Neillsville City Council Discusses Employee Applications and Other Items at Recent Meeting
Thursday, April 30th, 2026 -- 11:00 AM
The Neillsville City Council discussed part-time employee applications at their meeting on Tuesday.
The Council accepted the recommendation to place all the part-time employee applications in a pool for the Cemetery, Parks, City Hall, Public Works and Recreation Departments to draw from as needed.
The Council also accept the recommendation to proceed with the TIF District #4-Phase II-W. Second Street and Ferguson Street projects and to borrow $550,000 for the capital project expenditures as presented.
The Council also accepted the recommendation to hire directly part-time Sewer Department Operators In Charge not to exceed a monthly $2,000 salary plus mileage. City Clerk Rex Roehl reported on receiving a $210 donation from For Craft Sakes, LLC for the Beautification Committee-Murals project, which the Council accepted.
Council Member Rolly Gelhaus asked about future murals. Council Member Barb Petkovsek stated one is planned for during Heritage Days and other sites are being worked on.
Natalie Erpenbach discussed service provider contracts and phone service. She stated that both the City Hall and Police Department Managed Service Provider Contracts with The Dirks Group expires on June 30th and will auto-renewal for another 24-month contract unless either party notifies the other of its intention not to renew no less than thirty days before the contract term expires.
Erpenbach stated that the Grants Committee sub-committee for Technology is looking for renewal prices from The Dirks Group for a shorter contract term and not making any changes for six months to a year until the internal changes-transitions to an Administrator/Director of Public Works and new Clerk-Treasurer are stable.
Also, taking a fresh look at “co-managed” systems to become more self-sufficient and involved in the city’s networks monitoring and maintenance. Erpenbach stated the City currently has a Wisconsin Department of Emergency Management Cybersecurity grant in place through August of 2027, with another grant pending.
The Technology Committee is aware that Spectrum Business offers a “co-managed” option. Spectrum is currently the City Hall and Police Department internet service providers. Spectrum also offers a phone system; currently the City Hall has TDS.
Neillsville Fire Chief Matt Meyer reported on the First Quarter 2026:
- Ordering the 4th of July fireworks,
- Provided a tank and water for the Winter Carnival Polar Plunge,
- Provided an escort out of town and back into town for the Girls Basketball going to State,
- Attended the State Fire Convention in Green Bay,
- The State Fire Prevention coordinator did a 2% Fire Dues audit,
- We received a $50,000 donation from an anonymous donor,
- Assistant Fire Chief Strangfeld attended the Community Fire Hall and Rural Fire Association meetings,
- Fire Chief Meyer stated the Department had it’s annual DNR wildland fire training with the Augusta Range Station,
- Had an ice rescue training,
- Working on driveway access pre-planning on some rural driveways,
- Seven firefighters attended a confined space/manure pit rescue training in Pittsville,
- The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Clark County provided a dementia living training,
- Toured the new Gross Ford and Gross Auto Body Shop for pre-planning,
- Fire Chief Meyer stated the annual ladder testing was concluded and all passed in good condition,
- The new SCBA’s are in use and the firefighters really like them,
- Interviews were held for new firefighters and four were selected (Caleb Holger, Vincent Murphy, Spencer Lieburn, Noble Melvin) and will begin the schooling,
- Fire Chief Meyer reported 20 calls:
- 11-Rural:
- 2 grass fires,
- Mutual aid to Central Fire for a structure fire (tender only),
- Mutual Aid to Hatfield Fire for a structure fire (full response),
- 2 two-vehicle accidents,
- A one-vehicle accident,
- A a vehicle versus buggy accident,
- A lift assist,
- A coroner assist,
- And a cancelled enroute,
- 9-City:
- A structure fire,
- A possible re-kindle at the structure fire,
- Smoke removal from a cooking fire at an apartment complex,
- 2 gas odors-nothing found,
- A one-vehicle accident,
- A cancelled alarm before leaving the station,
- A cancelled two-vehicle accident before leaving the station,
- A cancelled before leaving the station for a truck versus power pole,
- 11-Rural:
- Fire Chief Meyer wished Roehl a happy retirement and thanked him for all the help he has provided.
