The meeting last week of the Gerald Board of Aldermen began with the two outgoing aldermen, Steve Grgurich and Ed Adams, in place to take care of old business. The final act of the old board was the unanimous certification of the election results, and then the two new alderman were sworn in and took their seats. 

Mayor Annette Justus made the usual committee appointments and then made an unusual request of the board. She asked them to approve  her appointment of  departing Adams as Board Member Emeritus.

This newly created position would allow Adams to have full access to city records and equipment, Justus explained. She said Adams’ leaving the board was a “huge loss” and left them with no access to his institutional knowledge of the city and its inner workings. His appointment to the volunteer position would give him the authority and access to advise the board. 

Justus admitted she needed his help and felt others would also benefit from it. She asked for a motion to approve. 

After a long silence, Ward 1 Alderman Angela Koepke finally spoke. She said she had thought long and hard about the nomination. She noted there was city business to get caught up on. She said City Clerk Be Ahring was struggling and needed help. For those reasons, she made the motion to approve the nomination.

Another long silence ensued. 

City attorney Dave Struebel suggested that without a second, the motion had died. Justus then asked the other aldermen why they wouldn’t second the motion. 

Ward 2 Alderman Hayden Schoenfeld told her Adams had already assured him that he would give him any help or advice he needed, making the appointment unnecessary. 

Ward 1 Alderman Rudy Via agreed. 

So, the unusual appointment did not gain the required support. 

Justus appointed Via to the Planning and Zoning Commission. She made the following appointments to the standing committees:  Police - Ward 2 Alderman Corey Novotney, Schoenfeld, and herself; Public Works - Koepke and Via; Business, Industry and Grants - Koepke and Novotney. 

Be Ahring was reappointed as city clerk. 

Koepke was elected by her peers to serve as president of the board of aldermen. 

Before the board was reorganized, they took care of some old business. The bid from AQM to upgrade fiber service to the city’s computer servers was approved. 

A three percent pay increase for full-time city employees beginning July 1 was also approved. 

Public Works Director Nick Grube reported the control panel had been installed at well #3 and that repairs to that well were now complete. 

Steve Grgurich cast the lone no vote for a request to allow a group of volunteers to upgrade the horseshoe pits at Legion Park. There will be no cost to the city for the project. After the improvements, it is hoped the pits can be used as an additional activity for area youth. They can also be used for tournaments as a fund raising opportunity for various organizations.

As the meeting concluded, both new aldermen expressed their appreciation to the voters for allowing them to serve. Via added he would do his best to help the people and businesses of the town to thrive.