EM Village Board agrees to committee meetings to determine viability of hiring a full-time police chief

By Cara L. Dempski

ELK MOUND — The Elk Mound village board met in closed session September 28 to discuss personnel issues within the police department.

Village President Andy Peterson reopened the session after nearly 30 minutes of discussion to inform meeting attendees the public safety and employee relations committees would meet in October to discuss whether or not the village could afford hiring a new full-time chief by early November.

“We would try to make it a permanent, full-time position by January 1,” board member Tom Gilbert explained.

When former police chief Randy Bartelt retired in 2012, the village board decided to seek a part-time police chief despite the fact that the budget, at the time, allocated funds for employment of a full-time officer. The board also decided against contracting with the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office for up to 1,200 dedicated patrol hours in Elk Mound, as it would have been cost prohibitive.

Travis Hakes, who has filled the position of chief since early 2013, has been plagued by issues of incomplete documentation and scheduling throughout his tenure. Hakes began advocating for more police hours after the village hall and police department were burglarized in November 2014.

“I work full-time in Lake Hallie,” Hakes said, “I can’t be both places at once.”

On September 28, Hakes presented the village board with an information packet during the regular meeting prior to the closed session. The packet detailed the costs and benefits of having a full-time officer on the village payroll.

Hakes also mentioned an email message from board member Brenda Carpenter, who was not able to attend the meeting, indicating her support of having full-time law enforcement for the village. While the email was not provided as part of the packet, board member Gilbert stated he also had a copy of the message and would provide it to other board members if requested.

The board’s discussion came on the heels of officer Dan Downey resigning his part-time position in Elk Mound in order to accept a full-time position in another municipality. Downey worked upwards of 38 hours weekly, and comprised the bulk of the patrol hours for the department.

Board member Terry Stamm said during the meeting he hopes to hear more information regarding police department staffing by the next regular meeting October 12.

During the regular meeting, the board:

• Approved August expenditures totaling $20,459.76.
• Learned the public works and streets and public safety budgets were not yet solidified.
• Learned the employee relations committee will be interviewing four candidates for the open public works crew member position during meetings on October 3 and October 5.
• Approved an operator license for Sara Lynn Meyer at Mound’s View Store.
• Approved a $400 lease agreement to use property owned by Margaret and Steve Dieter for the municipal ice rink.
• Approved building permits for Kevin Giese of 308 Moundview Court to build a retaining wall, Eric Knutson of W116 Menomonie Street to replace a window and wall, and Big Dog Investments/Patrick Rebman of W300 Menomonie Street to reroof, replace drywall and remove a chimney.
• Heard a report that three quotes had been submitted for repairs to the fire department building’s roof, and it would cost between $40,000 and $50,000 for all repairs to be completed.