Neillsville City Council Has Continued Discussion on Homecoming
Thursday, August 24th, 2023 -- 1:01 PM
The Neillsville City Council had a continued discussion on Homecoming at their meeting on Tuesday.
Council Member Julie Counsell asked about the 2023 Neillsville High School Homecoming. Chief of Police Jim Mankowski stated that he contacted Dallas Neville, Wisconsin Emergency Police Services.
Dallas Neville has nothing to do with the actual event, his service helps line up police officers to help with it. The cost runs $50 to $60 per hour per officer. Clark County Sheriff Scott Haines stated he would give us a hand, but, as of yet, no County officers have volunteered.
Thorp and Stratford Police Departments may be able to help, but there would be a cost. Mayor Dewey Poeschel presented correspondence from the School. Council Member Counsell stated things have been escalating for the last two years.
How are we going to stop this? Last year picnic tables were placed in the street. We don’t want someone getting hurt or killed. The City needs a gameplan, put some teeth into the process. We need to spend some dollars, take pictures, and ticket these folks.
This is civil unrest. They need to know we expect them to respect others. Chief of Police Mankowski stated the problem is identifying the students when an officer is out numbered 50 to 1. The Police Department’s focus is to keep the peace.
What kind of budget is the Council going to allow? How many officers can we hire? Council Member Barb Petkovsek asked who cleans up the streets: the Street Department. Who unwrapped the saran wrap from the fire hydrant?
Mayor Poeschel stated last year the Police Department had $4,000 in overtime. Council Member Bill Neville asked if any fines were issued last year? Chief of Police Mankowski replied “no”, we couldn’t identify them.
Council Member Neville stated that if one or two individuals could be fined, it would send a message, but we need homeowners help. Council Member Petkovsek stated most of the homeowners affected are elderly and some don’t want to get involved.
Chief of Police Mankowski stated if there are no violations, there is no crimes. We can’t identify them as many are wearing dark clothing. Council Member Joe Neville asked how many officers would be needed?
Chief of Police Mankowski replied five or six officers, six to eight hours per night for seven nights. Council Member Counsell stated it would cost about $15,000. We talk about it, but have done nothing. Chief of Police Mankowski stated he will put out mutual aid requests and talk to Sheriff Haines again.
Mayor Poeschel asked what message do we want to send out? Do we want arrests and fines issued? Council Member Counsell replied “yes”, each year they try to one-upmanship the last year. Enough is enough.
Chief of Police Mankowski stated police presence will deter crime. We try to keep the peace without arrest, if we can, and it is a win. Homecoming is a concern. It is our duty to do something. Putting our officers out there outnumbered is not the answer. We would have three Neillsville officers plus five or six others.
Council Member Neville asked if that was enough? Chief of Police Mankowski stated “no”, but it is what we have. The Clark County Sheriff said they will help, but they have no volunteers yet. In the end, the Council approved to authorize the Chief of Police to do what he feels is necessary to protect the City and get the extra help needed.
The Council accepted the recommendation to hire Penny Gehrke as Assistant Clerk-Treasurer at $15.00 per hour, starting September 1st with a one-year probation period. The Council also approved to accept the recommendation to authorize the Director of Public Works to sell/dispose of City surplus equipment and vehicles through Integrity Sales and Auction (ISA) and WisconsinSurplus.com.
The Council also approved Matt Jorgensen’s resignation as member of the Tourism Committee and to thank him for his service to the City of Neillsville. City Clerk Rex Roehl stated the Beautification Committee has collected $2,000 in donations for hanging baskets/decorations from area businesses and individuals. The Council approved to accept the donations.
City Clerk Roehl reported receiving a $300 donation from the Neillsville Kiwanis Club for flowers in the Sniteman Town Square flower garden. The Council approved to accept the donation.
The Council also approved a couple donations from the Listeman Foundation. They received $1,200 for police tasers and $1,000 for Christmas decorations. The Council then discussed a request from Mandy Krejci to keep three to four chickens at 1508 Johnson Street under Ordinance Section 10-1-22.
Director of Public Works Luke Friemoth stated that the property is at W. Seventeenth Street and Johnson Street and is ½ an acre. The Council approved, with four voting for and one against and one absent, Krejci to have up to four chickens, no roosters, subject to review if complaints are received or excess numbers of animals occur.
Council Member Petkovsek asked if a chicken coop requires a building permit or has to be a certain size. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated building permits haven’t been done.
The Council then heard the various Committee Reports. Director of Public Works Friemoth reported on:
- One burial at the Cemetery;
- Started the layout/design and ordered materials for the bridge in the Arboretum (part of the TIF District No. 4 project);
- Cleaning restrooms;
- Mowing and weed trimming;
- Watering flowers;
- Hauling brush;
- Street sweeping;
- Finished street line painting;
- Tree trimming;
- Street patching;
- Water Department-daily testing and well rounds;
- Utility locates;
- Meter changeouts;
- Fixed three broken curb stops;
- Flushing hydrants;
- Mowed wells and booster station;
- Sewer Department- daily testing and lift station rounds;
- Lift station maintenance;
- Replaced rusted pipes at the Boon Boulevard lift station;
- Took delivery of new sewer jetter;
- Mowed at plant Lift station and raw plant;
- And general maintenance.
The Council also approved approved to accept the recommendation to authorize the Director of Public Works to sell/dispose of City surplus equipment and vehicles through Integrity Sales and Auction (ISA) and WisconsinSurplus.com.
City Attorney Bonnie Wachsmuth reported on the August 16th meetings of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding:
- Discussion on the 1964 World’s Fair Preservation Wisconsin Pavilion, 1201 E. Division Street, repair and maintenance needs;
- Discussion on the Self-Guided Cemetery Tour;
- Discussion with a downtown property manager on historic district properties;
- And photos of the Downtown Historic Property District were taken and discussed.
City Clerk Roehl reported on the August 22nd meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding:
- A closed session on reviewing candidate for Assistant Clerk-Treasurer position;
- Reconvening into open session;
- And the recommendation to hire Penny Gehrke as Assistant Clerk-Treasurer at $15.00 per hour starting September 1st with a one-year probation period.
Mayor Poeschel reported on the August 22nd meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding:
- Current activities;
- Discussion on and recommendation to authorize the Director of Public Works to sell/dispose of City surplus equipment and vehicles through Integrity Sales and Auction (ISA) and WisconsinSurplus.com;
- And payment of bills.
Council Member Counsell asked for an update on the City Attorney position. Mayor Poeschel stated letters have been sent out to four different law firms requesting proposals, September 1st is the deadline, the Personnel Committee will review the proposals, as Mayor he will recommend an appointment, the Council would confirm.
Council Member Counsell stated that City Attorney Wachsmuth will give us a list of unfinished business at the end of the month. Mayor Poeschel stated that Wachsmuth’s last day is September 30th not August 31st.
City Clerk Roehl presented an invite to the Neillsville Public Library Storybook Walking Trail grand opening and ribbon cutting on Friday, August 25th. Mayor Poeschel presented Jose Neville with a plaque for his 11 years, 4 months (April 2012-August 2023) of dedicated service to the City of Neillsville as Fourth Ward Council Member.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.