City Clerk Roehl reported that the Open Book will be two days this year. Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. will be in-person with a representative of the Assessor at City Hall 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.
Board of Review will be Monday, May 18, 2026 from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. Mayor Dewey Poeschel presented City Clerk-Treasurer Rex R. Roehl with a plaque in appreciation of his 42 years of service (1984-2026) to the City of Neillsville and wished him a happy retirement.
Roehl thanked everyone, past and present for the last 42 years. I will miss the people the most. I leave with these two sayings: “Dumb looks are still free” and “I have enjoyed everyone who came through the doors-some when they come in, some when they left”.
The Council also heard the Committee Reports from the past couple weeks. Council Member Dan Clough reported on the April 15, 2026 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding:
- Discussion on QR codes, website self-guided Cemetery tours, STQRY.com demo, receiving a $1,500 Tourism Commission City Room Tax grant,
- Authorized entering into a one-year STQRY.com contract for the City historic homes and City Cemetery self-guided walking tour on-line, QR Codes and GIS system program in the amount of approximately $1,800,
- Discussion on the annual report to the Wisconsin Historical Society and Natural Park Service,
- Discussion on the current list of Federal/State known historic property and their historic markers,
- Reviewed current fund balances,
- Discussion on and approved payment of annual membership fee ($20) in the Wisconsin Association of Historic Preservation Commission.
Council Member Petkovsek reported on the April 21, 2026 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding:
- Discussion on and recommendation to place all the Part-time employee applications as presented in a pool for the Cemetery, Parks, City Hall, Public Works and Recreation Departments to draw from as needed. The applicants are: Leroy Favett III, Dominic Goetting, Marvin Schoenherr, Scott Moseley, Will Prosser, Kyle Langreck, Caleb Bixby, Brynn Heck, Gavin Wampole and Lakota Henning,
- And discussion on the Head Wastewater Operator position vacancy.
Mayor Poeschel reported on the April 21, 2026 meeting of the Board of Health regarding:
- Health Officer Doris Bakker’s City annual health report and activities for 2025-2026,
- Discussion on cleaning up properties and property owner’s lack of pride in their properties,
- The new garbage and recycling cart system has greatly improved the look of the City along with the large bulk item drop off dumpster collection,
- And discussion on and approval that each Council Member do an individual tour with the Director of Public Works.
Mayor Poeschel reported on the April 21, 2026 meeting of the Finance Committee regarding:
- Discussion on Tax Incremental District #4 background information,
- Review of and discussion on Phase I-W. Fifth Street Reconstruction, Listeman Arboretum improvements, Developer’s incentive, administrative costs, one block W. Second Street Reconstruction, Phase I borrowing and repayment schedule and Tax Increments received,
- Proposed Phase II-W. Second Street and Ferguson Street project capital costs including sewer lining, removal of old blacktop, fine grading and paving, curb and gutters, manhole rehab, a new manhole installations on Second Street and Clay Street and fabric at an estimated cost of $550,000,
- Discussion on proposed Phase II borrowing of $550,000 with repayment schedule and future tax increments, possible refinancing of Phase I loans,
- And discussion on and recommendation to proceed with the TIF District #4-Phase II- W. Second Street and Ferguson Street project and to borrow $550,000 for the capital project expenditures as presented.
Council Member Clough reported on the April 28, 2026 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding:
- Election of Council Member Clough as Commission Chair,
- Current activities,
- Discussion on Head Wastewater Operator position vacancy with the recommendation to hire directly Part-time Sewer Department Operators In Charge not to exceed a monthly $2,000 salary plus mileage,
- And payment of bills.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.