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Alma council affirms committee slate, appoints police chief and elects Gary Jepsen as council president
Summary
At its April 15 re-organization meeting, the City of Alma council unanimously approved standing committee and officer appointments, confirmed Aarik Lackershire as chief of police and elected First Ward council member Gary Jepsen as council president (Jepsen 3 votes; Grisen 2; Brommer 1).
Mayor Richard Champeny called the City of Alma re-organization meeting to order April 15 and led the Pledge of Allegiance. The council moved quickly through a slate of appointments, ratifying committee memberships and city officers and selecting a council president.
The meeting set the council’s leadership and representation for 2025–26. First Ward council member Gary Jepsen was elected Council President in an internal vote that produced three votes for Jepsen, two for Larry Grisen and one for Randy Brommer. Jepsen’s election followed routine approval of committee rosters and officer appointments.
The council approved the standing committee appointments as presented (motion by David Earney, seconded by Davie Meier), and by roll call vote confirmed several officer appointments and representatives, including Aarik Lackershire as chief of police (motion by Loren Mueller, seconded by Gary Jepsen), Jon Seifert as city attorney with an alternate to be determined (motion by Gary Jepsen, seconded by Davie Meier), and Thomas Brakke as fire chief (motion by Davie Meier, seconded by David Earney). The Buffalo County News was designated the official newspaper (motion by Randy Brommer, seconded by David Earney), and the Bank of Alma – WI Investment Trust (secondary) was named city depository (motion by Loren Mueller, seconded by Randy Brommer). Other confirmed appointments included Linda Torgerson as zoning administrator, Gary Ruff as the WUTA & Dairyland Power representative, and Kenneth Passow as code enforcement officer.
The council also approved membership for the Riverland Energy building committee and listed standing committee assignments and liaison roles for the 2025–26 term, as reflected in the meeting record. The clerk noted alternates will serve only in the absence of regular members or when specifically requested by a chair.
The meeting concluded when David Earney moved to adjourn, a motion seconded by Davie Meier and carried by roll call vote.
The re-organization meeting established the council’s committee structure and personnel appointments for the coming year; no contested policy decisions or budget votes occurred during the session.
