News & Events

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

The Common Council’s decision to reject using a Request for Proposals for legal counsel to advise the council regarding personnel matters but rather to authorize the council president to solicit proposals has resulted in an “urgent call for transparent attorney selection process” from the city manager.

As was previously announced on The Banner, the Common Council at its October 3 meeting authorized, by a 4-3 vote, engaging an outside attorney at a cost of up to $10,000 to advise the council on employee discipline and personnel matters. This action would pertain specifically to the city manager, since that position is the only one that reports to the council.

At its subsequent meeting on October 17 the council was provided a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) that might be used in soliciting interested legal firms for such an engagement. That RFP received no discussion before a motion was made to allow Council President Allen to solicit two to three proposals. Several citizens spoke against the motion, including Ryan Oezer, who endorsed the transparency that would be provided through the RFP process, and Brian Schanen, who questioned why the city’s attorney who handles personnel matters, or someone in that firm, could not address the matter at hand. It was indicated by Allen that this attorney works with the city manager. Objections to forgoing the RFP process were also voiced by Councilmembers Brown and Dawsey Smith. Ultimately a motion by Hicks/Stone for Allen to present proposals from three legal firms passed with a 4-3 margin with Allen, Gerber, Hicks, and Stone in favor.

The city’s labor and employment attorney is Kyle Gulya from von Briesen & Roper SC. According to its website, the firm has 22 attorneys other than Gulya whose specialty is labor and employment. The Banner reached out to attorney Robert J. Simandl, the section leader for that area of practice, to inquire as to whether the firm might be able to suggest any of these attorneys who might be available and have appropriate expertise to work with the council. No response has been received.

John Weidl’s statement, dated October 19, is printed below in its entirety.

To the Members of the Common Council and Whitewater Community:

I wish to address the recent decision concerning the authority granted to a single elected official in sourcing an attorney to represent the interests of the council. With prior concerns regarding the conduct of the body, this decision adds to the prevailing unease.

Entrusting a solitary elected official with the responsibility to source and recommend an attorney, without adhering to our good governance manual and procurement policy, raises concerns of potential conflicts of interest. It’s paramount that our council operates with utmost transparency, ensuring our processes are free from any perceived biases. The essence of our decision-making should be rooted in integrity and impartiality. Granting extensive authority to a single individual might inadvertently convey a message to our community that our decisions might not be entirely unbiased.

Previous discussions and citizen comments at the last meeting have pointed towards an inconsistency in how our governing body views public participation and transparency. Decisions that bypass our governance standards might contribute to this inconsistency, potentially diminishing trust in our processes. Our stakeholders expect our actions to be transparent, consistent, and devoid of conflicts. They trust us to prioritize the broader community’s interests. The current decision might unintentionally foster an environment where the public, staff, or future stakeholders might hesitate to participate, apprehensive of potential bias or influence.

For the sake of our community’s trust and to ensure that our actions resonate with transparency and consistency – at the next meeting, I encourage the council to reconsider the decision of attorney selection based on any one individual’s discretion and instead propose we follow the established Request for Proposals (RFP) process, as delineated in our Good Governance Manual and Procurement Policy. Such an approach guarantees a selection process that upholds the broader interests of our council and community, aligning with clear, objective standards. A very real and actionable RFP was provided at the last common council meeting. Even following the process, the governing body should be able to have professionally, transparently sourced proposals for review in December. To date, no reason has been provided to the staff or public for circumventing established processes or requiring a tighter timeline. 

Finally, I urge any attorney considering working for the City in this capacity to insist upon a public and transparent process. This will not only protect the reputation and integrity of the attorney but also ensure that the Common Council’s decision-making is held to the highest standards. A commitment to transparency is a shared responsibility.

In conclusion, my intent isn’t to oppose the hiring of an attorney, but to advocate for a clear and transparent process. Let’s ensure our decisions remain free from any doubts related to ethics, conflicts, or potential backlash.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Warm regards,

John S. Weidl
City Manager, City of Whitewater

Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by Karen Tordera.

WHS junior, A’lani Ross, performed at the Overture Center in Madison with the Wisconsin School Music Association Honors Choir on Thursday evening, October 26. A’lani was chosen last February to perform in the Honors Treble Choir under the direction of Dr. Julie Skadsem. The concert was held in Overture Hall along with the Honor Mixed Choir. Congratulations to A’lani on a fantastic performance! 

Editor’s note: The following invitation was submitted by Kris McMenamin, USMC Veteran, Coordinator Military & Veteran Students Services

We would like to invite members from the community to join us for UW-Whitewater Veteran’s Day Ceremony will be held on Friday, November 10^th at 11:00 a.m. at the James R. Connor University Center’s Old Main Ballroom (275).  Visitors from the community will be able to park in Lot 12 without the need for a parking pass on the day of the ceremony. Speakers will include UW-Whitewater’s Chancellor, Dr. Corey King and Wisconsin VFW Jr. Vice Commander Ty Letto. The ceremony is scheduled for approximately one hour.

If there are any questions, readers can contact UW-W Veteran services at (262) 472-5236 or send an email to mcmenamk@uww.edu

Please join us for a Farewell Reception for Stacey Lunsford, Library Director, on Friday, November 10th, 2023 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library, 431 West Center Street, Whitewater, WI 53190.

The Rock County Sheriff’s Office recognizes that there are a lot of fun activities surrounding Halloween and encourages everyone to prioritize safety. Children and youth look forward to Trick or Treating, and we want everyone to enjoy the festivities. Below are some Halloween safety tips.

Trick or Treaters
• Do not Trick or Treat alone.
• An adult should accompany kids under 12 years old.
• Trick or Treat at lit houses. Do not approach a dark residence.
• Look both ways before crossing a road, and do not run.
• Carry flashlights or glow sticks to be more visible.
• Fasten reflective tape to candy bags and costumes.
• Take a cellphone and call 9-1-1 if you see anything suspicious.
• Do not enter any residence. Remain outside.
• Wait to eat any treats until after an adult checks them for safety.
Do not eat any treats that are not in factory-sealed packaging.

Drivers
• Drive slow and watch your surroundings. Turn your headlights on.
• Take extra time to check for kids at intersections and when entering and exiting driveways.
• Avoid using electronic devices; focus on driving.
• Do not drink and drive. If you drink, get a sober ride home.
We wish everyone a safe and fun Halloween!

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by M. Harris from Pixabay.

According to the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office, our area may experience the first snow of the season on Tuesday. Although it’s indicated that the heaviest and most widespread snowfall will occur during the morning hours, including the morning drive to work and school, the total accumulation is projected to only range from a trace to 2″.

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Erwin from Pixabay.

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Rock County Public Works Director Duane M. Jorgenson notified The Banner that the pavement markings on County N were completed on the afternoon of October 30 and the road would be reopened. Sure enough, as shown in the above photo, the “road closed” signs have been removed.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Transportation website still indicates that the reconstruction of Highway 12 between Whitewater and Fort Atkinson will be completed by November 3. Is it possible that all roads leading to/from Whitewater will be open by the end of the week? At one point this summer there were detours affecting three roads.