Neillsville affirms sewer department compliance, outlines lift station and lining upgrades

The City of Neillsville on June 23 accepted its Sewer Department's 2025 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report and recommended adoption of Resolution No. 648 to inform the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that the report was reviewed and accepted. The commission and council recorded unanimous votes to approve the action.

Director of Public Works Friemoth told the Commission on Public Works/Utilities that the system earned an overall grade point average of 3.81 and "remained in compliance across all areas," while identifying two continuing concerns: excessive inflow and infiltration that raise flows during wet periods and one phosphorus exceedance that occurred during maintenance of a mixing basin. Friemoth outlined near‑term projects meant to address system vulnerabilities, including sewer lining, SCADA and remote monitoring upgrades, sewer main and manhole rehabilitation on Ferguson and W. Second Streets, upgrades to RAS/WAS control panels, improvements to the Black River Lift Station and a generator upgrade at the Twelfth Street Lift Station.

The commission first reviewed the CMAR and recommended the Common Council adopt Resolution No. 648; the council later accepted that recommendation with a unanimous vote. No fines, litigation or enforcement actions were reported in the meeting record; Friemoth said the facility remained in compliance. The approved resolution states the council reviewed the attached CMAR and will notify the DNR per standard reporting procedures.

Council and commission members did not set firm start dates or budgets for the listed sewer projects during the meeting; Friemoth indicated they are planned future projects. The report and related resolution now become part of the city's official submittal to the Wisconsin DNR. The council adjourned after completing its consent and business agenda.