Neillsville City Council Approves Employment Matters

Thursday, June 11th, 2026 -- 11:00 AM

The Neillsville City Council approved some employment matters at their meeting on Tuesday.

According to the unofficial minutes from the meeting, the Council accepted the recommendation to promote John Schoen to Head Wastewater Operator. The Council also accepted the recommendation to hire Logan Wasson for the Heavy Equipment Operator/Water and Wastewater Maintenance position.

They also accepted the recommendation to accept the resignation of Terence McCarville as City Hall Custodian and accepted the recommendation to advertise the vacant City Hall Custodian position.

The Council also heard several proposals for a $550,000 loan for Tax Incremental Financing District No. 4 – Phase Two borrowing:

• Citizens State Bank of Loyal 5.00%, five-year loan term with ten-year repayment with repricing after five years, no fees; 5.55%, ten-year loan term with ten-year repayment, no fees
• Unity Bank 3.475%, ten-year loan term and ten-year repayment, no fees
• Simplicity Credit Union, No proposal for borrowing

Council Member Gelhaus asked if the payments are monthly or annually. City Clerk Debbie Winder stated they are annual. The Council accepted the Unity Bank proposal for financing the $550,000 Tax Incremental Financing District No. 4 – Phase Two loan at 3.475% with no fees and ten-year repayment.

Mayor Dewey Poeschel recommended Debra Perkl as a member of the Library Board, which the Council accepted. City Clerk Winder reported that the regular meeting of Tuesday, August 11, 2026 is also the Partisan Primary Election day. The Council approved rescheduling that meeting to Monday, August 10th.

Director of Public Works Luke Friemoth presented a request for a mowing variance in the Boon Subdivision parcels. Friemoth stated that Neillsville Development LLC are requesting permission to allow the majority of the property to remain in a natural field condition and be periodically harvested for hay by a local farmer.

They would continue to regularly maintain and mow approximately ten (10) feet from all curb lines and street frontages in order to preserve a clean and orderly appearance throughout the subdivision and along public roadways. The request was approved with one alderman voting no.

Chief of Police Jim Mankowski reported on:

• Trainings,
• Purchases,
• Routine squad car maintenance,
• Parking enforcements,
• Citations,
• Warnings,
• Office activity,
• Officer activities,
• Assists,
• Business patrols,
• And contract policing.

City Clerk Winder presented the 2026 Recycling Grant funds received from the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the amount of $9,928.32 (2025 - $9,935.17), which the Council accepted.

City Clerk Winder reported that the Neillsville Dairy Breakfast will be held Sunday, June 14, 2026 at Echowood Holsteins, N6314 County Road G, Neillsville and that the City-wide Garage Sale Days will be June 18, 19, 20, 2026.

The Council also heard the various committee reports from the past couple weeks. Council Member Barb Petkovsek reported on the June 1, 2026 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding:

• A closed session on interviewing and promotion for Head Wastewater Operator Vacancy, the Heavy Equipment Operator/Water and Wastewater position and the City Hall Custodian vacancy,
• Reconvening into open session,
• Recommendation that the Mayor move to the Common Council the promotion of John Schoen as Head Wastewater Operator,
• Recommendation that the Mayor move to the Common Council to offer the Heavy Equipment Operator/Water and Wastewater Maintenance position to Logan Wasson, pending successful background check,
• To recommend to the Common Council to accept the resignation of Terence McCarville City Hall Custodian,
• And to recommend to the Common Council to advertise the vacant Custodian position.

Mayor Poeschel reported on the June 3, 2026 meeting of the Police and Fire Commission regarding:

• Election of officers,
• A closed session to interview candidates for the other Part-Time Police Officer position,
• Reconvening into open session,
• And offering Christian Ovenshire the Part-Time Police Officer position pending a successful background check.

Council Member Donna Pavlac reported on the June 4, 2026 meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding:

• Financial report,
• Approval of adding Dale Erickson and Joe Neville as signers to the Forward Bank account,
• And sending a letter to the City Council requesting the release of the budgeted funds and the Listeman donation funds.

Council Member Pavlac reported on the June 4, 2026 meeting of the Community Fire Hall Board meeting regarding:

• Payment of bills,
• Current activities,
• And review and approval of the insurance renewal without terrorism amendment.

Council Member Dan Clough reported on the June 9, 2026 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding:

• Current activities.

Also, during appearances, one resident thanked the EMS staff and the Police Department that helped her when she had her recent accident.

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