Neillsville City Council Discusses Homecoming

Thursday, August 10th, 2023 -- 9:01 AM

The Neillsville Common Council had a lengthy discussion about the issues the City faces during Neillsville’s Homecoming week.

According to the unofficial minutes from the meeting, Council Member Julie Counsell stated that the City needs to be proactive, so instead of talking about the 2023 Neillsville High School Homecoming after the event, how are we going to protect our citizens? What are we going to do?

Chief of Police Jim Mankowski stated he has been working with the School, what is tolerable behavior; what can we offer; we need people available to work. He has reached out to the City of Thorp Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Department.

Council Member Counsell asked Mayor Dewey Poeschel if the School Board has discussed Homecoming? We want to be proactive. Why should our residents have to pay for things not involving them? What message do we want to send to our community and others?

Chief of Police Mankowski stated it is crowd control; what is tolerable if it is not criminal; resources are needed; number one is presence, what dollar amount will we be committing? $1,800 in overtime for the Neillsville Police department without bringing in others.

Council Member Counsell asked what can the School do to help us? It is a School function. Chief of Police Mankowski stated he could contact Dallas Neville, Wisconsin Emergency Police Services, but it is going to cost-housing, pay, mileage, meals; what approaches do you want: keep the peace or protect people and property?

Council Member Barb Petkovsek suggested sending out a letter to the parents of middle and high school students stating any civil disturbance will cancel Homecoming. Deanna Heiman, School Board Member stated they have talked every single year about Homecoming.

She is on the School Board and they discuss Homecoming. The Chief of Police and anyone else can come to the next School Board meeting. There are parents who don’t take issue with the activities. They don’t feel there is a problem. The School Board has no power off school grounds, only over what happens on school grounds. If Homecoming is canceled, will it prevent problems?

Council Member Petkovsek stated some parents moved it to the Legion Hall. The other problem is some School District employees driving their children around. Council Member Counsell stated she does not want to have someone get injured. If we have to pay for overtime, we have too. The Council approved Chief Mankowski to contact Dallas Neville, Wisconsin Emergency Police Services, to see what the costs will be.

In other council news, at one point, Mayor Poeschel asked Council President Joe Neville to take over the meeting. Council President Neville asked the City Attorney to read the Street Privileges Agreement. City Attorney Bonnie Wachsmuth read the City of Neillsville Street Privileges Agreement with the Neillsville Country Club.

Council Member Counsell asked if a survey would be done so as not to infringe on the park. Director of Public Works Luke Friemoth replied that he didn’t intend to. Council Member Counsell stated that the Schuster Park deed is very clear about not infringing on the park land.

Are we going to allow them to cut down trees or shrubs? Director of Public Works Friemoth stated no trees will be cut. Based on the right-of-way pins, the arborvitae are on the Country Club property.

Council Member Counsell asked if the City is asking them to pay something to utilize the right-of-way? We don’t want to set a precedent down the road. The Council approved on a non-precedent basis the City of Neillsville Street Privileges Agreement with the Neillsville Country Club. It passed with one voting no.

Council President Neville then turned the meeting back over to Mayor Poeschel. The City Attorney then read an ordinance regarding golf carts in the City of Neillsville. It reads, “The City of Neillsville authorizes the operation of golf carts on any highway within the City of Neillsville in which the speed limit is 25 miles per hour or less, excluding State Highway 73 (Hewett Street/Black River Road) and State Highway 10 (Division Street)."

"The City of Neillsville does authorize golf carts to cross State Highway 73 (Hewett Street) at the location of 1st Street, to cross State Highway 73 (Hewett Street) at the location of 12th Street and to cross State Highway 10 (Division Street) at the location of Huron Street." The Council approved the ordinance.

Mayor Poeschel presented a request from the Clark County Fair Board to make Boon Boulevard, Lucille Lane, Sand Lane and Rock Road one-way traffic for the Chris Kroeze concert from 3:00 P.M. Saturday, August 12th to 3:00 A.M. Sunday, August 13th and also limit on-street parking.

Chief of Police Mankowski and Director of Public Works Friemoth have been attending meetings and the intent is to make traffic move smoothly and it is in that best interest to have no parking on the streets. The Council approved the request.

The Council also discussed a request from a resident to keep two chickens at 507 Clay Street under Ordinance Section 10-1-22. Council Member Dan Clough stated, in the past, the requests were on larger properties on the edge of town.

This is .37 acres right in the middle of town. The property is not kept up well. Council Member Counsell stated the last request at 827 Hewett Street was in the middle of town, but they had almost four acres. These requests are reviewed on a case by case basis.

Chief of Police Mankowski stated this is a rental property. Did she ask her landlord? City Attorney Wachsmuth stated that is between her and her landlord, not the City, there are a lot of things to consider to distinguish it. Council Member Counsell stated property size is a basis. The Council did not approve the request to keep chickens at 507 Clay Street.

The Council also heard the various Committee Reports. Council Member J. Neville reported on the August 2nd and August 7th meetings of the Parks and Recreation Board regarding:

• Discussion on and recommendation to the Planning Commission to approve the Storybook Walking Trail project in Schuster Park;
• Introduction of the new Recreation Director Jessica Brown;
• Recreation Director’s report on recreation activities;
• Updates on a proposal for a new baseball field in Listeman Park and fundraising;
• Discussion on and recommendation for a second baseball field in Listeman Park and to confirm the Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve a second softball field in Listeman Park;
• And discussion on and recommendation to approve the appropriation of $20,000 from City Parks and Recreation Room Tax funds for second baseball field project in Listeman Park.

Mayor Poeschel reported on the August 3rd meeting of the Planning Commission regarding:

• Discussion on and recommendation to approve a Zoning Variance on Parcel No. 261.1138.000 (410 West Street) with the condition that a house is rebuilt within two years of demolition of the present structure;
• Discussion on and recommendation to approve a Conditional Use Permit to Parcel Nos. 261.1422.005, 261.1422.003, 261.1422.007 and 261.1422.011 (1214, 1216, 1217 and 1218 W. Fourth Street) to operate as a rooming house with short term rental;
• Discussion on and recommendation to approve a Storybook Walking Trail, design and installation in Schuster Park;
  
• Discussion on and recommendation to approve a second baseball field in Listeman Park, with the Parks and Recreation Board to develop details of final design and secure funding for the project;
• And discussion on and recommendation to approve the Prock Park signage and landscaping design.

Council Member Clough reported on the August 8th meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding:

• Current activities;
• Discussion on three-year sewer rate study proposal;
• And recommendation to approve the AECOM sewer rate study proposal in the amount of $4,975.

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