Public Meetings - Monroe, Wisconsin

The Finance and Taxation Committee met on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 5:32 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included a closed session for three confidential business items, followed by open session actions. All four members (Heidi Treuthardt, Richard Thoman, Matt Sheaffer, Dylan McGuire) were present. The meeting adjourned at 6:04 PM. Consent Calendar - The minutes from the March 9, 2026 meeting were accepted as presented without correction. Public Comments & Testimony - None were recorded. Discussion Items - The committee entered closed session at 5:34 PM under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(E) to discuss: - Consideration of a letter of interest to purchase a 5-acre parcel in the North Industrial Park. - Discussion regarding failure to meet purchaser obligations in the 2016 Raskovic Development Agreement for land purchase and development in the North Industrial Park. - Consideration of farm lease terms along CTH N. - The committee returned from closed session at 6:01 PM. Key Outcomes - Raskovic Development Agreement: A motion (by Sheaffer, seconded by McGuire) to recommend to the Common Council for approval of an action related to the developer's agreement passed unanimously (4-0). - Letter of Interest to Purchase City Property: No action was taken on the letter of interest for the 5-acre parcel. - Farm Leases Along CTH N: A motion (by Sheaffer, seconded by McGuire) to recommend to the Common Council for approval of the farm lease terms passed unanimously (4-0).

The Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee met on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 5:20 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. The committee considered a proposed ordinance to allow the sale of fermented malt beverages (beer) by city employees in city parks, initially for the Fourth of July concert event. After discussion, the committee voted unanimously (4-0) to recommend the ordinance to the Common Council. Consent Calendar - The minutes from the February 23, 2026 meeting were approved as presented. Discussion Items - Ordinance Repealing and Recreating Sections 3-4-1 and 3-4-9, and Creating Section 3-4-10 of the Monroe City Code: Sale of Fermented Malt Beverages by City Employees in City Parks - City Administrator Rindy provided an overview, noting the ordinance was developed at the request of the Park Board and with guidance from the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. The purpose is to allow the city to sell beer during the Fourth of July concert event at Twining Park, with potential for future events. - Matt Skibba, Parks and Recreation Director, explained that the Park Board would approve alcohol sales on an event-by-event basis. City staff would serve and handle sales; the city would purchase alcohol from a distributor, and revenue would go to the Park and Recreation budget. - Committee members discussed the scope: this would not be for every event but could be expanded if successful. The Fourth of July concert would be a trial run. - Skibba clarified that existing shelter rentals already include an alcohol permit for personal consumption, but this ordinance would allow the city to sell alcohol to the public at large events. - Staff would obtain bartender licenses; one seasonal employee already holds one. Overtime would not be incurred as salaried staff would work within their schedules and hourly staff would be scheduled accordingly. - Committee member noted that other communities like Monona and Milwaukee already have similar practices. The mayor had previously directed increased use of the band shell, and this could support that goal. - The concert is scheduled from noon to 2 PM, but committee member Miller suggested trying 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Initial consultation with Police Officer Fultz indicated no major concerns. Business Presented by Members - Administrator Rindy informed the committee that the Plan Commission has made recommendations for ordinance changes related to residential zoning codes, which will be presented at a future meeting after further updates. Key Outcomes - Motion to approve the ordinance and recommend to Common Council: Motion by Kleven, seconded by McGuire. Passed 4-0 (Ayes: Lynne Kleven, Tom Miller, Dylan McGuire, Heidi Treuthardt; Noes: None; Absent: None; Abstained: None). - The matter will now proceed to the Common Council for a public hearing and final action. - The meeting adjourned at 5:32 PM.

