[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6501826,"mediaKeyId","5732166-2eda6b9d1a3c0dcad13b834aef9e67fe","parentId",5732166,"title","New Richmond council approves charter ordinance shifting operational authority to city administrator while keeping elected mayor","audioSeconds",207,"startMs",94000,"endMs",301000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5732166-2eda6b9d1a3c0dcad13b834aef9e67fe&start=94&end=301","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5732166-2eda6b9d1a3c0dcad13b834aef9e67fe/thumbnail_94000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6501826/New-Richmond-City/St-Croix-County/Wisconsin/New-Richmond-council-approves-charter-ordinance-shifting-operational-authority-to-city-administrator-while-keeping-elected-mayor","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501826-fda14526836d89495d2248799d1160bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775621116&Signature=D783gXtAyn8BGMGa3IWIG4xHIwK71d2Fpa58sRyLsgAuFvFgG8Lo5lUYO6ivrfnozM9tlisORleMngNhO9Kr0zeWGX6xHjv2YG2pKOiRkZFjQHo28BHJ3AWZuyc8aGVXlu5RWLOdQZ~Zpz6DRPKVRloGRouaTHY~PJuawynJ4xtbpmbFhYHcnIDzrxV8pncBSGjeUspZ2yw54UKQlgtuxiBQKS0179s2Slz3q3QeKg0XObo32YysNbhVxPxU45Na391XYEtmqFxnCJcVZmxu1bKlYrCAa6m2aK9bFPAcGUtdKAJqAlDuSB93esN-hObLzoMQige8m2dhnCLAyC2i2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of New Richmond, WI","date","2025-09-03T13:51:56Z","article","New Richmond City Council on Sept. 8 approved Charter Ordinance 628, a proposal to change the city's form of government so that a professionally appointed city administrator would handle the city's daily operations while the mayor remains an elected, at-large official and votes on all matters.

City Administrator Noah outlined the proposal in a public hearing, saying, \"this is our, fourth time, discussing the possible change in form of government.\" He told the council the draft ordinance would remove statutory mayoral authority over police and fire so those departments \"would no longer, be under the statutory authority of the mayor. They would be, just like any other department in the city.\" Noah added that the police and fire commission would retain authority over hiring, promotions and discipline for those departments.

The draft ordinance keeps the mayor as an at-large elected position with the same two-year term in the current draft, preserves the mayor's ceremonial duties and adds the mayor as a full voting member rather than voting only to break ties. Noah said citizens would continue to elect six alderpersons by district and could still nominate candidates for upcoming elections under current timelines.

During public comment, resident John Walsh of 1410 Falcon Place urged the council to ensure members were well informed before voting and said the community's growth justified examining the change: \"...maybe it's time to be a little more progressive and and consider something different.\" Resident Wendy Smallidge, 315 Graton Road, asked the council for its opinion; the council invited speakers to use the microphone and state names and addresses before speaking.

Police leadership spoke in support of the operational change as a protection for departmental continuity. The police chief said the arrangement would provide \"consistency of the day to day operations and having 1 person to answer to that I know is there Monday through Friday and available on the weekends,\" saying that arrangement helps with oversight and public safety continuity.

Council discussion touched on term lengths and local precedent. Several alderpersons described the draft as a compromise between retaining an elected mayor as the community's visible leader and creating a professionally managed administration for day-to-day operations. One alderman suggested changing the mayoral term to three years; councilors agreed the ordinance as drafted (two-year mayoral term) could be amended later and that any amendment would require a formal motion.

A motion to approve Charter Ordinance 628 pending final legal review and to suspend the rules was made and seconded. The ordinance was noticed as a charter ordinance subject to a class 1 public notice and a 60-day period; Noah stated the 60-day waiting period would conclude on 2025-11-17 if the council approved the charter ordinance tonight and it passed legal review. The council conducted a roll-call vote with the following recorded: Mayor Jim Zukowski, Alderman Vries, Alderman Weinmeier, Alderman Gartner, Alderman Volkert, Alderman Montello and Alderman Kittle all voting yes. The motion passed.

The ordinance will be submitted for final legal review by the city attorney and sent to the Department of Administration per charter-ordinance procedure; the city clerk will publish the required class 1 notice in the newspaper.

