Neillsville City Council Approves Equipment Purchases and More

Friday, May 12th, 2023 -- 12:01 PM

The Neillsville City Council approved the purchase of some equipment.

The Council accepted the recommendation to purchase a mini-excavator ($48,000) and second compact tractor ($14,350). The Council also approved to contact local banks for loan proposals to borrow $510,000 with a five-year repayment period for the purchase of public works vehicles and equipment.

City Clerk Rex Roehl presented the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Recreation Aid Grant for the City of Neillsville-O’Neill Creek Trail Head project advance payment in the amount of $25,000. The Council approved accepting the grant, but one alderman did vote no.

Chief of Police Jim Mankowski presented a Bartingale Mechanical, Inc. proposal for Maintenance for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) at the Police Station in the amount of $3,390 for the first year and budget estimates of $3,593 for the second year and $3,808 for the third year.

The boiler company from Marshfield no longer has a technician that can work on their system. He reached out to Bartingale in Eau Claire. It cost about $5,000 to get it working. The proposal packet includes an automatic renewal clause, which he will ask for different language.

Council Member Julie Counsell asked if this is just a one-year contract. Chief of Police Mankowski replied “Yes,” it is a preventative maintenance proposal and two years of future estimates. Council Member Counsell asked if the cost to replace the boiler was looked at.

Chief of Police Mankowski replied “No,” but he could find out. He wants to see if they will waive the first-year maintenance fee, since they just spent about $5,000 to get it working, along with the contract language change on automatic renewal.

Alderman Dan Clough motioned to approve the Bartingale Mechanical maintenance contract with the renewal language change. But, after some discussion, he withdrew his motion.

Alderman Counsell, seconded by Alderman Barb Petkovsek, motioned to have the Chief of Police contact Bartingale Mechanical about waving the first-year maintenance fee, changing contract language and getting a bid on boiler replacement.

Discussion continued on boiler replacement and then tabling the maintenance proposal and bidding. City Attorney Bonnie Wachsmuth stated you can’t motion for bidding as it is not on the agenda.

Council Members Counsell and Petkovsek agreed to amend their motion to replace the words “bid on” to “cost for” and the Council approved to have the Chief of Police contact Bartingale Mechanical about waving the first-year maintenance fee, changing contract language and getting cost for boiler replacement.

City Clerk Rex Roehl reported on receiving donations from the Marguerite Listeman Foundation for Heritage Days ($3,000) and fish stocking of the Listeman Park pond ($500-this is a pass thru to the Neillsville Trout Pond Fund). The Council accepted both donations.

City Clerk Roehl reported on donations from the Listeman/Naedler Foundation for the 4th of July Fireworks ($3,500) and the first of a three-year pledge for a new fire truck ($50,000). The Council approved the donations.

Mayor Dewey Poeschel nominated the following individuals for the Tourism Commission 2024: Council Member W. Neville, James Voss, Amber Vine, Sue Voigt and Matt Jorgensen. Council Member Counsell asked if everyone on the list lived within the City of Neillsville and per the City Ordinance the Tourism Committee elects its own Chair.

Mayor Poeschel stated that they all live within the City. Council Member Counsell asked if he contacted anyone on the list she provided. Mayor Poeschel stated that he got something from one of them. The Council approved the nominations.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, a resident asked why the May 9th Personnel Committee meeting as listed on the agenda was not presented. Mayor Poeschel stated that the meeting was held, but the minutes are not available and will be reported at the next Council Meeting.

Neillsville resident and former Diane Murphy stated that she is here to present the facts about the potential sale of her Apple Valley property, 415 W. U.S. Highway 10, to Clark County government. She has documentation and witnesses.

This business property has become a financial and physical hardship, since the death of her son. The Clark County Property Committee and members of both Social Services and Community Services have toured the property. It is handicapped accessible, close to the new hospital and accessible for community members.

The Property Committee has toured other places. Diane Murphy handed out copies of City Ordinances Chapter 8 Ethical Standards Sections 2-8-2 and 2-8-3, Section 2-4-6 Planning Commission and a copy of a letter from Director of Public Works/Zoning Administrator Luke Friemoth that the property is currently zoned as General Commercial and the General Commercial zone allows for municipal uses.

Diane Murphy stated that at the Property Committee meeting of September 22, 2022 they forwarded a resolution for short-term borrowing to the Clark County Board to purchase the property. A member of the Police and Fire Commission and a city resident spoke against it.

