Neillsville City Council Approves Sewer Rate Increase, 2025 City Budget, and More

Friday, November 15th, 2024 -- 12:01 PM

The Neillsville City Council approved a sewer rate increase at their meeting on Tuesday.

The sewer rate increase is being sought to provide an estimated increase of 9%, or $56,434 per year in gross revenues. The Council approved the increase, effective for billings after March 1st of 2025.

City Clerk Rex Roehl reported that the regular meeting date of Tuesday, December 24, is, of course, Christmas Eve Day. The Council approved rescheduling that meeting for Monday, December 23rd starting at 7:15pm.

City Clerk Roehl then presented the 2025 dental insurance renewal from Joe Kottke, TriCor Insurance Agent for Delta Dental. The Employee Plan premium is going from $41.58 to $42.41 or $0.83 (2%).

The Employee and Spouse Plan premium is going from $83.16 to $84.82 or $1.66 (2%). The Employee and Child Plan premium is going from $84.78 to $86.48 or $1.70 (2%).

The Family Plan premium is going from $138.80 to $141.58 or $2.78 (2%). The monthly overall increase is 2%. The Council approved the contract renewal.

The Council also approved a request from the Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce for changing the date from Friday, December 6th, as approved at the October 22, Council meeting, to Saturday, December 7th for use of the Sniteman Town Square Park and Gazebo for the official “Tree Lighting/Santa’s Coming to Town” event.

City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving the following donations from the Marguerite Listeman Foundation, $6,000 for Defibrillators and $4,000 for Police Radios. The Council approved the donations and thanked the Listeman Foundation.

Fire Chief Matt Meyer reported on receiving five bids on the 1980 IHC Pumper/Tanker fire truck. The high bid of $7,000 was received from Kenneth Lovstad of Neillsville. The Council approved the bid.

The Council had a public hearing regarding a Zoning Amendment at 118 Clay Street. Director of Public Works Luke Friemoth presented the application. Public notice of this public hearing was in the Clark County Press and area land owners were notified.

Director of Public Works Friemoth stated that the Planning Commission at its September 30th meeting discussed and recommended approval of the Zoning Amendment.

Mayor Poeschel called for appearances. David Carlson, Next Generation Properties Partner, stated they are looking at a maximum of five units. They work with youth homelessness, which is typically a family with a child.

They are actual tenants. Council Member Julie Counsell asked if this is Federal and/or State subsidized. Carlson replied “no”, the rents are reduced and tenants may be getting support.

Dan Herbrand, 111 Clay Street, stated we want to help people, but is there a limit on the number of people housed? Is this a month-to-month deal with the long-term strategy to find employment?

Mayor Poeschel stated it will be five units. Carlson stated he used to provide direct services to these individuals and they are from the Neillsville area. They are trying to meet the issues they have here.

Herbrand stated that this is a historical house, so will someone be monitoring the structure so it does not go into disrepair? They also have concerns about property values.

Karen Gilbert, 110 Clay Street, stated her concerns are the same as Herbrand’s. Young people will have a chance. The concern is if you have five families, how many people are a family, 1, 2 or more?

Carlson stated they are looking at fifteen people max (five units of three member families). After the hearing was closed, Mayor Poeschel asked if the Council Members had any further discussion or questions.

Council Member Dan Clough stated that the property is on the Historic Register and any changes to the façade requires Historic Preservation Commission approval for the outside of the building and a Certificate of Appropriateness.

Carlson asked if they should be applying? Council Member Clough stated “yes” if you are going to make outside changes, it does not apply to interior changes.

Mayor Poeschel asked if they have other properties of this nature? Carlson replied this is the tenth property now. Chief of Police Jim Mankowski stated that he has known Carlson for about three years.

He has a good team under him; he has no concerns. They are very good landlords, working with the homeless/unsheltered people. He has credibility and a good working relationship with the school. Council Member Counsell asked what they intended to do with the extra building?

Carlson stated it would not be a housing structure. Council Member Barb Petkovsek stated there has been disappointment regarding the upkeep of the lawn and outside of the building. Will they be maintained? The Council did approve the amendment.

The Council then had a public hearing on the City’s 2025 Budget. The City has expenditures in the amount of $3,852,961, total revenues of $2,101,724, with $399,000 from the general fund applied, making the total revenue $2,500,724.

The proposed City Levy comes to $1,352,237, minus $4,113 in computer state aid, coming to $1,348,124 before Tax Incremental Districts. The TIDs come to $73,415 with the Net City Levy coming to $1,421,539. The proposed local tax rate comes to around $10.02 per $100,000 of property value.

The City Clerk reported that the proposed 2025 General Fund Budget of $3,852,961 is lower than the Consumer Price Index (3.2%) and lower than the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Expenditure Restraint Program (4.8%) guidelines.

The proposed 2024 tax levy of $1,348,124 without TID’s exceeds the Statue’s levy limit requirement of 0% plus net new construction (2.624% or $28,499) plus terminated TID #2 (1.962% or $21,310).

However, the Finance Committee has recommended approving a levy limit adjustment increase of $257,578 for Debt Service Levy for general obligation debt authorized after July 1, 2005. This would bring the City into compliance with the allowable levy limit for the City.

The Council then approved the adjustment for Debt Service Levy for general obligation debt authorized after July 1, 2005 for $257,578 and the 2025 City Budget of $3,852,961 with $1,421,539 to be placed on the 2024 Tax Roll.

Chief Mankowski reported on training, purchasing a taser, squad car maintenance, October parking enforcement, citations, warnings, incidents, office activity, officer activity, business patrols and Town of Mentor contract policing.

City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving notice that the Associated Bank-Neillsville branch will be closing January 31, 2025. The City will be working on realigning their accounts.

Ribbon cuttings will be held at Sunset Place Apartment Senior Supportive Housing on November 19th at 10am and Sassy’s Suites Consignment on November 20th at 4pm.

City Clerk Roehl reported that a resident called wanting to know why the City does not get any revenue for the Wisconsin Air National Guard parking vehicles and trailers at the Airport. Another resident stated that with Associated Bank closing, what is being done about all these businesses closing and leaving?

The Council then heard some Committee Reports. Council Member Petkovsek reported on the October 22, 2024 meeting of the Grants Committee regarding:

• Reviewed and updating the list of grants in progress;
• And discussion on the City’s current Comprehensive Plan.

Council Member Clough reported on the November 12, 2024 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding:

• Current activities;
• A public hearing on the proposed sewer rate increase with no appearances;
• Approval of and recommendation of the proposed sewer rate increase of 9% effective for billings after March 1, 2025;
• And rescheduling the regular Tuesday, December 24, 2024 meeting to Monday, December 23, 2024 at 6:45P.M.

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