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Algoma council approves promotion, volunteer stipends and Toro mower; cemetery funds discussed
Summary
Council approved a public-services promotion and a resolution setting stipends for Oakmont volunteers, and voted to purchase a Toro commercial mower for Parks & Rec; staff also discussed using perpetual-care cemetery funds for summer work.
The City of Algoma Common Council on Dec. 17 approved multiple personnel and procurement items: a promotion of a public services administrator to public services manager, a resolution establishing stipends for Oakmont Fire Service volunteers, and the purchase of a Toro Commercial 500 series lawnmower for Parks and Recreation. Council also discussed using the cemetery perpetual care fund for summer work.
Actions approved: Council moved and seconded the promotion of the public services administrator to public services manager; roll-call votes were recorded in the transcript and the motion carried. The council also approved Resolution 12-12-2024 to set stipends for Oakmont Fire Service volunteers and approved the purchase of a Toro mower for Parks and Rec.
Cemetery funding and equipment plan: Parks and Recreation staff (speaker 5) told the council that the department intends to order a Toro instead of a Hustler, noting the Toro’s five-year warranty and roughly $1,500 lower price. Staff described a plan to move a 60-inch mower from parks to the cemetery and to replace the cemetery’s larger mower to improve access between grave markers. The presentation included a note that the cemetery’s perpetual care fund held about $53,000 invested until June; staff asked for approval to use funds to lock in a rate with Northeast Asphalt for summer work.
Personnel and process notes: During the personnel discussion the council referenced Wisconsin Statute 19.85(c) for personnel deliberations; staff confirmed the process for promotions and separations of duties within public works. The council also moved to advance a segregation-of-duties action related to the public works director and senior positions.
Votes and approvals: The clerk recorded the motions and votes on the promotion, the volunteer-stipend resolution and the mower purchase; the transcript lists members by name as they voted yes or no. The Toro purchase and the volunteer stipend resolution were approved on the record.
Quotes (selected): "Toro is a little bit cheaper. The warranty is 5 years instead of 3 years in the Hustler," said Parks and Recreation staff while explaining the procurement choice. "We had a map in there of roughly what we'd be able to cover with the funds there," Parks staff said regarding the cemetery work and the perpetual care balance.
Next step: staff will proceed with the approved purchases and personnel actions and will return to the council with any follow-up details; the council also asked staff to bring more detailed numbers regarding segregation of duties and the public works structure.