Diane Murphy stated Mayor Poeschel and Council Member Petkovsek said no way would the City rezone the property. It does not have to be rezoned and no one has ever come to talk to her. The Clark County Board did not approve the borrowing resolution.

City officials have intimidated the buyer and interfered with a private property sale. As City officials they should have known rezoning was not required. Neillsville is the County seat, and it brings in people from all over the County which supports our businesses.

She hopes they find a solution to stay in Neillsville. While the property would have no longer been on the tax roll the new developments of Lisenby apartments, Swiderski apartments and Simplicity Credit Union are in progress.

Diane Murphy stated that she has filed ethics complaints with the Wisconsin Ethics Board and Clark County District Attorney offices against Mayor Poeschel, Council Member Petkovsek and Police and Fire Commission Member Robert Johnson.

The resident that spoke against the sale was at the Common Council meeting and stated Murphy did some illegal things when she was in office with the Police Department and the reason she is losing business is when a business has posted hours, they need to be open those hours not tell people they’re closed.

Chief of Police Mankowski then requested the resident be respectful and not talk about people or take cheap shots at the Police Department when they cannot defend themselves. The resident stated that other ethics have been broken and she has been called out by some people with no apology.

Mayor Poeschel then vacated his chair and addressed the Common Council from the podium. He stated that the allegations from the former Mayor are completely false and have no standing. Mayor Poeschel then resumed the chair.

Chief of Police Mankowski reported on:

• Training;
• Reviewing a part-time police officer candidate;
• Squad car maintenance;
• April parking enforcement, citations, warnings, incidents, office activities, calls, officer activities, business patrols and citizen interactions.

Also, he stated 14-year-old and 15-year-old were apprehended for theft activities-it was a team effort working the case.

The Department priorities are:

• Officer Safety;
• Not Violating Constitutional Rights;
• Treating People with Dignity and Respect.

The Department Goals:

• We are responsible for maintaining public order and safety;
• Enforcing the law;
• And preventing, detecting and investigating criminal activities;
• We will provide excellent customer service;
• We will respect everyone.

Chief of Police Mankowski stated that Police Department office hours have been changed. Open hours are:

• Monday through Thursday 8:00 A.M to 4:00 P.M;
• And Friday 8:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon;
• Friday hours by appointment only: 12:00 Noon to 4:00 P.M.

This closed period is time needed for administrative business.

Council Member Counsell stated that her new City email address is [email protected] . All City emails are public record and subject to open records law.

Council Member Petkovsek reported on the April 24th meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding:

• Discussion on Spring/Military banners;
• Discussion on Prock Park décor ideas with the consensus being to have Kranzations prepare a design similar to the “Grand Avenue Bridge” in Schuster Park with Prock Park being cut at the top of the bridge;
• Discussion on flowers and baskets;
• Discussion on Town Square Park benches and plaques approved by the Planning Commission and Common Council;
• Discussion on planting the downtown pots on May 24th;
• And discussion on sponsorship letters for hanging baskets/decorations.

Council Member Petkovsek reported on the April 25th meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding:

• Discussion on a Recreation Director job description;
• And approved submission of the Recreation Director job description to the League Insurance Company for review.

Council Member J. Neville reported on the May 4th meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding:

• Discussion on entertainment;
• Discussion on and approval to hold an adult Sawdust Scramble;
• Discussion on signage and shirts;
• Discussion on movie night and approved paying for a license for the Neillsville Public Library to hold a Movie Night;
• Discussion on sponsorships and finalizing poster;
• Discussion on beer brands and vendors;
• And discussion on golf outing.

Council Member Clough reported on the May 9th meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding:

• Current activities;
• Discussion on Public Works vehicles and equipment previously approved on January 24, 2023 (leaf vac, plow truck, sub-compact tractor and backhoe with hammer) and the request for additional equipment (mini-excavator and second sub-compact tractor);
• And the recommendation to approve the purchase of a mini-excavator ($48,000) and a second compact tractor ($14,350), 3) discussion on;
• And recommendation to contact local banks for loan proposals to borrow $510,000 with a five-year repayment period for the purchase of public works vehicles and equipment.

Mayor Poeschel presented Pastor Douglas Bjerke with a plaque for his 17 years (2006-2023) of dedicated service to the City of Neillsville as Board of Cemetery Commissioners member.

Mayor Poeschel presented William Neville III with a plaque for his 29 years (1994-2023) of dedicated service to the City of Neillsville as a Grants Committee member and chair.

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