Neillsville City Council Hears Brief Update on Merchant Hotel

Thursday, January 28th, 2021 -- 12:00 PM

The Neillsville City Council heard an update on the Old Merchants Hotel building.

Chief of Police Jim Mankowski reported that he has had good communication with the owners.  As of January 27th the building will be closed and locked down with limited access for maintenance reasons and safety checks.  There is very little stuff left in there.

They have agreed if anyone is going to enter the building, they will contact the Police Department for a police presence. The building has been listed for sale. The Police Department will continue to do safety checks.  Council Member Julie Counsell asked if they are going to change the locks.

Chief Mankowski replied yes, they have been very cooperative. Council Member Dan Clough asked if real estate agents can walk through the building.  City Attorney Bonnie Wachsmuth stated that she would hope that the owner would make them aware of the evacuation order and that there is potential liability if entering.

Council Member Clough stated that a prospective buyer can enter under an evacuation order.  City Attorney Wachsmuth stated there is a difference between an evacuation order and condemnation. They have to be made aware of the order and liability and that they are  entering at their own risk.

The council then discussed hazard pay for the Police Secretary.  Council Member Joe Neville asked if the Police Secretary hazard pay should go to the Personnel  Committee.

City Attorney Wachsmuth stated that the Police Secretary was done differently than the rest.  The council approved to refer the Police Secretary hazard pay to the Personnel  Committee.

The council also continued their discussion on virtual council meetings.  Council Member Dave Harnisch reported on contacting Paul Knoff, Bauernfeind, regarding virtual council meetings. It may fall outside their role as the city’s IT company.

Knoff stated that the government must be very careful about security and liability issues when researching software platforms. Some continue to ask questions include do we want to set something up here, then move to another building, and what are the hardware needs for each council member. 

Bauernfeind’s IT advisor for city hall agrees with the idea of virtual meetings, however he needs more information including what are the requirements for how many participants, the current equipment at City Hall is very convoluted.

Audio Architects and Charter Cable providers may need to be involved to see what we have and what we need, and cost concerns.  Harnisch stated there will be a learning curve, an introduction to the basics will be needed, the city doesn’t have a paid IT person on staff, so the council is the unofficial IT team, he asked for a motion to proceed with the virtual meetings to get a better handle on costs, etc.

City Attorney Wachsmuth stated that there are more hardware needs than just Council Members.  A lot or people attend including the Mayor, Clerk, Chief of Police, Director of Public Works, etc.

Mayor Diane Murphy stated they know there will be updating and Allan Hoesly has stepped up and wants to help.  He has worked for the school and his church and he has recommended Audio Architects also.

She stated it’s wonderful that a local person wants to help and Council Member Harnisch should contact him.  Council Member Counsell stated she doesn’t see a problem with going virtual, however don’t spend our resources here if they’re moving.

They need to see a plan or options.  If it involves a lot of IT there will be a cost.  They need to figure out a game plan on how to deal with people who have questions and what is the process.  Harnisch asked who wants to do this.  He is not an IT person, but he will meet with Hoesly.

City Attorney Wachsmuth clarified that streaming is completely different then virtual.  Streaming means everyone is here in the room, virtual, can be from home.  Council Member Harnisch stated that if he cannot get to City Hall, he wants to be able to attend the meeting from home, other people can come in if they have a link and there is control by a host.

Council Member Counsell stated that we are a year into this COVID-19 thing and we haven’t missed a meeting. How high a priority is it?  They have continued meeting and adapted.  They shouldn’t run down a path if no one is going to use it.

Council Member Harnisch suggested they look at this down the line for the new building and Council Member Neville suggested forming a building committee.  Council Member Harnisch stated it is a good idea to begin the conversation. 

Mayor Murphy reported on a tour of Cummins on January 14th with Gary Veltus of Workforce Development and Sheila Nyberg of Clark County Economic Development Commission. Cummins has an excellent working relationship with 3M and has been doing masks orders for them.

Cummins is growing and looking for employees and projecting adding another 30 jobs to their workforce. Ninety percent of their workers live within 20 miles of Neillsville. The Neillsville Plant was their only plant to remain open during  COVID-19.

Cummins is adding manufacturing lines and currently leasing the former Figi’s building.  Council Member Harnisch reported on the January 20th meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding discussion on and approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness application for Egland Enterprises, LLC, 534 and 538 Hewett Street for roof replacement, window replacement and façade cleaning, maintenance and painting.

They also had a discussion on and approval of a $500 Historic Preservation Grant for Egland Enterprises, LLC, 534 and 538 Hewett Street for Certificate of Appropriateness work.  They had a discussion on and denial of the Historic Preservation Grant from Dean Glaze,  319 State Street for exterior work on the Judge O’Neill house, former Neillsville Hospital location, since the exterior was completed prior to approval.

They had a closed session on the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission-Regional Business Fund,  Inc.-“Downtown Façade Loan Fund Program” loan application of Egland Enterprises, LLC,  534 and 538 Hewett Street.

They reconvened into open session to table action on the  application pending discussion with WCWRPC and the City Attorney.  They had a discussion on and review of the new Historic Preservation Commission brochure and discussion on and review of letter and brochure sent to the Historic Preservation office Annual Report-Certified Local Government-for calendar year 2020.

They also had a discussion on and approval of the revised Historic Property Improvement Grant Application form, discussion on and approval of payment of invoices for brochure printing costs and postage, and reviewed, accepted and filed a copy of the Eagle Scout Service Project of Nolan John, a Historic Improvement Project for the Wisconsin Pavilion at 1201 E. Division Street, by restoring lighting to building pylons and glass roof center and thanked Nolan John and Central Wisconsin Broadcasting for their efforts and financial support of this service project.

They also heard the Public Works Report and a citizen stated that we need to give our Rescue and Fire people kudos for being such good people.

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