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Marshfield fire chief outlines referendum outreach to restore two firefighter positions
Summary
Fire Chief Wheeler said staff have prepared mailed flyers, FAQs, a website and three public listening sessions as part of outreach for a referendum to restore two firefighter positions eliminated in February 2021.
Fire Chief Wheeler told the Marshfield Common Council on Feb. 25 that city staff have finalized outreach materials and are preparing a series of public listening sessions ahead of a referendum asking voters to restore two firefighter positions that were cut in February 2021.
Wheeler said a two-sided flyer and a frequently asked questions handout are in print and will be mailed to every address in the city—about 8,808 households—and that a referendum page on the city website will host materials and listening-session dates. "Please know that city staff have been working diligently to raise awareness about the critical need to restore the 2 firefighter positions that were lost in 02/2021," Wheeler said.
The chief said the outreach also will explain items he described as relevant to the request, including "FPA 17, ISO, and other things" the referendum addresses. He also said the communications director and staff are preparing notices to avoid any appearance of a walking quorum for council or the police-and-fire commission at sessions.
Wheeler listed three listening sessions scheduled for 6:30 p.m.: March 6 at the UW–Stevens Point Marshfield Campus, Room 127, 2000 W. Fifth St.; March 13 in the Central Ballroom at Hotel Marshfield, 207 S. Central Ave.; and March 20 in the Drendel Room at the Second Street Community Center, 211 E. Second St. He said the presentation for those meetings has been pared down from a November council presentation to focus on referendum material.
The chief said the communications department is coordinating media outreach including a scheduled segment on NewsChannel 7 and radio interviews with Central Wisconsin Broadcasting covering Marshfield and Neillsville. He also said firefighters will do door-to-door outreach in neighborhoods and that staff will speak at community sites such as retirement homes.
Wheeler declined to say the referendum filing status was not an issue but noted staff waited until after primary elections to publish materials to avoid confusion. He did not request council action at the Feb. 25 meeting and no vote was taken.
The update concluded with Wheeler encouraging attendance at the listening sessions and thanking staff and the communications department for preparing materials.
