Brodhead council cancels city donation to BAEMS, approves property sale and budget measures

The Brodhead Common Council voted Oct. 20, 2025 to cancel the city's optional donation contract with the Brodhead Area EMS (BAEMS) and approved several budget and administrative measures, including authorization to sell a city parcel to CAMM Investments LLC and adoption of an amendment to the city's sewer-use ordinance.

The motion to cancel the EMS contract passed after closed-session deliberations on a 5–0 vote with one abstention: Woodford, Burkhalter, Naramore, Baxter and Gritzmaker voted yes; Alderperson Sauer abstained. Alderperson Gritzmaker said the action "will not affect the business model of the EMS" and described the council's decision as a change to the city's optional donation, not an operational change to emergency responses or EMS billing.

Chris Searles, a representative of Brodhead Area EMS, had urged council during the public-comment period to renew the contract and to consider allowing a council representative on BAEMS' board. Searles told the council the service maintains staffing to ensure "there is always a schedule to ensure that there is at least a driver and 2 healthcare people, either an EMR or an EMT," and offered to discuss contract language further in closed session.

Council members also approved other motions that came up for votes during the meeting. The council: - Authorized execution of closing documents to sell Lot 1 of the CSM to CAMM Investments LLC (motion by Burkhalter; second Sauer; all ayes). - Adopted Ordinance 007-2025 amending Chapter 373-10 B (Sewer Use Violations) to clarify lift-station cleaning responsibilities in cases related to grease traps (motion by Gritzmaker; second Burkhalter; all ayes). - Accepted the September voucher report showing total disbursements of $461,505.36 (BID checks $3,249.38; ACH $12,148.01; general checks $441,512.52; credit card purchases $4,595.45) and voted to approve those payments. - Approved immediate start of $1 million cyber-insurance coverage with a $10,000 deductible at a premium of $1,230 (motion by Baxter; second Naramore; all ayes), subject to insurer-required technical steps. - Reallocated CIP funds to purchase AirGain 5G vehicle gateway and antenna units for three police vehicles for a total of $4,077.96 (motion by Gritzmaker; second Burkhalter; all ayes). - Approved hiring Danielle Graham as a full-time police officer conditioned on passing required medical, psychological and physical readiness examinations (motion by Burkhalter; second Gritzmaker; all ayes). - Reimbursed lifeguard training costs of $275 to Abbie Vickers (motion by Baxter; second Sauer; all ayes). - Passed Resolution 2025-027 to exempt the municipality from the Green County library tax (motion by Sauer; second Naramore; all ayes). - In closed-session follow-up, approved keeping clerk/treasurer overtime at 100 hours for 2026 (motion by Baxter; second Sauer; all ayes) and removed the Wastewater Supervisor position from the 2026 budget (motion by Baxter; second Naramore; Woodford, Sauer, Burkhalter, Naramore and Baxter voted yes; Gritzmaker abstained).

City Attorney Schroeder told council that the EMS-contract decision concerned the city's optional donation and does not prevent BAEMS from collecting insurance or Medicare payments from patients when it responds to calls. Schroeder also presented the legal authority for the sewer-ordinance amendment and the resolution to authorize the property sale; both measures passed unanimously on roll call.

The council confirmed the next regular meeting date as Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.