Neillsville City Council Approves Continuing Appropriations, Chicken Requests, the Audit Report, and More
Thursday, March 26th, 2026 -- 9:00 AM
The Neillsville City Council heard a report on the City’s continuing appropriation accounts.
The accounts include:
- Police Department Administration (K-9 and Police Training),
- Parking Lots and Meters,
- Library,
- Parks and Recreation Room Tax 30%,
- Celebrations (July 4th, etc. and Murals),
- Christmas Decorations,
- Planning (Historic Preservation),
- Urban Development,
- Economic Development,
- Tourism Promotion – Room Tax 70%,
- Public Buildings,
- Public Safety – Fire Department Vehicles,
- Machinery and Equipment,
- Street Construction,
- Bridges and Culverts,
- Airport,
- And Parks.
The Council approved to carry forward to 2026 the continuing appropriations as presented.
The Council also approved the request from the Heritage Days Committee to extend the hours at Schuster Park under Ordinance Section 321-4(a) and (c) to 12:00A.M to allow the bands to play on Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11 for Heritage Days events.
City Clerk Rex Roehl reported that the Citizens State Bank loan for the Police Squad car has been closed in the amount of $62,000 on March 20, which the Council accepted.
Mayor Dewey Poeschel presented Lacey John’s request under Sec. 450-16 to keep up to ten (10 hens) chickens at 117 Hewett Street. This property is .26 acres. Lacey John is applicant and owner. Council Member Dan Clough questioned the need for 10 chickens for personal use and lot size. But the Council approved the request.
Mayor Poeschel presented Hunter Hurst and Riley Ross’ request to transfer the keeping of chickens under Sec. 450-16 from 1010 Emery Street to 113 State Street, with an increase in the number of chickens from ten (10 hens) to fifteen (15 hens). This property is .39 acres. Hunter Hurst and Riley Ross, applicants and Julie Simek, owner.
Simek provided a letter consenting to the chickens. Council Member Clough stated they have a good background in raising chickens, but 15 hens is a lot to be considered for personal use. The Council approved the request, but kept the number at 10 chickens.
The Council also approved the Police and Fire Departments’ job descriptions as presented.
Joy Palmer, with CliftonLarsonAllen, presented the City, Water, Sewer, TIF District #3, TIF District #4, TIF District #5, Special Revenue Funds, Debt Service and Other Governmental Funds 2025 Annual Audit Reports regarding:
Auditor’s report and opinion,
The City has $2.5 million in the General Fund with $1.5 million in the Unassigned Fund Balance, which is a very good financial condition and very stable,
The Water Utility shows a negative change in net position (<$102,109>) and the Sewer shows a positive change in net position ($158,385) with Rates of Returns (Water <8.61>% and Sewer 3.27%).
These are very close – oversight is needed to make sure the fluctuations are monitored and utilities rates are updated and sufficient to cover increasing expenses and revenue changes.
Water rates were updated with a simplified rate case of 3% in September of 2025 (the last full rate approved by the PSC was in 2013, this would require a rate study). Sewer rates were updated in March of 2025,
TIF Districts #3, #4 and #5 were reviewed – TIF Districts are a large up-front investment ($1.9 million, $1.3 million and $13 thousand) recovered in future tax increments from the individual TIF Districts.
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue has approved an affordable housing extension for TIF District #3. TIF District #3 has 1 year of remaining life with a deficit of $87,820 which will break even.
TIF District #4 has a deficit of $1,109,747 with 16 years of remaining life. TIF District #5 has a deficit of $13,134 with 20 years of remaining life,
Risk disclosure of the City’s cash and investments were reviewed at year end – the majority (97.3%) was FDIC or NCUSIF insured or collateralized, the remaining 2.7% was under the State Deposit Guarantee Fund, which is not considered to be insured or collateralized
Reviewed the City’s long term debt – City’s Statutory limit is $9.6 million with current borrowing of $2 million - $7.6 million is available – the City is in good financial shape,
Reviewed the GASB 68 and 73 statements regarding the City’s share of the Wisconsin Retirement Pension Plan,
The General Fund budget comparison was reviewed,
Reviewed the Complied Schedule Report of long-term debt, non-lapsing funds, insurance and water and sewer rates of returns – regulatory basis,
Reviewed the City’s internal control structure – lack of separation of duties, preparation of financial statements and audit adjustments,
And in conclusion the records are in very good working order, the staff was open and cooperative, the City had an overall good year with good financial planning in place.
Jon Trautman, CliftonLarsonAllen, presented upcoming Governmental Accounting Standards Board changes that will affect the City’s audit in the future:
- GASB Statement No. 103 - Changes to the reporting model and financial statements regarding budget to actual dollar changes (2026);
- GASB Statement No. 104 – Disclosure of certain Capital Assets regarding assets held for resale and public/private partnership assets (2026);
- GASB Statement No. 105 – Subsequent events regarding to changes in timing and items require to be disclosed like disaster events and debt service issuance after year end.
The Council approved the audit reports.
The Council also heard the various Committee Reports. Council Member Bill Neville presented the March 10, 2026 meeting of the Library Board regarding:
- Librarian’s reports,
- Discussion on Carnegie Foundation donation projects,
- Discussion on, accepting and filing updated Policies,
- Discussion on and approving moving the Substitute Librarian to Assistant Librarian,
- Discussion on and approval to hire a new Substitute Librarian,
- Discussion on and accepting the Public Library Annual Report,
- Discussion on and accepting the Statement Concerning Public Library System Effectiveness,
- Discussion on WVLS Librarian Spring Conference in Mosinee,
- Reviewed the bills,
- Updates on donation and carryover funds,
- And upcoming community events.
Council Member Clough presented the March 18, 2026 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding:
- Discussion on QR codes, website, self-guided Cemetery tours and STQRY.com demo and Room Tax Grant Application,
- Discussion on the annual report for the National Parks Service,
- Reviewed our Certified Local Government (CLG) information and responsibilities,
- Discussion on the current list of Federal/State known historic properties,
- And discussion on the WI Association of Historic Preservation Commissions newsletter and Spring Conference.
Mayor Poeschel presented the March 19, 2026 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding:
- Financial report,
- Discussion on Glow Run,
- Discussion on American Legion events,
- Discussion on kids events,
- Discussion on volleyball tournament,
- Discussion on, recommendation and request to extend the hours at Schuster Park under Ordinance Section 321-4(a) and (c) to 12:00 A.M to allow the bands to play on Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11, 2026 for Heritage Days events,
- And discussion on event weather insurance.
Council Member Clough reported on the March 24, 2026 meeting of the Commission of Public Works/Utilities regarding:
- Current activities,
- Presentation to Dale Zank, Street Foreman, a plaque in appreciation and recognition on his 50 years of dedicated service, hard work and leadership to the City of Neillsville,
- And payment of bills.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.