The Board of Public Works of Monroe, Wisconsin, met on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 5:05 PM in Council Chambers. All four members were present: Tom Miller, Lynne Kleven, Richard Thoman, and Matt Sheaffer. The meeting lasted approximately 8 minutes. The board unanimously approved all agenda items, including a tree service invoice, a new pickup truck purchase for the Parks Department, renewal of the WisDOT salt agreement, and a traffic paint contract for 2026. Correction of Minutes - The minutes from the February 23, 2026, meeting were accepted as presented without changes. Approval of Bills - Whitney Tree Service: The board approved payment of an invoice for $12,173 for tree removals. Motion by Thoman, second by Kleven. Passed 4-0. Discussion Items D.1 Purchase of a 2026 Pickup Truck Parks Supervisor Josh Trame presented four bids for replacing a 2009 Chevy extended cab pickup truck. The recommended bid was a GMC truck from Ewald Group at a cost of $43,552. Funding is available from 2026 capital bonds ($50,000 budgeted). The board voted to recommend the purchase to Common Council and to sell the 2009 truck via Wisconsin Surplus Auction. Motion by Thoman, second by Sheaffer. Passed 4-0. E.1 Approval to Participate in the 2026-2027 WisDOT Salt Agreement Streets Supervisor Lucas Neuenschwander reported that the city plans to order approximately 1,000 tons of salt (with a 200-ton reserve) under the annual renewal. The previous year's price was $117.58 per ton, and a slight increase is expected. The board approved participation in the agreement. Motion by Miller, second by Sheaffer. Passed 4-0. E.2 Approval of Traffic Paint Quote for 2026 Season Neuenschwander received quotes from four vendors (Tapco, Diamond Vogel, Sherwin-Williams, and Sherwin Industries). Diamond Vogel did not submit a quote. Sherwin-Williams was the low bid at $13,540, and the city has used their product for over a dozen years. The board approved the contract with Sherwin-Williams. Motion by Kleven, second by Sheaffer. Passed 4-0. Key Outcomes - Approved Whitney Tree Service invoice ($12,173). - Approved purchase of 2026 GMC pickup truck ($43,552) from Ewald Group and sale of old truck on Wisconsin Surplus. - Approved renewal of WisDOT salt agreement for 2026-2027. - Approved traffic paint contract with Sherwin-Williams ($13,540). - All votes were unanimous (4-0). - The meeting adjourned at 5:13 PM.

The Monroe Public Safety Committee met on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 4:55 PM in the Council Chambers. Members present: Lynne Kleven, Craig Franke, and Matt Sheaffer. Corinne Wartenweiler was absent. The meeting lasted approximately three minutes and concluded with unanimous approval of two special event permits. Consent Calendar - Correction of Minutes (March 9, 2026): Approved as presented without objection. Discussion Items - Approval and Recommendation of Special Event Permit: Main Street Monroe's April Wine Walk - The permit is for an event on April 24, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The committee noted this is a twice-annual event and that the police and fire departments raised no issues. A motion to approve and recommend to Common Council passed 3-0 (Kleven, Franke, Sheaffer in favor). - Approval and Recommendation of Special Event Permit: ARC - Green County's Monroe Balloons and Music Festival - The permit is for June 19–20, 2026, at the Green County Fairgrounds. Discussion noted the event had taken a one-to-two-year hiatus, likely due to COVID, and has been run by the same organization for three to four years since returning. Police and fire departments had no concerns. A motion to approve and recommend to Common Council passed 3-0 (Kleven, Franke, Sheaffer in favor). Key Outcomes - Both special event permits were unanimously recommended to the Common Council. - The meeting adjourned at 4:58 PM by a 3-0 vote.

The License Committee of the City of Monroe met on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 4:45 PM in Council Chambers. Present were Christopher Vestin and Tom Miller; absent were Corinne Wartenweiler and Richard Thoman. The committee approved two temporary alcohol licenses for upcoming community events. Call to Order & Minutes - The meeting was called to order at 4:45 PM. Minutes from the February 23, 2026 meeting were accepted as presented. Discussion & Recommendations - C.1 – ARC Green County Balloons and Music Festival: The committee discussed a Temporary Class B fermented malt beverage and wine license and beer garden application for the annual balloon rally scheduled for June 19-20, 2026, covering the entire fairgrounds. A motion to recommend approval to the Common Council passed 2-0. - C.2 – Main Street Monroe's April Wine Walk: The committee discussed a Temporary Class B license and beer garden application for the April Wine Walk on April 24, 2026, covering 20 locations as outlined. The application was noted to be consistent with past events. A motion to recommend approval passed 2-0. Key Outcomes - Both license applications were approved unanimously (2-0) and will be forwarded to the Common Council for final action. - The meeting adjourned at 4:50 PM.

