Neillsville City Council Approves Personnel Items and Other Items

Thursday, April 16th, 2026 -- 10:00 AM

The Neillsville City Council approved some personnel items at their meeting on Tuesday.

The Council accepted the recommendation to accept the resignation of Jeremy Boon, Head Wastewater Operator. They also accepted the recommendation to allow Debbie Winder 40 hours of vacation effective May 1, 2026.

The Council also accepted the recommendation to hire Ronald Stankey for the Heavy Equipment Operator/Water and Wastewater Maintenance position. The Council then accepted the recommendation to have Struck and Irwin micro-surface the taxiways in front of the hangars using money from the Airport Capital Outlay fund.

The Council also approved the request to have the City crew help with tent setup in the lower parking lot across from Unity Bank. The Council then accepted the recommendation to accept the American Asphalt of Wisconsin, Mosinee, bid in the amounts of: for E. Second Street paving $40,446; fine grade and paving - $173.95 per ton; paving only - $147.55 per ton; total - $136,896.

The Council also accepted the recommendation of the placement of “The Highground” logo on the Industrial Park Water Tower during the repainting project with the details to be worked out.

Chief of Police Jim Mankowski on behalf of the Clark County Sheriff’s Department requested permission to place a Flock camera in the City of Neillsville. A Flock camera captures license plates and holds them for 30 days, only law enforcement can access them, and they are not public record information. It can also be accessed by law enforcement for green, amber and silver alerts. The Council approved the placement of a Flock camera within the City of Neillsville.

Mayor Dewey Poeschel presented a request to keep various animals at 1204 Moonlite Road under Sec. 450-16 and a wavier of Sec. 169-6E limitation on number of dogs – Michelle Zakrzewicz, applicant, Kevin Oldham, etal., owners.

Council Member Dan Clough asked the number of acres. Director of Public Works Luke Friemoth replied 3 acres. Council Member Barb Petkovsek stated last time we limited the number of chickens to ten, they are asking for twenty.

Mayor Poeschel stated that each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Council Member Clough stated he reviewed the site, it is basically a farm. Council Member Rolly Gelhaus asked do you know how much noise peacocks make?

Zakrzewicz stated as long as they see each other there is less noise. The Council approved to have up to three (3) horses, twenty (20) chickens, three (3) ducks, two (2) peacocks, subject to review if complaints are received or an excess number of animals occur.

Discussion followed on a request from the same individual for 3 to 4 dogs, City Ordinance Sec. 169-6E limits the number of dogs to three, unless a waiver is granted by the Common Council. The Council approved a waiver to have four (4) dogs at 1204 Moonlite Road, with no replacement when the fourth dog dies.

Mayor Poeschel read Michelle Friemoth’s Letter of Resignation from the Heritage Days Committee, which the Council accepted and thanked her for her service (8 years, 2018-2026) to the City of Neillsville.

Mayor Poeschel read Allan Hoesly’s Letter of Resignation from the Planning Commission, which the Council accepted and thanked him for his service (23 years, 2003-2026) to the City of Neillsville.

City Clerk Rex Roehl reported that the Citizens State Bank loan Draw Down #2 for Capital Projects was received on April 10th. This covers the City Garage, Police Station and Cemetery Columbarium projects. The Council accepted and appropriated $120,000 to the proper accounts.

Mayor Poeschel presented an ordinance regarding Responsibilities of Owners or Designated Agents of Multiple-Family Dwelling and Responsibilities of Owners or Designated Agents of Non-Residential Facilities and Properties.

Director of Public Works Friemoth stated that the Department of Natural Resources has requested these changes dealing with Multi-Family and Non-Residential facilities and properties regarding adequate recycling containers, sufficient to avoid overflow and notification to tenants, etc. The Council approved the adoption of the ordinance.

Chief of Police Mankowski reported on February and March 2026:

• Training,
• Personnel,
• Equipment purchases,
• New squad car,
• Squad car maintenance,
• Parking enforcement,
• Citations,
• Policing.

City Clerk Roehl reported:

• That the City has received its letter from the Wisconsin Department of Administration discontinuing its CDBG-RLF Housing Program;
• Open Book will be two days – Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. will be in-person with a representative of the Assessor and Friday, May 1, 2026 from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. will be by telephone with a representative of the Assessor;
• The First Quarter 2026 City Financial Statements;
• The annual Common Council Reorganizational meeting will be Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 4:00 P.M. followed by the annual Board of Health meeting at 4:30 P.M.

