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Neillsville City Council Approves Recommendation to Appropriate Room Tax Funds

Friday, September 27th, 2024 -- 9:01 AM

The Neillsville City Council approved a recommendation to appropriate room tax funds at their meeting on Tuesday.

According to the unofficial minutes from the meeting, the Council accepted the recommendation to appropriate $13,500 of the City Parks and Recreation Room Tax funds for roof replacement on the Schuster Park South Shelter.

Mayor Dewey Poeschel presented a request from Mark and Lynda Lisenby, Lisenby Properties, LLC to amend Section II. Developer’s Obligation B.2 of the Development Agreement between the City of Neillsville and Lisenby Properties, LLC for Tax Incremental Financing District #4 dated February 8th of 2022.

Mayor Poeschel stated this project has been a struggle with financing and COVID and materials availability and they are asking for an extension. Six months was discussed, but a year is recommended just so they don’t have to come in again if things are delayed.

Lynda Lisenby stated they have 62 units completed, 4 more in the drywall stage and 7 with mechanical roughed in. It should be completed in late May. The Council approved to amend the agreement.

Mayor Poeschel presented another request from Mark and Lynda Lisenby, Lisenby Properties, LLC for the City of Neillsville to sponsor a Wisconsin Economic Development Small Business Development Grant Program pass through grant with Lisenby Properties, LLC.

However, Lynda Lisenby stated they are withdrawing this request as they are not ready at this time as the application is due in mid-October. This grant requires the City or County to make the request, then if awarded determine where the funds would go.

Lynda Lisenby stated that the proposal was for Apartment Senior Living which would provide three meals per day, monthly activities/gatherings, lifeline, laundry services, weekly cleaning and elective door to door garbage pick up service.

It would require a commercial kitchen if the full goal of 20 to 30 units would sign up. Lynda Lisenby stated while they are not applying at this time, the City should look into the program for use by other local businesses; neither the City or County has participated in the program.

Council Member Julie Counsell asked if they were going to do this without the grant and how much would the cost be? Lynda Lisenby stated they have some participants already. They are doing a slow start. The participants are co-mingled throughout the apartments.

Wherever they are, everyone benefits with singles, families and elders all living together in one community instead of segregating groups, they live independently. The cost is the regular rent for whatever apartment they have plus $1,500 for the full services.

Mayor Poeschel stated the next item is a request from Jessica Gunderman, owner, to keep three chickens at 204 W. Eleventh Street under Ordinance Section 10-1-22. Director of Public Works Luke Friemoth stated the request came via email. The property is two parcels totaling .64 acres. The Council approved the request.

Chief of Police Jim Mankowski reported Homecoming toilet papering started two days in advance of Homecoming. There was only one property damage incident to a political sign and one complaint on toilet papering was received.

City Clerk Rex Roehl reported on an upcoming Regional Resource meeting co-hosted by the Clark County Economic Development Corporation and Clark Electric Cooperative on October 3rd at the Clark Electric Cooperative building in Greenwood.

The Council also heard several reports from Committee Meetings the past couple weeks. Mayor Poeschel reported on the September 10th meeting of the Finance Committee regarding:

  • Discussion on the budget process and directions to department heads and committees;
  • Referred non-union wages and benefits to the Personnel Committee for review and recommendation;
  • And discussion on and setting the budget meeting schedule.

Council Member Bill Neville reported on the September 12th meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board regarding:

  • Current activities of the Recreation Department;
  • Current activities of the Parks Department;
  • Work on and referral of the 2025 Recreation Department budget to the Finance Committee;
  • Work on and referral of the 2025 Parks Department budget to the Finance Committee;
  • Discussion on the Schuster Park South Shelter and recommendation to approve the appropriation of $13,500 from City Parks and Recreation Room Tax funds for roof repairs on the Schuster Park South Shelter;
  • Discussion on the Hockey Rink clean up and repairs, sending the Hockey Association a letter informing them to remove the work trailer and provide a list of their Board members;
  • And discussion on upcoming interviews for the Recreation Director position – Robin Harder and Mandy Krejci will participate in the Personnel Committee interview process on behalf of the Parks and Recreation Board.

Mayor Poeschel reported on the September 16th meeting of the Economic Development Commission regarding:

  • Work on and referral of the 2025 Economic Development budget to the Finance Committee.

Council Member Neville reported on the September 17th meeting of the Library Board regarding:

  • Librarians’ reports;
  • Work on and referral of the 2025 Library budget to the Finance Committee;
  • Discussion on the WLA Conference;
  • Payment of bills;
  • Update on donation and carryover funds;
  • And upcoming community events.

Council Member Barb Petkovsek reported on the September 17th meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding:

  • Work on and referral of the 2025 Beautification budget to the Finance Committee;
  • Discussion on donations received;
  • Discussion on the 2024 flowers and decorations;
  • Discussion on the Fall decorations;
  • Discussion on Winter decorations;
  • And discussion on Prock Park decorations.

Council Member Dan Clough reported on the September 18th meeting of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners regarding:

  • Current activities;
  • Cleaning off Cemetery decorations twice a year;
  • Discussion on a columbarium-the number of cremations are increasing each year, lack of funding (budget, grants, etc.-perpetual care funds cannot be used for new construction, they are limited to maintenance), different sizes and shapes available, having another presentation, checking with other cemeteries, doing a survey to see the interest, etc.;
  • And work on and referral of the 2025 Cemetery budget to the Finance Committee.

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

  • Approved payment of a Historic Preservation 50% Grant for 411 State Street in the amount of $500 for porch roof repairs;
  • Discussion on the City’s website, the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant submission in the Spring of 2025, historic homes needing plaques and possible placement of QR codes on future plaques, self-guided (QR Code) Cemetery tour and contractors list;
  • Work on and referral of the 2025 Historic Preservation budget to the Finance Committee;
  • And approved payment of $66 for postage.

Council Member Clarissa Rochester reported on the September 18th meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding:

  • Financial report;
  • Discussion on the 2024 Heritage Days event;
  • Discussion on 2025 entertainment;
  • Approved hiring the Jack Damage band for Saturday night, July 12, 2025;
  • Discussion on setup for Autumn Harvest celebration, Saturday, October 12, 2024;
  • And work on and referral of the 2025 Heritage Days budget to the Finance Committee.

Mayor Poeschel presented the September 19th meeting minutes of the Police and Fire Commission regarding:

  • Election of Officers-Margaret Gelhaus, President, Robert Johnson, Vice President and Bradley Lindner, Secretary;
  • Appointment of Officer Hunter Imm as Sergeant;
  • And appointment of Derek Wheatley as Corporal.

Council Member Rochester reported on the September 19th meeting of the Neillsville Community Fire Hall Board regarding:

  • Payment of bills;
  • Current activities;
  • Discussion on and approved the Firemen’s Club request to use the Fire Hall for their annual Steak Feed fundraiser;
  • And work on and approval of the 2025 operating and capital budgets.

Council Member Petkovsek reported on the September 23rd meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding:

  • A closed session on reviewing and interviewing candidates for the Recreation Director position and non-union employee wages;
  • Reconvening into open session;
  • And the recommendation to the Finance Committee for a 2.5% increase in wages of non-union City employees.

Council Member Clough reported on the September 24th meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding:

  • Current activities;
  • And payment of bills.

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