Elk Mound village board continues to discuss police position

By Cara L. Dempski

ELK MOUND — The Elk Mound village president and trustees had a heated discussion regarding the police department at their third meeting of 2017.

The February 1 meeting addressed the question of a full-time police chief position created at the December 7, 2016, regular board meeting. The discussion started when president Tom Gilbert handed out a letter from attorney Christina Mayer of Schofield, Parent, Mayer and Huff in Menomonie.

Gilbert sought Mayer for assistance on clarifying a village ordinance regarding whether or not there are separate positions for full-time or part-time police chiefs. Prior to handing out the letter, Gilbert addressed the feelings regarding the position.

“There has been some division and perception differences on what we have done,” he said. “I sought out some advice on the subject from one of our law firms.”

The letter from Mayer indicated there was no legal division in village ordinance between a full-time or part-time police chief. Gilbert informed the board that means the existing police chief is simply the chief, regardless of the time worked at the office or on village business. He said the creating of the position has already been voted on.

“I have tried to do this with everybody’s blessing. Everyone knows my opinion on this situation,” Gilbert expressed. “In the end, this is why we have lawyers and laws.”

The law firm Mayer works for is currently under contract to provide legal services for the police department, but has not provided municipal law services for Elk Mound since the death of former municipal attorney John Higley.

Patricia Hahn, the village clerk and treasurer for Elk Mound, reminded the board of this, stating that the village’s legal services were currently with Bakke Norman because Schofield, Parent, Mayer and Huff does not handle municipal law. Gilbert said there is an attorney in the Schofield office who handles municipal law, and there may not have been reason to seek a different firm.

The village president explained current police chief Travis Hakes’ name was discussed as the candidate to whom the full-time offer would be made. Newly appointed village trustee Steve Abraham stated it was his understanding that money was approved in the budget for a full-time position, and a full-time position had been approved.

Hahn spoke up, informing the board she had been told Hakes was related to Mayer. Hakes corrected this, saying he is not a blood relation to the attorney, but that his grandfather goes fishing with a member of Mayer’s family. 

Abraham then spoke up again, asking for three minutes of uninterrupted time, which Gilbert granted.

“I realize in conversations with you that you are certainly the strongest advocate of Travis as the full-time chief of police,” Abraham said to Gilbert.

He then stated that, in walking around town to collect over 40 signatures for his candidacy as a village trustee and for village president, there are quite a few people who do not have a positive view of Hakes as the police chief.

“I have heard comments that Travis likes the badge, the uniform, the position, but doesn’t necessarily want to do the work,” Abraham elaborated.

Hakes responded by saying the complaints heard by Abraham are news to him, as he has encouraged people to reach out to the board or the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office if they have concerns about him. He also said he has provided community residents with statement forms and completed internal investigations with people who had difficulty with one of the former part-time police officers. 

The current police chief informed the board he is not sure he wants to take the position if it is offered to him. His biggest concern regarding the process of hiring someone is that it all be done legally.

Employee relations chairwoman Brenda Carpenter also weighed in on the position created.

“I’m a little distraught,” she stated. “I was thrown into this position when the last chairman left, and I have never had a complaint from a community member. A lot of people know me in the community. The complaints I have heard have all been internal.”

Carpenter then told the story of a village resident approaching her shortly after she joined the board. The resident had a complaint about former officer Dan Downey. Carpenter listened to the resident, and then explained the concerns to Hakes.

“I talked to the person on Sunday morning, and he (Hakes) had taken care of it by Monday afternoon,” Carpenter finished.

Trustee Terry Stamm spoke up and said he knows there are “other people at the table” who are not satisfied with Hakes’ tenure at Elk Mound. Most of the complaints heard are related to the Police Chief’s inability to be available as often as he was originally contracted. Hakes was hired as a part-time chief to work 20 hours a week in Elk Mound with his office hours scheduled around his full-time employment as a patrol officer for the village of Lake Hallie.

Another trustee, Greg Kipp, said the only issue he has had with Hakes is his lack of availability. 

“I think you’re still required to do so may hours on the job, and we should get that,” Kipp told Hakes. 

Abraham reiterated there are people in the village who may not have put their concerns in writing, but have not forgotten the concerns they have. He explained he has drafted a letter with residents who are not willing to appear before the village board to request more traffic enforcement, which is what many village residents see as the biggest issue.

The discussion ended with Gilbert expressing his sadness and lack of understanding of where the animosity toward Police Chief Hakes has come from.

In other business, the Elk Mound village board:

• Learned the Village was billed $13,770.70 by Colfax Rescue as per the capital assessment for 2016.

• Heard an offer of approximately 35 acres of land on the north side of University Street for a potential future water reservoir for the village. The land is currently owned by Lynn Harrison, and he did not share a land value at the meeting.

• Learned the new plow has been placed on truck #1. Public Works Director Mark Levra said the plow comes with a two-year warranty.

• Heard Levra’s report that well houses one and two had not been communicating well with each other, and he was hoping he had corrected the problem.

• Heard Hakes’ report on an investigation into allegations of disorderly conduct and property theft near the intersection of Aqua Lane and Moundsview Court.