Neillsville City Council Discusses Zoning Items, Grants, and More

Friday, August 11th, 2023 -- 1:00 PM

The Neillsville Common Council held a couple public hearings for zoning items in the City at their meeting on Tuesday.

According to the unofficial minutes from the meeting, the first hearing was for a Zoning Variance per Sec. 10-1-35 (d)(1)(2), (e)(1), 410 West Street, Hareld Heck applicant and owner. Director of Public Works Luke Friemoth presented the application.

Publication notice of this public hearing was in the Clark County Press and area landowners were notified. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated the Planning Commission, at its August 3rd meeting, discussed and recommended approval of the zoning variance, since this would be an undersize building lot.

One person did speak during this hearing. Steve Zeigle, Grotto property, 318 West Street, stated that the current single-family home would be torn down and a new single-family home built. Director of Public Works Friemoth replied ‘correct’ within two years of demolition. The council did approve the zoning variance with the condition that a house be built within two years of demolition of the present structure.

The Council then held a public hearing on the Conditional Use Permit per Sec. 10-1-96, 1214, 1216, 1216, 1217 and 1218 W. Fourth Street, Lu & Co., LLC, Heather Grambsch, Agent, applicant, and owner.

Again, Director of Public Works Friemoth presented the application and publication notice of this public hearing was in the Clark County Press and area landowners were notified.

Director of Public Works Friemoth stated the Planning Commission at its August 3rd meeting discussed and recommended approval of the Conditional Use Permit. No one appeared to speak about this item, but Heather Grambsch was there if anyone had questions. The council approved the Conditional Use Permit.

The Council also approved to accept the Grants Committee recommendation to confirm the approval of a housing loan to Applicant #2021-07-ER in the amount of $60,448 for a roof, windows and lead abatement.

They also confirmed the approval of a housing loan to Applicant #2022-08-ER in the amount of $9,425 for furnace replacement, and accept the Grants Committee recommendation to confirm the approval of a housing loan to Applicant #2023-09-ER in the amount of $60,005 for doors, electrical, siding, ceilings, windows, steps, water heater, insulation and lead abatement.

The Council also approved to accept the recommendation to approve a Storybook Walking Trail, design and installation in Schuster Park. They also approved the to accept the 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.

Council Member Julie Counsell asked about the playground and toys. Director of Public Works Friemoth replied the playground, shelter, and toys will be moved. The Council also approved to accept the recommendation to approve the Prock Park signage and landscaping design.

They also approved to accept the recommendation to approve the appropriation of $20,000 from City Park and Recreation Room Tax funds for a second baseball field project in Listeman Park.

Council Member Barb Petkovsek stated this would earmark a portion of room tax funds on hand. The Council also approved to accept the recommendation to approve the AECOM sewer rate study proposal in the amount not to exceed $4,975.

Mayor Poeschel presented Jose Neville, Fourth Ward Council Member’s Letter of Resignation effective after the August 22nd Common Council meeting. The Council reluctantly accepted Jose Neville’s Letter of Resignation effective after the August 22nd Common Council meeting and to thank him for 11 years and 4 months of service (2012-2023) as Fourth Ward Council Member. Council Member J. Neville thanked the people of the Fourth Ward and all the Council Members over the years he served.

City Clerk Rex Roehl presented a letter from Statewide Services, Inc., administrator for the League of Wisconsin Municipalities Mutual Insurance, which provides the City’s insurance coverage. They are advising that the City disallow the AEGIS Workers Comp claim for Janet Meredith slip and fall incident of April 3rd of this year. The Council approved to disallow the claim.

The Council also heard the various reports. Chief of Police Jim Mankowski reported on:

• Training;
• Part-Time Police Officer Trey Larson is in field training;
• Police Officer Halle Fecker starts the Police Academy in the middle of August;
• Portable handheld face shields have been purchased;
• Two tasers devices have been replaced with re-conditioned units, in the future all tasers will needed to be replaced (estimated cost $40,000);
• July parking enforcement, citations, warnings, incidents, office activities, calls, officer activities, business patrols, citizens interactions;
• Town of Mentor contract policing;
• There were no ordinance violations or disorderly behavior during the Heritage Days event;
• And the new stop signs on W. Fourth Street and Grand Avenue have had a mixed reaction, but there have been no accidents.

Council Member Counsell reported on attending the League of Wisconsin Municipalities Local Government 101 class, it was a good refresher to see what is new.

City Clerk Rex Roehl presented an invite to Wisconsin Lutheran Social Services-LSS Deep River-Community Based Residential Facility, 16 Boon Boulevard open house on August 15th and the Neillsville Public Library Storybook Walking Trail grand opening and ribbon cutting on August 25th in Schuster Park.

During the appearances portion of the meeting, a resident stated the Public Safety Day event hosted by the Neillsville Police Department, Fire Department and EMS at the Fire Hall on August 7th was a very nice event and to make children feel comfortable with emergency personnel and that the lawsuit against the Chief of Police has finally been thrown out of Court, the people of Neillsville like Chief Mankowski’s style of policing.

City Attorney Bonnie Wachsmuth reported on the July 25th and August 7th meetings of the Grants Committee regarding:

• Reviewed the list of grants;
• Discussion on housing programs, contacts and materials-City property owners have three programs available –City, Clark County and the regional program, all administered through the Chippewa County Housing Authority;
• Discussion on and recommendation to confirm the approval of a housing loan to Applicant #2021-07-ER in the amount of $60,448 for roof, windows and lead abatement;
• Discussion on and recommendation to confirm the approval of a housing loan to Applicant #2022-08-ER in the amount of $9,425 for furnace replacement;
• Discussion on and recommendation to confirm the approval of a housing loan to Applicant #2023-09-ER in the amount of $60,005 for doors, electrical, siding, ceilings windows, steps, water heater, insulation and lead abatement;
• Discussion on the Neillsville Residential Incentive Program;
• Discussion on potential donor options, Committee goals and vision;
• And discussion on and approved submittal of City of Neillsville Grant Application-US Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau-Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program.

Council Member Barb Petkovsek reported on the July 31st meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding:

• Discussion on and approved sending out another donation request letter for flowers and decorations;
• Discussion on Gazebo repairs;
• Discussion on and recommendation to the Planning Commission to approve Prock Park Kranzation design (replicating the old Grand Avenue bridge ends and decking);
• Discussion on Town Square Park benches and available sponsorships;
• And discussion on future murals, Fall and Winter decorations.

Council Member Petkovsek reported on the August 1st and August 3rd meetings of the Personnel Committee regarding:

• A closed session on reviewing applications and interviewing candidates for the Assistant Clerk-Treasurer position-adjourned in closed session;
• And a closed session on reviewing applications and interviewing candidates for the Assistant Clerk-Treasurer position-adjourned in closed session.

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