussion on and recommendation to the Planning Commission on benches and bench sponsorship in the Town Square Park;
• Discussion on possible repairs to the gazebo in Town Square Park;
• Discussion on and approval of establishment of the Military Banner Program;
• Discussion on a Mural Program and setting up a work group;
• And discussion on flower baskets, pots and gardens delivery and planting.

Council Member Clough reported on the February 14, 2023 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding:

• Current activities;
• Discussion on the annual WI DNR Water Department Sanitary Survey;
• Discussion on and recommendation to replace two overhead shop furnaces at the Street Department shop building at an estimated cost of $7,800 with funding coming from Account No. 57140 Public Buildings;
• And a report on Clark County property foreclosures within the City.

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