West Bend Common Council swears in four aldermen, elects council president and approves appointments

At its April 15, 2025 meeting, the West Bend Common Council swore in four aldermen, elected John Butchlick as council president and approved a series of committee and administrative appointments, including the city comptroller and the city’s official newspaper designation.

The actions reorganize council leadership and fill required administrative posts. By state statute, the council must appoint a city comptroller and designate an official newspaper; the council addressed both items during the meeting.

Rhett Engelking was sworn in as the District 2 alderman. Matthew (Matt) Sternig was sworn in as the District 4 alderman. John Spartz was sworn in as the District 6 alderman. Aaron Zingsheim was sworn in as the District 8 alderman. Each repeated the oath of office during the meeting and the council welcomed the newly sworn members.

Following the oath, the council selected its internal leadership. John Butchlick was nominated and elected by voice vote to serve as council president. The council also appointed Butchlick to serve as chair of the Board of Public Works. Matthew Sternig was appointed chair of the finance committee.

By motion and voice vote the council approved the mayor’s appointment of Carrie Winkelbauer as city comptroller. The council designated the Washington County Daily News as the city’s official newspaper. The council also adopted, by motion, a resolution designating the city’s public depositories; the resolution appeared in the meeting packet and the council voted to suspend reading and accept the document as presented.

The mayor recommended Alderman Sternig and Alderman Sparks be appointed to the Plan Commission; the council approved those appointments. The council also approved the slate of appointments to boards, committees and commissions contained in the packet with the only change noted being Alderman Ingle King added to the bid board and the Tourism Commission in place of positions formerly held by Alderman Allen.

The mayor told the council he had asked the city’s candidate search firm for the number of applicants for a forthcoming review; he had not received a reply by the meeting. The firm has proposed the week of May 19 for closed-session interviews of applicants; the mayor said the exact date likely will be scheduled for a council evening and asked members for scheduling conflicts. He said the final interview date will be confirmed once the firm responds.

Votes at a glance

- Election of John Butchlick as council president — voice vote; motion carried. - Appointment of John Butchlick as Board of Public Works chair — motion carried (moved by Alderman Sparks; second by Alderman Schmidt). - Appointment of Matthew Sternig as finance committee chair — motion carried (moved by Alderman Bergquist; second by Alderman Sizer). - Appointment of Carrie Winkelbauer as city comptroller — motion carried (moved by Alderman Zingsheim; second by Alderman Sternig). - Designation of Washington County Daily News as official city newspaper — motion carried (moved by Alderman Sternig; second by Alderman Sizer). - Resolution designating public depositories (suspend reading and accept resolution in packet) — motion carried (moved by Alderman Sternig; second by Alderman Zingsheim). - Appointment of Alderman Sternig and Alderman Sparks to the Plan Commission — motion carried (moved by Alderman Zingsheim; second by Alderman Burquist). - Approval of appointments to boards, committees and commissions (packet) with noted change: Alderman Ingle King on bid board and Tourism Commission — motion carried (moved by Alderman Sternig; second by Alderman Butchlick).

The meeting concluded with the mayor noting the council’s tentative interview week in May and a reminder that the council’s next regular meeting would be held later in April; the meeting record in the transcript did not clearly state a single final calendar date. The council adjourned that evening.