Neillsville City Council Approves Proceeding to Public Hearing Regarding Airport Improvement Aid

Friday, January 31st, 2025 -- 1:00 PM

The Neillsville City Council had the first reading of a resolution petitioning the Secretary of Transportation for Airport Improvement Aid with Agency Agreement and Federal Block Grant Owner Assurances between the City of Neillsville and Department of Transportation Bureau of Aeronautics.

The public hearing will be at the February 25th meeting. Jeff Gaier, Airport Manager, stated the State of Wisconsin is trying to use up the Federal 2022 money allotment before unused funds have to be returned.

Their current snow removal equipment is over ten years old and the State says it is eligible for replacement. The new equipment will be in the $300,000 price range with the City’s share being 2.5% to 5% of the total.

The City has the funds on hand from the COVID-BIL Grant dollars received. The Council approved to accept the recommendation to proceed to public hearing on the Resolution Petitioning the Secretary of Transportation for Airport Improvement Aid with Agency Agreement and Federal Block Grant Owner Assurances.

The Council also discussed the agreement between the City of Neillsville and the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission for the planning of Tax Increment Financing District #5.

Council Member Julie Counsell stated that we keep talking about fixing our roads and now they want to borrow $1.7 million to expand water and sewer services in the Boon Addition when they already have utility services.

Mayor Dewey Poeschel stated that this would get a full loop put in for water as the City is working with a developer for an extensive building development. Council Member Counsell stated the developer’s incentives would be on top of that.

Director of Public Works Luke Friemoth stated the $1.7 million would be the worst-case scenario if a sewer lift station is needed. Connecting the water loop would provide better fire flow pressure for that area.

The Council approved to accept the recommendation to approve the Agreement between the City of Neillsville and the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission for the Planning of Tax Increment Financing District #5 in the amount not to exceed $11,500.

The Council also approved to accept the recommendation to purchase a 2019 Dodge Ram truck with a plow from Gross Motors in the amount of $41,064.50 for the Water Department. They then approved to accept the recommendation to advertise the 2008 Chevrolet 2500 truck with plow for sale by silent auction.

Director of Public Works Friemoth presented the Snow Removal and Parking Lot Agreement between the City of Neillsville, Neillsville Improvement Corporation, Inc. (NIC) and Irving Schutte for the 1962 Easement for driveway, park and playground purposes.

Friemoth stated this started with concerns about plowing the parking lot, since some of the area is newly paved and some of the area is in rough shape. Then the City’s Attorney said the City cannot plow a private parking lot.

The area to be plowed is a 15-foot-wide strip along the south side of the parking lot from Hewett Street to the park/trailhead. The Council approved the Snow Removal and Parking Lot Agreement between the City of Neillsville, Neillsville Improvement Corporation, Inc., and Irving Schutte.

Director of Public Works Friemoth presented the old Landfill Hunting Agreement with Hold Harmless and request to advertise. They had discussion on adding grandparents and grandchildren to the list of immediate family members under Lease Covenants; under Termination removing reimbursement language – leaving giving sixty days prior written notice;

The lease term being only one year until they see how it goes; restricting the lease to only City resident and City taxpayers. The Council approved the old Landfill Hunting Lease Agreement with the above changes and authorizing the advertising of the lease by sealed bid.

Director of Public Works Friemoth presented the Industrial Park Farmland Lease Agreement and request to advertise. They had Discussion on Practices – restricting it to harvesting hay only, no planting of till crops like corn, etc.

The Council approved the Industrial Park Farmland Lease Agreement for harvesting of hay crops only and authorizing the advertising of the lease by sealed bid. Chief of Police Jim Mankowski presented the “Let’s All Work To Fight Drug Abuse” booklet.

There is a drug issue in the community. This booklet will help people recognize substance abuse and addiction. It talks about Fentanyl, Opioids, Prescription Drugs, Heroin, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Vaping and E-cigs, Club Drugs, Hallucinogens, Marijuana, Alcohol and Alcoholism, etc.

Mankowski stated this booklet will be distributed to a couple of businesses and the High School free of charge thanks to our sponsors including Sniteman Pharmacy, Atmus, OEM, MEC, Gross Motors, American Heart Association, JMZ Auto Body, Simplicity, and Super 8.

Council Member Barb Petkovsek reported on attending the Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) virtual visioning session on the Neillsville Campus on January 21, 2025.

CVTC is working to re-establish the Neillsville Campus, CVTC is looking for a CDL instructor and a face-to-face English as a Second Language Teacher for Spanish. If anyone is interested contact CVTC.

One resident expressed concerns about leasing the Industrial Park land, because of the birds and butterflies out there, no one knows that that land is available for businesses to buy, it is not advertised very well, there is no For Sale signs.

The Council also heard the various committee reports from the past couple weeks. Council Member Clarissa Rochester reported on the January 15, 2025 meeting of the Airport Commission regarding:

• Discussion on and recommendation approving the Amendment of the Bureau of Aeronautics Petition and Funding to include snow removal equipment.

Council Member Dan Clough reported on the January 15, 2025 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding:

• Discussion on status of the 1897 Clark County Jail building;
• Discussion on the National Park Service Paul Bruhn grant application;
• Discussion on updating forms and website;
• Discussion on updating the Historic Preservation Commission Action Plan for 2025;
• And reviewed fund balances.

Mayor Poeschel reported on the January 16, 2025 meeting of the Planning Commission regarding:

• Discussion on and recommendation that the City enter into an agreement with West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission to create a project plan for a City of Neillsville Tax Incremental Financing District #5.

Council Member Dan Clough reported on the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding:

• Current activities;
• Discussion on and recommendation to purchase a 2019 Dodge Ram truck with a plow from Gross Auto in the amount of $41,064.50;
• Discussion on and recommendation to advertise the 2008 Chevrolet 2500 truck with plow for sale by silent auction;
• And payment of bills.

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