Kiel council approves routine hires, equipment purchases and training requests in unanimous votes

The Kiel City Council approved a series of routine personnel appointments, equipment purchases and training authorizations on 2025-02-24, including hiring, vehicle and IT purchases, and travel for training. Most items were budgeted and passed by unanimous or voice votes.

Key approvals and outcomes included:

• Resolution 2025-01: Adopted the county hazard mitigation plan as presented (listed in packet as "Resolution 20 5-01"); motion moved by Broker and seconded by Greer. The transcript lists the plan name as the county Hazard Mitigation Plan; the meeting packet was referenced for details. The roll call was recorded in favor (motion carries).

• IT servers and hardware: Approved purchase of computer servers and related IT hardware from Prostech for multiple city departments at a cost of $37,945. Motion carried 4-0 (mover: Schuette; second: Broker).

• Personnel hires and promotions: Approved hiring Dylan Niemer as a part-time police officer contingent on background and medical/drug screening with a start date of March 1; approved hiring Abigail Wilharms as utility clerk with a start date of Feb. 27 at a midpoint rate (stated in the meeting as $28.80); approved wastewater treatment plant employee Jesse Vilucas to move to 90% on the wage progression scale effective March 1. All were approved by voice or roll call.

• Training and travel: Approved Sergeant Ben Haas to attend a Wisconsin DOJ firearms instructor update on March 12 in Appleton; approved SRO Goldbach to attend the Wisconsin Juvenile Officers Association training on March 7–8 in Wisconsin Dells; approved City Administrator Funkhouser to attend the Wisconsin City/County Management Association conference Feb. 27–28 in Middleton. All training requests were approved.

• Vehicles and equipment: Approved purchase of a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD dump truck for the Department of Public Works from Vogel Chevrolet for $56,545 (motion carried). Approved security camera upgrades for the Kiel Police Department from Prostech for $18,303.91; packet noted the system had failed and the purchase was budgeted for 2025 (over budget by ~$303.91, chief indicated he could cover the overage).

• Other administrative items: Authorized General Manager August to post employment notice for an open lead lineman position for Kiel Utilities; approved a $500 donation from an anonymous citizen to the Kiel Police Department to be used for meals at department meetings; approved receipts and disbursements and the regular bills and pay schedules. Most motions were carried unanimously.

Motion details, movers, seconds and roll-call tallies are recorded in the council minutes and are summarized here from the meeting transcript and packet. Several items were described as previously reviewed at the Committee of the Whole and as included in the council packet.