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Markesan council enacts recycling ordinance, accepts police chief resignation and approves a series of payments
Summary
At its Jan. 13 meeting, the Markesan Common Council enacted a revised Responsible Recycling Unit Ordinance, accepted Police Chief Doug Wiorek’s resignation, approved a lease/line-of-credit solicitation and several payments including to Black Gold Diesel and Grand River Fire District, and set dates for personnel interviews.
The Markesan Common Council on Jan. 13 enacted a revised Responsible Recycling Unit Ordinance, accepted the resignation of Police Chief Doug Wiorek and approved a number of routine financial and personnel items during a meeting that began at 7:00 p.m. and adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
The council voted 6-0 to adopt the revised Responsible Recycling Unit Ordinance after a motion by Ald. Abendroth and a second from Ald. Kazda. The ordinance was presented as a single motion recorded as passing unanimously.
In personnel actions, the council accepted Chief of Police Doug Wiorek’s resignation “with regret” by a 6-0 vote on a motion by Ald. Abendroth and seconded by Ald. Triemstra. The council then voted 6-0 to authorize advertising for the vacant chief position (motion Prill/Triemstra). The council also approved setting a Finance Committee committee-of-the-whole meeting for Jan. 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. to interview deputy clerk candidates (motion Kazda/Abendroth; 6-0).
On financial matters, the council approved moving a $7,703.75 payment to the Grand River Fire District for a driveway repair ahead of general claims and approved the listed City Checks and electronic payments. By motion Kazda/Lager, the council approved soliciting one-year line-of-credit bids from Ergo Bank and Horicon Bank for up to $125,000 to fund the planned fire truck purchase, fire station approach repair and a police vehicle; that motion carried 6-0.
The council approved an additional $993.80 payment to Black Gold Diesel Services for work on the Emergency Management truck, to be paid from the Emergency Government savings account as noted by Mike Ross, bringing the total payment to $13,993.90; the motion (Kazda/Triemstra) carried 6-0 on roll call.
A motion to overturn the mayor’s veto of the Remote Work Policy failed on a 3-3 roll call vote (Prill/Kazda). Ald. Lager, Ald. Thiem and Ald. Triemstra are recorded in the minutes as voting Nay on that motion.
A personnel motion to allow up to 40 hours of overtime for the city clerk in January (Thiem/Triemstra) passed on a 4-2 roll call vote after an amendment to reduce the hours to 15 failed 2-4 (the amendment was Prill/Abendroth). Prill and Abendroth are recorded as voting Nay on the main overtime motion.
Other routine approvals included adoption of the new 2026 Fee Schedule effective Jan. 13, 2026 (Prill/Abendroth; 6-0), purchase of two block bearings for the sewer plant at $2,256.09 each (Abendroth/Lager; 6-0), and approval of Operator’s Licenses for Allison Bartz, Joan Lohry and Irene Sieglaff with a stipulation that future applications be completed in full (Prill/Kazda; 6-0).
The council agreed to proceed with a draft plan for the Soldiers & Sailors building but then voted to return the plan to committee for further discussion including input from the Water/Wastewater Supervisor (motion to refer carried 6-0). The council took no action on sending new shelter plans to GEC for drafting.
The meeting concluded with scheduling several upcoming meetings: Board of Zoning Appeals on Jan. 14, Finance Committee COW on Jan. 20, committee meetings on Feb. 3, and the next Common Council meeting on Feb. 10, 2026. The council voted to adjourn at 7:41 p.m.
Meeting minutes were signed by Tamra M. Harrington, Clerk/Treasurer.
