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Neillsville City Council Discusses Taxi Grant Application, Insurance, and More

Friday, November 17th, 2023 -- 10:01 AM

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The Neillsville City Council discussed the 2024 taxi grant application at their meeting on Tuesday.

Jessica Clark, Clark County Social Services Business Manager, requested approval from the City to submit the 2024 taxi grant application with Clark County and support of the City’s cost share. This funding is provided by the 5311 Program with a 31% County and 69% City cost split.

The City taxi runs 364 days a year for a total of 7,925 hours. The County taxi runs 254 days on the first taxi and 208 days on the second taxi for a total of 3,580 hours. Request for Proposals were done in 2022 with only one bid received showing a 44% increase.

The 2024 increase will be an additional 3.7% bringing the hourly rate to $42.45 per hour. The City taxi is at its maximum hours allowed. The City has some options, which include raising fare rates.

Mayor Dewey Poeschel stated that the City is looking into possibly raising fare rates and reducing hours, but this won’t happen until sometime next year. They need to proceed with this application currently.

The Council approved submission of the 2024 taxi grant application with Clark County and support of the City’s cost share, with one aldermen voting no and the rest voting yes. City Clerk Rex Roehl presented the 2023 dental insurance renewal from Heather Loniello, Tricor Insurance Agent for Delta Dental.

The Employee plan premium is going from $38.50 to $41.58 or $3.08 per month (8%). The Employee and Spouse plan premium is going from $77.00 to $83.16 or $6.16 per month (8%). The Employee and Child plan premium is going from $78.50 to $84.78 or $6.28 per month (8%).

The Family plan premium is going from $128.52 to $138.80 or $10.28 per month (8%). The monthly overall increase is 8%. The agent has checked other plans and recommended they stay with Delta Dental. The Council approved the 2024 Dental Insurance contract renewal with Delta Dental as presented.

Mayor Poeschel presented a request from the Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce for the use of the C. C. Sniteman Town Square Park and Gazebo for the “Official Tree Lighting/Santa’s Coming to Town” event on Friday December 1st from 5:00 P.M. until done, which the Council approved.

Mayor Poeschel presented a request the CART Center to hang a banner on the Gazebo for the “Ugly Sweater Fun Walk” on Saturday, December 2nd. The banner would be hung from November 15 through December 3rd and to close Court Street from E. Fourth Street to E. Fifth Street and Armory Avenue at the Court Street intersection from 12:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. on December 2nd for the walk, which the Council approved with one abstention.

The Council also approved the resignation of Dave Harnisch from the Historic Preservation Commission (2020-2023) and thanked him for his service. The City Clerk reported on receiving the following donations from the Marguerite Listeman Foundation - $5,000 for the Listeman Park Pickleball Court and $10,000 for the Children’s Play Program. The Council approved accepting the donation.

The Council then heard a presentation on the 2024 City Budget. The City Clerk reported that the proposed 2024 General Fund Budget of $3,932,194 is higher than the Consumer Price index (5.4%) because of the 20% increase in Shared Revenue the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Expenditure Restraint Program has issued no guidelines and frozen the amount at the 2024 level.

The proposed 2023 tax levy of $1,334,588 without TID’s exceeds the Statue’s levy requirement of 0% plus net new construction (0.523% or $5,621). However, the Finance Committee has recommended approving a levy limit adjustment increase: Section D, Line E ($257,578) for Debt Service Levy for general obligation debt authorized after July 1, 2025.

This would bring the City into compliance with the allowable levy limit for the City. The Council approved the Levy limit Section D, Line E adjustment for Debt Service Levy for general obligation debt authorized after July 1, 2005 ($257,578).

They then approved to adopt the 2024 City Budget of $3,932,194 with $1,441,116 to be placed on the 2023 Tax Roll. The city will see a tax rate of roughly $10.17 per thousand dollars of evaluation.

Chief of Police Jim Mankowski reported on:

  • Coffee with A Cop;
  • Training;
  • A pre-employment background investigation for a part-time applicant;
  • Replace the computer server which was unbudgeted;
  • The new squad car has been picked up and accessory equipment is being installed;
  • October parking enforcement, citations, warning, incidents, office activity, calls, officer activity, business patrols, citizens interactions;
  • Town of Mentor contract policing.

Chief of Police Markowski reported on attending a World Relief Wisconsin meeting on October 23rd at the Eau Claire Library. World Relief Wisconsin announced that 75 Congo refugees will be moving to within 100 miles of Eau Claire on January 1, 2024.

A refugee is someone who is forced to flee their home country due to war, violence, persecution or well-founded fear. The U.S. Government screening process is extensive. They probably won’t be relocating in the Neillsville area, since we don’t have the services they have in Eau Claire.

The City Clerk presented a card from a “mature new kid on the block” complimenting the City and Beautification Committee on the Harvest Display around the clock by the Library.

The Council then heard the various Committee Reports. Council Member Barb Petkovsek reported on the October 24th meeting of the Grants Committee regarding:

  • Review and updated the list of grants in progress.

Council Member Clarissa Rochester reported on the October 26th meeting of the Heritage Days Committee regarding:

  • Discussion on and approved TD Happy Faces to do face painting for the 2024 event;
  • Discussion on donation letters;
  • And discussion on and hiring the bands Verge and Uncommon Determinator for Saturday night.

Council Member Clough reported on the November 14th meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding:

  • Current activities;
  • And discussion on and recommendation to install an overhead insulated garage door on the westside of the Water Department building at a cost of $16,575.

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