Neillsville City Council Approves a Grant for the Murals Project

Thursday, January 29th, 2026 -- 11:01 AM

The Neillsville City Council approved a grant at their meeting on Tuesday.

City Clerk Rex Roehl reported on receiving a $250 grant from the Clark County Community Foundation, Inc. for the Beautification Committee – Murals project. The Council approved the grant.

Mayor Dewey Poeschel presented a request from Karcyn Schmitz, Senior Class 2026 President, to have banners put up on the main street light poles for the Neillsville High School graduating Seniors.

The banners would include their name, picture and year. Director of Public Works Luke Friemoth stated there are 54 Seniors, the banners would be two-sided, 27 poles would be needed. The banners would be put up the last part of April and taken down the week before Memorial Day to allow for installation of the Military banners.

The Seniors would provide the banners and the City crew would put them up and take them down with an estimated cost of about $1,300 for the City crew’s labor. The Council approved the request.

The Council also heard the various Committee Reports from the past couple weeks. Council Member Barb Petkovsek reported on the January 13, 2026 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding:

• Legal advice received from the City Attorney: it can be done either way – it can continue as is with the Police Chief and Fire Chief answering to the Mayor or it can flow through the City Administrator position, either way they will cooperate with the City Administrator position;
• And confirmed that the Police Chief and Fire Chief positions continue to answer to the Mayor and Common Council.

Council Member Bill Neville reported on the January 13, 2026 meeting of the Library Board regarding:

• Librarians’ reports,
• Discussion on and directed the Library Director to contact Westwood Kitchens to use the Carnegie Foundation donation in part to add cabinets/shelves to the checkout area,
• An update on waving $4,391.21 in overdue fines from the last five years,
• Discussion on Policy & Personnel Committee items,
• Discussion on the Director applying for a WVLS Scholarship to attend the Public Library Association (APL) annual conference in Minneapolis, MN,
• Reviewed the bills,
• Updates on donation and carryover funds,
• And upcoming community events.

Council Member Clarrissa Rochester presented the January 21, 2026 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding:

• Financial report,
• Discussion on grant opportunities,
• Discussion on Uncommon Denominator as music for Saturday and lighting, no action taken,
• Approved booking bands for Friday night,
• And discussion on America’s 250th Brithday –Library Director Janay Ziebell presented ideas to include tours of the Library, as 2026 is also the 30th anniversary of the Library addition.

Council Member Dan Clough reported on the January 22, 2026 meeting of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners regarding:

• Current activities,
• Discussion on the Cemetery Columbarium project – location within the Cemetery, platting a section, granite companies, drawing site plan options, columbarium sizes, frost walls and footings,
• And authorizing Cemetery Sexton Barth to proceed with the Columbarium project – getting costs for platting and options and prices for site plans and columbariums.

Council Member Clough reported on the January 27, 2026 meeting of the Commission of Public Works/Utilities regarding:

• Current activities,
• And payment of bills.

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