The Monroe Police and Fire Commission met on March 18, 2026, at 2:00 PM to discuss the recruitment and timeline for hiring a new police chief. The meeting began with a closed session under Wis. Stats. §19.85(1)(c) to consider candidate qualifications, followed by an open discussion on next steps. Discussion Items - Recruitment and Interview Timeline: The Commission discussed scheduling interview panels for police chief candidates. They proposed two interview panels with stakeholders from the community, service providers, and city government. Candidates would rotate between panels, followed by a debrief session to compare notes and seek consensus. - Proposed Dates and Times: Potential interview dates were identified as Thursday, April 9, or Thursday, April 16, 2026, with a preference for afternoon sessions (1:00 PM to 4:00 PM). Concerns were raised about potential election recounts on April 7 but were deemed manageable. The timeline allows approximately one month for preparation and panel availability. - Interview Process Details: Each interview would last 30–40 minutes, with additional time for panel briefing and transitions. The Commission planned to circulate stock questions from prior interviews for review and approval; panelists could also suggest questions tailored to their perspectives. Staff were asked to verify that all candidates meet the minimum job requirements. - Future Considerations: The Commission noted the need to plan for a public announcement of any final decision, which may involve a conditional offer and further conditions. This will be addressed at a future meeting. Key Outcomes - The Commission agreed to proceed with scheduling interviews on April 9 or April 16, 2026, in the afternoon (1:00–4:00 PM). - The administrator was directed to prepare a draft set of interview questions for commissioner review via email and to coordinate with panelists. - Staff were instructed to confirm candidate qualifications against the job description. - A motion to adjourn was passed unanimously.

The Monroe Police and Fire Commission met on March 18, 2026 at 2:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included a roll call establishing a quorum, approval of the previous meeting minutes, and a brief open discussion before the Commission moved into closed session to consider qualifications of police chief candidates. No public comments were heard. Consent Calendar - Approval of Minutes – February 12, 2026: The minutes from the previous meeting were approved by voice vote with no additions or corrections. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public provided comments or testimony. Discussion Items - Closed Session Procedure and Candidate Involvement: Prior to moving into closed session, the Commission briefly discussed whether outgoing Police Chief Kelly should be present for the candidate review. It was decided that the Commission would first review the two candidates independently, without the Chief's input, to avoid any perception of prejudice or undue influence. The Commission then considered a motion to enter closed session under Wis. Stats. §19.85(1)(c) to discuss employment, promotion, or performance evaluation data of public employees, specifically to discuss applications for the position of Police Chief. - Open Session Item D.1 (Recruitment and Timeline): The agenda listed an open session discussion on recruitment and timeline for the Police Chief candidate, but the Commission did not address this item in open session before entering closed session. The item was effectively deferred to a future meeting or handled within the closed discussion. Key Outcomes - Motion to Approve Minutes: Approved by voice vote (all in favor, none opposed). - Motion to Enter Closed Session: Moved and seconded, with a roll call vote resulting in 4 yes votes (Dave Denninger, Robin McLeish, Jerry Gooth, Amanda Fields) and no no votes. Greg Fetters is not recorded as voting, but quorum was established with five members present. The motion carried, and the Commission entered closed session at approximately 2:05 PM to review Police Chief candidate qualifications.

