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Tomahawk council adopts police use-of-force policy, authorizes CDBG application
Summary
The Tomahawk Common Council unanimously adopted a resolution prohibiting the use of excessive force by police against participants in nonviolent civil rights demonstrations, authorized a Community Development Block Grant application for the Nelson Land water relay (25% city match, 75% grant), and approved a residential anti-displacement plan.
The Tomahawk Common Council on April 15 unanimously adopted a resolution stating the city will prohibit the use of excessive force against people engaged in nonviolent civil rights demonstrations and will enforce state and local laws that bar physically blocking entrances and exits.
Clerk/Treasurer Amanda L. Bartz explained the resolution and said, "The Tomahawk Police Department prohibits the use of excessive force against any individuals engaged in nonviolent civil rights demonstrations and will enforce state and local laws against physically barring entrance to or exit from a facility or location which is subject to such nonviolent civil rights demonstrations within the Tomahawk Police Department jurisdiction if the demonstrators are lawfully there." The council voted to adopt the measure unanimously.
The resolution cites federal housing-law provisions tied to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding requirements (Section 104(I)(1) of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. §5304) as part of its rationale for adopting the policy.
At the same meeting the council also approved an authorizing resolution to submit a CDBG application for the Nelson Land water relay project. The Board of Public Works had earlier told the council the expected funding split is 25% city match and 75% grant funding. Patricia Haskin moved to adopt the authorizing resolution and Mickey Loka seconded; the motion passed unanimously.
The council adopted the Wisconsin Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan after Clerk Bartz reviewed it. Mickey Loka moved to adopt the plan as written; Patricia Haskin seconded and the vote was unanimous.
Votes at a glance: all votes reported in the meeting were unanimous. Notable actions included adoption of the excessive-force resolution; authorization to apply for CDBG funds for the Nelson Land water relay (25% city/75% grant); and adoption of the anti-displacement plan.
Other administrative approvals at the April 15 meeting included operator (bartender) license approvals; event permits for the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus (July 5, 2025), Tomahawk Main Street Customer Appreciation (Aug. 16, 2025) and Tomahawk Main Street Oktoberfest (Oct. 11, 2025); designation of official depositories (Crossbridge Community Bank; Park City Credit Union; Incredible Bank; Association Bank; Local Government Investment Pool); and naming the Tomahawk Leader as the city's official newspaper. The council also disallowed a claim from Harley Davidson dated April 7, 2024.
The CDBG application will be submitted according to the adopted authorizing resolution; additional steps and timelines for the Nelson Land water relay project were not specified during the meeting. The council set its next regular meetings for April 29, 2025 (5:00 p.m.) and May 6, 2025 (5:30 p.m.).
