Public works director retirement acknowledged; assistant named interim and closed session set on vehicle tracking

The City Council acknowledged a retirement letter from Public Works Director Ted Brokaw effective Sept. 2, 2025, and unanimously recorded the acknowledgement. Councilors then voted to appoint Assistant Public Works Director Mike Wallace as interim public works director upon Brokaw’s retirement and agreed to consider compensation for the interim assignment at the Sept. 2 council meeting.

Separately, the mayor brought forward a concern that GPS tracking devices had been installed on certain Public Works vehicles without consent. City legal staff (council staff) said a closed meeting is available to discuss potential misconduct and instructed the council on the posting requirements. The council approved a special closed meeting to investigate the matter and receive legal guidance; the motion set that closed session for the coming Friday at 10:00 a.m. to allow attorney guidance and a confidential review.

Councilors who spoke emphasized continuity of operations and the need to review compensation for added responsibilities. Human-resources staff offered to prepare a compensation recommendation for council consideration; councilors asked that any compensation recommendation be brought back prior to or at the Sept. 2 meeting. The council’s appointment of an interim director was framed as a temporary, stop-gap step to preserve department operations while the council works through long-term staffing and budget questions.

Actions taken tonight were administrative: the retirement letter was acknowledged; Mike Wallace was designated interim public works director effective upon Brokaw’s retirement; and the council scheduled a closed session to review allegations about vehicle tracking. No disciplinary findings or personnel actions were taken in open session; the closed meeting was intended to allow confidential review and legal counsel.