No formal ballot or implementation date was adopted at the meeting beyond the procedural notices described by staff; council members and staff said the proposal would return for any further legal or procedural steps needed.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Council - 08 Sep 2025","oneSentenceSummary","New Richmond City Council on Sept. 8 approved Charter Ordinance 628, a proposal to change the city's form of government so that a professionally appointed city administrator would handle the city's daily operations while the mayor remains an elected, at-large official and votes on all matters.","taxTitle","New Richmond City, St. Croix County, Wisconsin","taxId",63707,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6501821,"Council approves final plat, tourism grants, utility contract and equipment leases; moves into closed session",447,2233000,2680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5732166-2eda6b9d1a3c0dcad13b834aef9e67fe&start=2233&end=2680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5732166-2eda6b9d1a3c0dcad13b834aef9e67fe/thumbnail_2233000.jpg","/articles/6501821/New-Richmond-City/St-Croix-County/Wisconsin/Council-approves-final-plat-tourism-grants-utility-contract-and-equipment-leases-moves-into-closed-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501821-f8ecdf257afb7423751fbc63fa789aa8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775621116&Signature=fyVMxvvKtlHObTlMsQaFZQolHHK1Cx8iO7wKy5rbkwZXsL8FltMWiV3~CMffN8NAjrV-XKHe6FUIXuV4XSAjJIB4i3V~hkac9v-FZHkWlZF3t3eDgJm6op0fl5rbDBmSeVulNOIQTcrEAKZVdrmkNCbav8lBLeSsuS7qbKBb3IfdXXtrV3SqUlYqU4hmQhGHfpU5MKxbQ4o1L9OQQddwBasGkLfVijy7u4YcFsxwk1oIREQt3Xa4Ql3~khHIdm4VvTWwogaq2ZvnuuzOwkzBR6K73vnWXPpSYDMTXXCUHnoj-Qr-yvzdBLjYgIEFYfiP7jUx4LievZ9r3tzk99Mz8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Richmond City Council approved several routine and project-specific items on Sept. 8, including a final plat for a 55-plus development, tourism funding awards, a utility construction contract and a two-year lease for an automated field striping machine. The council also voted to enter closed session under state statute at the end of the meeting.

Consent agenda and donations: The council approved the consent agenda, which included two donations to the canine fund: $1,500 from Jane Larson and $500 from Steven Takach. The consent agenda motion passed by voice vote; no roll-call names were recorded in the transcript for this item.

Final plat: The council approved a final plat application from Saint Croix Homes for a 2.3-acre development to be called Cattel Villas, a 55-plus community composed of 10 twin-home lots to be accessed by a private drive onto Ponderosa Lane. Staff recommended approval with nine conditions listed in the staff memo; stormwater, utilities and landscaping reviews were reported as approved by staff and consultants. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with all voting members recorded as yes.

Tourism funding: The tourism committee recommended funding three applications: Northwood Technical College (community connections event) requesting $4,223; New Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce (park art fair) requesting $83.13; and a city staff request for $2,000 to expand Visit New Richmond marketing. The committee recommended a total of $14,536.73 from an available $42,008.28, leaving roughly $28,000 carryover. The council approved the committee's recommendations by roll-call vote; all members present voted yes.

Utility contract (underground conduit and fiber): The council approved awarding the low bid to TDI for $46,902 to install conduit and fiber serving three wells and the wastewater treatment plant. Staff noted in-house hardware and conduit supply costs of about $7,100, bringing total project costs slightly above the $50,000 CIP estimate. The utility commission had reviewed the bids and recommended award; the council approved the award by roll-call vote with all members voting yes.

Automated field striper lease: The council authorized a two-year lease for an automated field striper at $16,000 per year; the lease includes 280 gallons of paint. After two years, the city would have the option to purchase the machine with reductions (a credit described in the memo as $11,500 per year), yielding a potential purchase price of $38,000. Staff and the public works committee recommended the lease; the council approved the item by roll call.

Closed session: Toward the meeting's end the council voted to go into closed session \"per state statute 19.85(1)(e)\" (executive deliberations). A roll-call vote recorded yes votes from all aldermen listed; the council went into closed session.

","The New Richmond City Council approved a final plat for a 55-plus development, tourism funding recommendations, a utility contract for underground conduit and fiber, and a two-year lease for an automated field striper. The council also voted to go into closed session under state statute.","actionData","errors"]

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New Richmond council approves charter ordinance shifting operational authority to city administrator while keeping elected mayor

Council approves final plat, tourism grants, utility contract and equipment leases; moves into closed session