North Fond du Lac board approves EMS amendment, personnel moves and $35,000 pool allocation

The Village of North Fond du Lac Board of Trustees on Feb. 6 voted to approve several administrative actions, including an amendment to the village's emergency medical services agreement, personnel changes in public works and public safety discussions about a proposed investigator position.

Administrator Nick Leonard told the board staff had prepared a list of projects for State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds and reported the village had paid the invoice for a new website; he said staff is uploading photos and expects the site to go live by July 1. Leonard and Director of Public Works Mitch Vis also met with a consultant to produce three tiers of municipal building redesign proposals (lobby/bathrooms; administrative offices; full building) and to review the Prospect Avenue corridor and the McKinley/Prospect intersection. Those proposals will return to the board for further discussion when available.

Why it matters: the EMS agreement governs emergency coverage for the village and neighbouring township areas; the personnel and capital planning items affect staffing, service capacity and how federal relief and county funds are invested locally.

The board approved the EMS agreement amendment covering the Village of North Fond du Lac and portions of adjacent towns after a brief presentation. Trustee Chuck Hornung moved approval; Trustee John Duffy seconded. The recorded vote was five ayes and the motion carried.

The board also approved allocating $35,000 in Fond du Lac County sales-tax funds to the village pool, the same designation used in 2022. Trustee Ann Price moved approval; Trustee John Duffy seconded. The motion passed on a 5-0 vote.

Police Chief Darren Pautsch presented information on a proposed Investigator position for the North Fond du Lac Police Department and discussed likely duties, training needs and how the role would interact with patrol officers. Trustee John Duffy asked how the position would be funded and how it would affect the levy limit; Leonard said the adopted 2023 budget contains surplus that could cover most of the expense and that staff will prepare detailed budget figures, levy-limit implications and expenditure-restraint information for the next board meeting. No formal vote occurred on creating the position at this meeting.

Personnel actions approved included the promotion of John Brodie to Assistant Certified Plant Operator and the hiring of Brian Goldapske as Mechanic. The Brodie promotion was moved by Trustee Chuck Hornung and seconded by Trustee Ann Price; the Goldapske hire was moved by President Michael Streetar and seconded by Trustee John Duffy. Both motions carried on 5-0 votes.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (minutes, invoices, operator licenses for Angela Nitschke, Brianna Galle and Karen Kikkert): motion approved (mover: Ann Price; seconder: Chuck Hornung) 5 ayes. - EMS agreement amendment: motion approved (mover: Chuck Hornung; seconder: John Duffy) 5 ayes. - Fond du Lac County sales-tax allocation ($35,000 to village pool): motion approved (mover: Ann Price; seconder: John Duffy) 5 ayes. - Promotion: John Brodie to Assistant Certified Plant Operator: motion approved (mover: Chuck Hornung; seconder: Ann Price) 5 ayes. - Hire: Brian Goldapske, Mechanic: motion approved (mover: Michael Streetar; seconder: John Duffy) 5 ayes.

The board set a tentative date of April 3, 2023 to complete the Village Administrator performance review when all members can be present and requested the hiring and promotion policy be placed on a future agenda for discussion.

The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.