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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.18.24 Newsletter TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager DATE: October 18, 2024 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING: On Monday, October 14th, the Police Department participated in the annual neighborhood association meeting held at the Oshkosh Senior Center. Transportation Director Jim Collins, Police Chief Dean Smith, the Command staff, police supervisors, and district officers representing each of the seven districts were in attendance. Presenters shared information about the City’s parking study, the Police Department’s homelessness outreach, the new fireworks ordinance, and scams/frauds related to bitcoin. Citizens also had an opportunity to speak further with their district supervisors and officers. We appreciate the opportunity to engage with all who attended. 2. POLICE DEPARTMENT CELEBRATES PROMOTIONS AND WELCOMES NEW HIRES: During a Police and Fire Commission meeting on Tuesday, October 15th, the Oshkosh Police Department (OPD) celebrated the promotions of Officer Sarah Pauer and Officer Brad Fox to the rank of sergeant and the promotion of Officer Tony Flaig to the position of detective. Congratulations Sarah, Brad, and Tony! OPD also celebrated the hiring of two police cadets, Alexys Schneider and Aaron Petkovsek, to the position of police officer. Alexys and Aaron joined OPD as cadets on June 5, 2024. They completed their Wisconsin Law Enforcement Certification on October 11, 2024, through Fox Valley Technical College. Welcome to the OPD team, Alexys and Aaron! • Sergeant Sarah Pauer has been with OPD for 8 years, beginning on March 8, 2016. During her tenure with the Department, she has performed the duties of a patrol officer. Sergeant Pauer actively serves as a field training officer and served as a former DARE instructor. Throughout her career, she earned a Lifesaving Award in 2020, a Medal of Valor Award in 2023, and a Noteworthy Performance of Duty in 2024 for her commendable actions in the line of duty. • Sergeant Brad Fox has been with OPD for 11 years, beginning on August 12, 2013. During his tenure with the Department, he has performed the duties of a patrol officer. Sergeant Fox actively serves as a member of the K9 Unit and SWAT Team. Throughout his career, he earned a Department Commendation Award in 2016, a Lifesaving Award and Officer of the Quarter Award in 2022, and a Noteworthy Performance of Duty Award in 2023 for his commendable actions in the line of duty. • Detective Tony Flaig has been with OPD for 13 years, beginning on August 7, 2011. During his tenure with the department, he has performed the duties of a patrol officer and school resource officer for the past 7 years, most recently assigned to South Park Middle School. Detective Flaig actively serves as a background investigator, DARE instructor, and as a member of the Mental Health Resiliency Team and the Winnebago Area Peer Support Team. He also served as a former member of the Mobile Field Force Team. Throughout his career, he earned a Team Policing Officer of the Year Award in 2015, and a Community Service Award in 2022 for his commendable actions in the line of duty. • Officer Alexys Schneider is originally from North Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where she graduated from North Fond du Lac High School in 2021. Alexys attended Moraine Park Technical College in Fond du Lac, earning her associate degree in criminal justice in May 2024. Prior to becoming a police officer, Alexys was employed as a community service officer with OPD. • Officer Aaron Petkovsek is originally from Kaukauna, Wisconsin, where he graduated from Kaukauna High School in 2019. Aaron has been actively serving in the Wisconsin Army National Guard since 2020 and currently attends the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, with an anticipated graduation date of December 2024, where he will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Prior to becoming a police officer, Aaron was employed as a community service officer with OPD. 3. GET INVOLVED IN A BOARD OR COMMISSION: If you are interested in serving your community, please consider becoming a member of one of the City’s citizen advisory boards, commissions, or committees. There are current openings on the following boards and commissions: BID Board Board of Review Board of Zoning Appeals Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee Landmarks Commission Long Range Finance Committee Plan Commission Sustainability Advisory Board To learn more about the boards and commissions, or to complete an application to serve, visit our boards and commissions webpage. If you have questions about current openings, please contact the City Manager’s Executive Assistant, Kami Zuercher, at 920-236-5002 or kzuercher@oshkoshwi.gov. 4. AGENDAS AND MINUTES FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: Upcoming board and commission meeting agendas can be found on our Meeting Notices web page. All meeting minutes are uploaded to the City’s page for boards and commissions upon approval. 5. LOOKING AHEAD: The meetings I have scheduled for the week of October 21st include the following: on Monday at 9:00 a.m., I will attend a meeting of the advisory committee for the Whitburn Center for Governance and Policy Research; at 10:30 a.m., I will meet with an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant recipient to discuss their grant award; and at noon, I will be speaking to the Oshkosh Rotary Club. On Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., I will meet with staff to get an update on groundwater concerns brought forward by residents of 7th Avenue; at noon, I will speak at the Oshkosh Noon Kiwanis Club meeting; at 2:30 p.m., I will meet with staff and members of The Grand Oshkosh Board of Directors to continue conversations regarding the Grand Opera House’s annex renovation project; and at 5:00 p.m., Public Works staff and I will meet with Council for a workshop on undergrounding utilities. Wednesday through Friday, I will be attending the League of Wisconsin Municipalities (LWM) Annual Conference in Madison. On Thursday afternoon, while at the conference, I will accept the Creative Community Champion Award on behalf of the Museum, Arts, and Culture Board for the Board’s role as civic champions of the arts and creativity in Oshkosh. The award is presented by Create Wisconsin in partnership with LWM. If you have any questions about my upcoming schedule, please do not hesitate to contact me.