City Clerk Roehl also:

• Presented a thank you from the Senior Citizens group for allowing them to play cards here,
• The Neillsville Dairy Breakfast is Sunday, June 14, 2026 hosted by the Begert family, Echowood Holsteins, N6314 County Road G, Neillsville,
• And Clark County Emergency Management has begun monthly storm siren testing.

The Council also heard the various committee reports from the past couple weeks. Council Member Bill Neville presented the March 26, 2026 meeting of the Police and Fire Commission regarding:

• A closed session to interview and consider employment of firefighters,
• Reconvening into open session,
• And the hiring of Caleb Holger, Vincent Murphy, Spencer Lieburn, Noble Melvin and Derrick Dix as volunteer firefighters subject to successful completion of background checks.

Council Member Petkovsek reported on the March 31 and April 8, 2026 meetings of the Personnel Committee regarding:

• Discussion on and recommendation to accept the resignation of Jeremy Boon, Head Wastewater Operator, discussion on and recommendation to allow Debbie Winder 40 hours of vacation effective May 1, 2026,
• A closed session on reviewing applications and interviewing candidates for the Heavy Equipment Operator/Water and Wastewater Maintenance vacancy and the Head Wastewater Operator vacancy,
• Reconvening into open session,
• Offering Ronald Stankey the Heavy Equipment Operator/Water and Wastewater Maintenance position;
• A closed session in regards to the background check on candidate for Heavy Equipment Operator/Water and Wastewater Maintenance position,
• Reconvening into open session,
• And accepting the background check and recommendation to hire Ronald Stankey for the Heavy Equipment Operator/Water and Wastewater Maintenance position.

Council Member Neville reported on the March 31, 2026 meeting of the Tourism Commission regarding:

• Discussion on and filing of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Annual 2025 Room Tax Report,
• Discussion on and moving the remaining 2024 Room Tax funds to the 2025 fund for disbursement,
• Discussion on 2025 Room Tax grant application,
• And approval of grants to:
  • Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce ($500 administration, $7,000 to support initiatives),
  • Neillsville Heritage Days ($7,000 to support initiatives),
  • Miss Neillsville ($1,000 to support initiatives),
  • Miss Winter Carnival ($500 to support initiatives),
  • Clark Cultural Art Center ($889.06 to support initiatives),
  • City of Neillsville Beautification Committee ($1,500 to support initiatives),
  • City of Neillsville Murals Work group –Beautification Committee ($500 to support initiatives),
  • The History Room – 1897 Clark County Jail Museum, Inc. ($1,300 to support initiatives),
  • City of Neillsville – Historic Preservation Commission ($1,500 to support initiatives),
  • And the Neillsville Improvement Corporation ($200 to support initiatives).

Mayor Poeschel reported on the April 1, 2026 meeting of the Airport Commission regarding:

• Discussion on and recommendation to have Struck and Irwin micro-surface the taxiways in front of the hangars using money from the Airport Capital Outlay fund.

Mayor Poeschel presented the April 9, 2026 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding:

• Receiving a grant from the Tourism Commission,
• Discussion on the Glow Run,
• Discussion on American Legion events,
• Discussion on kid events,
• Discussion on adding vendors,
• Hiring the Discovery Education Center and Center Shot Archery,
• Hiring Mischief Magic and Face painter,
• Discussion on mural work and adding information to the poster,
• Discussion on volleyball tournament,
• Updating signers on the Neillsville Heritage Days bank account and authorizing Dale Erickson to have a debit card,
• Discussion on and approved to purchase event insurance coverage for Friday and Saturday,
• Discussion on the poster,
• Discussion on and request to have the City crew help with the tent setup in the lower parking lot across from Unity Bank,
• And discussion on beer vendors.

Council Member Clough reported on the April 14, 2026 meeting of the Commission of Public Works/Utilities regarding:

• Current activities,
• Opening of, discussion on and recommendation to accept the American Asphalt of Wisconsin, Mosinee, bid in the amounts of: for E. Second Street paving $40,446; fine grade and paving - $173.95 per ton; paving only - $147.55 per ton; total - $136,896,
• No bids were received for the Industrial Park farmland lease,
• Discussion on and recommendation of the placement of “The Highground” logo on the Industrial Park Water Tower during the repainting project with the details to be worked out,
• And reviewed the First Quarter 2026 Water and Sewer Financial Statements.

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