Neillsville City Council Approves New City Administrator/Director of Public Works Position

Thursday, January 15th, 2026 -- 11:01 AM

The Neillsville City Council approved an increase to the part-time officer wage.

The Council approved increasing the part-time officer wage to $26.50 per hour. Also, Mayor Dewey Poeschel presented the School District of Neillsville request to use and temporarily close City streets for the annual Homecoming Parade scheduled for September 25, 2026 from the School down on E. Fourth Street to Hewett Street to E. Sixth Street to Court Street to E. Fifth Street to the School. The Council granted the request.

City Clerk Rex Roehl reported on receiving a $1,500 donation from Robert and Elsbeth Johnson for Police Department radios. The Council accepted the donation, appropriated it to the Police Department, and thanked Robert and Elsbeth Johnson for their donation.

City Clerk Roehl reported on receiving a $50,000 donation from the American Endowment Foundation Donor Advised Fund on behalf of an anonymous donor for the Neillsville Area Fire Department, which the Council accepted, appropriated to the Fire Department, and thanked the anonymous donor.

The Council then discussed the long gestating idea of creating a dual City Administrator/Director of Public Works with the purpose of trying to make the City more efficient. Council Member Dan Clough asked if the City Attorney had reviewed the ordinance. Mayor Poeschel replied yes.

The Council approved the ordinance creating the position with 3 voting yes and 2 voting no. Mayor Poeschel stated based on the recommendation he received from the Personnel Committee, he recommends the appointment of Luke Friemoth as City Administrator/Director of Public Works effective May 1, 2026.

Council Member Clarrissa Rochester asked if the City could do a probation period? Council Member Barb Petkovsek stated that there would be an employment contract, but there is not an official probationary period as the position is an at-will employee.

Council Member Rochester suggested a six-month probationary period, which the Council approved adding. Council Member Clough stated that the ordinance that was passed states the duties as described in the job description as approved by the City Council. The Council has not approved the job description.

Mayor Poeschel stated the job description is forthcoming, it is currently going through legal review. Council Member Rolly Gelhaus asked when will the review be completed and requested tabling the appointment until after that. However, the Mayor called the voted and it was approved with 3 voting yes and two voting no.

Chief of Police Jim Mankowski stated currently, City ordinance prohibits the sale, service, consumption, or possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages on any street, sidewalk, alley, public parking lot, highway, or other public property.

This ordinance from a law enforcement perspective addresses a long-standing problem. Citizens have effectively been permitted to ignore the ordinance for years, placing officers in a difficult position.

Non-enforcement creates a poor public perception of the Police Department, while enforcement results in complaints and frustration over a rule that many residents view as unrealistic in these settings.

Clarifying the ordinance removes the officers from being perceived as the “bad guys” and restores consistency and credibility. Mayor Poeschel stated this ordinance will clarify it and address the Chief’s concerns. The Council approved adopting the ordinance. Chief of Police Mankowski requested signage for the parks.

Chief of Police Mankowski then reported on:

• Training,
• Squad car maintenance,
• Parking enforcement,
• Citations,
• Warnings,
• Office activities,
• Officer activities,
• Officer assists,
• Business patrols,
• And contract policing.

City Clerk Roehl reported the Wisconsin Department of Revenue has certified the creation of City of Neillsville Tax Incremental District (TID) No. 5 as a TID Type 6 – mixed use district, base year January 1, 2025, with a maximum life to July 29, 2045.

The council then heard the various committee reports. Council Member Petkovsek reported on the January 8, 2026 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding:

• Discussion on and recommendation to increase the Part-time Police Officer wage to $26.50 per hour,
• Discussion on and referral of Police Department job descriptions to the League of Wisconsin Municipalities for legal review,
• Discussion on and tabling of the draft Transitional Organization Chart,
• Discussion on, approval of and referral of the draft Ordinance creating the City Administrator/Director of Public Works position to the City Attorney for legal review,
• Discussion on and referral of the other City job descriptions to the League of Wisconsin Municipalities for legal review,
• A closed session on interviewing and promotion for Administrator/Director of Public Works position,
• Reconvening into open session,
• Recommendation on a split vote to recommend that the Mayor move to the Common Council the appointment of Luke Friemoth as City Administrator/Director of Public Works,
• And discussion on the vacant Public Works/Utilities position.

Council Member Clough reported on the January 13, 2026 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities.

During the appearances portion at the start of the Council meeting, a resident stated it is a very big mistake for the City to go to an Administrator position. What will it cost for attorney and accountant fees? Where does all the City’s money go when we can’t fund our Police and Fire Departments?

She thanked the Johnsons for their donation. There is a lot of stuff going on in this town; what is the wage rate for the Administrator position? Also, she doesn’t have Charter and nothing is posted on the website in regards to City meetings.

Another resident also spoke out against the stated change in City government. She said it should wait as there will be a new Fourth Ward Council Member in a few months. The Police and Fire Chiefs should have been involved in the discussion.

You need cooperation from all departments, not choosing one person to oversee all. There are people who want to work for the City; this should be tabled until after the April election.

There are two Council Members against the change. She also stated the Lisenby apartments are almost full.

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