Good morning.
Monday in Whitewater will be sunny with a high of 82. Sunrise is 6:53 and sunset 6:33 PM for 11h 39m 56s of daytime. The moon is a waning gibbous with 87.7% of its visible disk illuminated.
On Tuesday [9.19.23], staff members who came forward in support of Weidl’s management style included Whitewater Police Chief Dan Meyer, Whitewater Fire and EMS Chief Kelly Freeman, Whitewater Human Resources Director Sara Marquardt, Whitewater City Clerk Karri Anderberg, and Whitewater Administrative Assistant for Economic Development Bonnie Miller.
Addressing members of the city council, Meyer said: “I’d just like to give my support for John’s management plan and explain a little bit about the respect that I have for his management style in general.”
Addressing Gerber, he said: “To your point, Jill, the way his management is going, from my perspective, John’s been a breath of fresh air in terms of providing direct and actionable information for me. When I call or text John with confidential updates that we’re working on, he responds immediately — I’m not talking like five minutes, I’m talking like now. When I need an answer for a personnel or budget issue, I get a response immediately, which, in turn, allows me to do my job.”
Offering an example of his working relationship with Weidl, and citing demographic changes within the community as among challenges facing the police department, Meyer said: “The first day I met John, I explained to him how this has impacted us with the communication challenges, cultural differences, lack of trust in government, non-familial living situations.”
Meyer said Weidl was “engaged,” describing him as a manager who “showed up to dig into this complicated issue,” adding that Weidl asked him to complete a Request for Quote (RFQ) for an immigration attorney to help create a bilingual immigration guide.
“So that stretched my comfort level with something I had no experience doing; it made me grow,” Meyer said.
He added: “Ultimately, I’m not always going to like the answers that I get from John, but (I) understand that (it’s) not always about getting what you want. At the end of the day, I’ve got a ton of respect for his approach to the job, and I think the city is better off with him here.”
Freeman cited the history and the referendum which led to the formation and funding of the city’s fire department.
“I just wanted to echo what Chief Meyer had to say in regards to working with the city manager,” Freeman said.
Citing a desire to create perspective, he told council members that in 2014 or 2015, the city had a fire department and rescue squad which was housed in the same place, but, he said, it did not “operate in unison.”
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Addressing the council, Anderberg described herself as a “new employee” of only four months.
“My journey here marks a stark departure from a previous experience in another municipality where the highest official’s demeanor was far from what we expect in public service. In that environment, accusing, yelling, and public spectacles were at an alarming high and very common. It was a very toxic situation and unhealthy work environment,” she said.
She added that in the time that she has been employed in Whitewater, the city has undergone, by her assessment a “remarkable transformation.
“Our dedicated staff are receiving training and support like never before. We’re embracing new technologies that promise to propel our city into a brighter future. Departments that once were plagued by ineffective leadership have been experiencing a complete turnaround in just the four months I’ve been here.”
Anderberg said her department was undergoing a modernization, during which staff members were uploading all of the city’s forms to its website, giving residents online access. Additionally, she said, a new agenda management system was synchronizing agendas “across our committees and common council.”
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At the podium, Miller said that she has been working with the city’s CDA (Community Development Authority) since 2018, when she began administrative duties in a part-time capacity.
At the time, she said, “I was not new to economic development; I worked as a legal assistant for 22 years for attorney Mitch Simon, who served as legal counsel for the CDA.”
At city hall, she continued, “I have experienced several changes in leadership over the five years I’ve been here, having reported to two CDA directors, who were both here for a short time. During the many months without a CDA director, I reported to city manager Cameron Clapper. If I had to characterize those first five years on the whole, I would say, for me, they were without definitive direction and lacked effective leadership.”
After Clapper left to pursue another job, she said, she reported to an interim CDA director and then Weidl, first in his interim capacity and then as city manager.
Of Weidl, she said, “It was like someone finally started the engine and stepped on the gas. In my experience, John brings an energy to the city hall that spills over to everyone in the building. He set a high standard, and expects us all to be making the best use of our workday. He is direct, but respectful, sets goals and objectives, and has created an environment where I personally feel safe to spread my wings and accept new challenges.”
Miller said that under Weidl’s management, she finds she has the necessary tools to perform her work, and, she said, she is afforded opportunities to learn and grow.
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Sara Marquardt said she was in agreement with Miller’s assessment of the city manager.
“So I will not reiterate her feelings, but I do want to ask of this council, when we are discussing goals, when we are discussing the issues that are affecting us — no, it has not always been easy — but in order to move this city forward, we need to be free to concentrate on its objectives, cheer the positives, and stop the behaviors that continue to impede our progress.”