The Common Council of the City of Monroe met on Monday, March 16, 2026 at 6:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. All nine alderpersons were present. The meeting featured annual reports from the Fire and Police Departments, approval of a retirement resolution, committee updates, and a closed session for the City Administrator's performance evaluation. All votes were unanimous (9-0) unless noted. Consent Calendar - Approved 9-0: Misc Licenses and Claims List. Discussion Items - Fire Department Annual Report (Chief Rufer): The department has 20 active members (net positive). Call volume was 365 calls, down 3.5–4% from 2024, with 59% EMS-related. Of 150 fire incidents, only three required water flow. Public education hours increased 56% over 2024, and total training hours exceeded 1,600. The department completed SCBA flow testing and transitioned to electronic inspection software. Firefighter/EMR Cheryl Gasman was recognized as Wisconsin EMR of the Year. The strategic plan is a 10-year marathon; recruitment and retention remain ongoing priorities. - Police Department Annual Report (Chief Kelley): This was Chief Kelley's final annual report after 31 years. The department handles approximately 13,000 calls for service annually, with the busiest shift being 3–11 PM. Crimes against persons and property both decreased slightly. Specific increases: aggravated assaults and simple assaults; decreases: sexual assaults, no human trafficking, less simple thefts. Motor vehicle thefts increased. Staffing is determined by a mathematical formula based on call volume, not per capita ratios. - Special Committee Reports: Alder Sheaffer reported the Plan Commission is working on zoning code simplification and has discussed drive-throughs in the historic district; Park & Rec Board will discuss dogs in parks. Alder Miller complimented the Monroe Theatre Guild's recent performance. Alder McGuire reported the RDA discussed extending the grant program to non-owner-occupied properties but decided to explore revolving loans instead due to limited funds. Alder Thoman noted St. Patrick's Day events and the GCDC annual meeting. - Department Heads: Chief Rufer announced that fire vehicles (Engine 3, Car 12) have been sold for a total of $12,000–$13,000, with proceeds going to the general fund. He introduced new Deputy Fire Chief Dan Perdue, who has 20 years of fire service experience and 10 years in EMS. Clerk Wahl reminded that the election is April 7, in-person absentee voting starts March 24, and there will be no meeting on March 30 (fifth Monday). Key Outcomes - Resolution Recognizing Brad Zimmerman: Approved 9-0, honoring his 28.5 years of service. - Consent Agenda: Approved 9-0. - Treasurer's Report: Accepted as presented. - Closed Session: Motion to enter closed session at 7:16 PM under Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) for the City Administrator's performance evaluation passed 9-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:43 PM with no further business. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public appeared.

The Monroe Redevelopment Authority (RDA) met on March 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included approval of the previous meeting's minutes, a financial report, and a detailed discussion on potentially expanding the home improvement grant program to support non-owner occupied blighted properties. No formal votes were taken, but the committee directed staff to research a revolving loan program as an alternative. Consent Calendar - The minutes from the September 15, 2025, meeting were approved unanimously as presented. No corrections were offered. Discussion Items - Financial Report (Item C.2): Administrator Rindy presented the financial tracking report. Key figures included: - Fund balance of $183,000 as of the end of 2024. - This is the final year of a payment from the city related to the Alice Place project, which is $60,000 less than previous payments. - An expense of $23,008 was recorded for two grants that have been paid out. - One pending grant of $8,000 is yet to be paid. - Projected fund balance after additional revenue and impending expenditures would be approximately $254,000. - Discussion on Expanding Grant Program to Non-Owner Occupied Blighted Residences (Item C.1): - City Administrator introduced the topic, noting that the current Home Improvement Program (HIP) only supports owner-occupied properties within RDA Project Area 1. The proposal was to consider extending support to non-owner occupied (rental) properties to address housing needs and encourage investment. - Key positions expressed by members: - Dave Whartonweiler stated his opinion had changed and he would not support grants for non-owner occupied properties. - Ron Markham expressed opposition to non-owner occupied grants, but indicated openness to a revolving loan program if it could be structured with interest. - Corey Kunert leaned against the idea, questioning whether allocating resources this way would have the greatest impact and noting potential administrative burden. - Melissa Evan suggested she would support exploring a revolving loan program further, but was not opposed to grants in principle, though limited funds were a concern. - A specific case was discussed where a resident is not the owner (parents own the home) but could benefit from assistance; the committee noted complications in distinguishing such cases from rental properties. - Discussion contrasted grants (which deplete funds) versus revolving loans (which could replenish funds). The Administrator noted that low-interest revolving loans might be less attractive to potential users and could add administrative complexity, especially if not paired with a bank partner. - The committee generally felt the grant approach was not favored, but a revolving loan program might provide a long-term funding mechanism and support commercial/rental properties with payback. Key Outcomes - No formal motions or votes were made. The committee did not approve expanding the grant program to non-owner occupied properties. - The Administrator was directed to conduct further research, including: - Discussing with local banks about the feasibility and administration of a revolving loan program. - Gauging interest from potential users (landlords and property owners) to determine if a loan would be an adequate incentive. - Exploring thresholds to limit the percentage of RDA funds allocated to commercial/non-owner occupied projects to preserve funds for owner-occupied needs. - The committee will revisit the topic after staff completes this research. The direction was summarized as not warm to grants, but open to a revolving loan option if it proves viable and not overly burdensome.