Goal would be to make departments more efficient

“We handed out the proposal for PAA services a month ago,” Stanley Clerk-Treasurer Cynthianna Bergman said during the Committee of the Whole meeting of council on Monday at the Stanley Fire Hall. The proposed organizational study by Public Administration Associates (PAA) LLC would look at each city department and make recommendations on how the department could run better. With all members present except for Second Ward Alderman Kent Barby, the Common Council ultimately struck item 10 from the agenda to approve or disapprove the proposed study, thereby postponing definitive action until a later date. Before it got there though, there was plenty of disagreement.

Bergman gave the council members a breakdown of the $7,900 total study cost, with $500 contributed by each city department to reach $3,000, and the other $4,900 in proposed costs coming out of “Law General Operating” funding, according to a handout included in the council packet. Stanley Police Chief Lance Weiland was among those present who had questions about the study.

“What does this plan do for the police department?” he asked, questioning the benefit of contributing $500 to the proposed study from the police budget. Gau and Bergman both endeavored to answer Weiland’s question, while on the council itself, at least two members also had their own reservations. Alderman Rick Hodowanic said he thought the council itself was able to do what the proposed study would, while outgoing First Ward Alderman Jesse Frey had his own concerns.

“I’m a little shy to spend this money because I won’t be here after the first week of April,” Frey said of the upcoming spring election. To cast his vote in favor, Frey said he needed to hear ‘yes’ from each department. Regarding the different affected city departments, Stanley Public Works Director John Hoel was not present at the meeting to give his input on the matter, and the others who were mostly listened, apart from Chief Weiland. For his own part, former interim deputy clerk Duane Gau of PAA had his own input.

“What’s happening is your city’s transitioning to an Administrator,” he said, saying that as part of the study the firm would talk with each city department head and employee, giving recommendations. The report was also said to be comprehensive in scope. At least one Council member seemed sold in part on the matter. “It’s going to get a lot more efficient,” Alderman Jacob Huff said, “and that’s what we want.” In the end during the regular session however, the council decided to table the matter until a later date, with item 10 to approve or disapprove the proposed PAA Organizational Study being struck from the regular meeting agenda, along with item number seven, to approve/disapprove action from the Committee as a Whole closed session held earlier.

In other council business, MSA withdrew its proposal related to WDNR Phosphorous Compliance on the part of the city, with the MSA associate having words of praise for City Wastewater Operator Nick Martin, saying that Martin could do the necessary reports and to go with his (Nick’s) proposal, which the council later did in its regular session, passing the proposal unanimously, Barby not being present to cast a vote.

The city also moved at its Monday meeting to approve the hiring of Jacob Sonnentag as a part time police officer, with Stanley police chief Lance Weiland saying that Sonnentag was a Stanley native and had recently graduated from CVTC, passing all the necessary tests for police work.

Finally, the city moved to renew its contract with Hydrocorp for Cross Connection services, the initial motion coming from Jesse Frey. Adjournment then followed, with Mayor Norm Christiansen making a call for those present to help rearrange the fire hall council chamber and prepare for the spring primary election the following day on February 18, his call quickly receiving a hearty and enthusiastic response from council members and others present.