Throwing my hat into the ring

“Throw your hat into the ring”

Make or take up a challenge, or demonstrate one's willingness to join an enterprise.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Throw your hat into the ring'?

The ring in question here is a boxing ring. These, of course used to be circular spaces in a crowd of onlookers, rather than the square, roped 'rings' of contemporary pugilism. Any Jack the lad who fancied his chances in a bout would throw in his hat - presumably this was a more

reliable way of putting oneself forward than just shouting over the hubbub of the crowd.

The expression dates from at least the early 19th century. The earliest citation of it that I have found is from an 1805 issue of The Sporting Magazine, or as the publishers preferred to call it The Sporting Magazine or Monthly Calendar of the Transactions of the Turf, the Chace, and every other Diversion Interesting to the Man of Pleasure, Enterprise and Spirit

from the Phrase Finder

I'm making it official: I'm throwing my hat into the ring for a third term as Mayor of Chetek. I don't know if the hubbub is loud enough for me to ceremoniously do this but I'm doing it just the same.

I was first elected in 2016 and then re-elected again in 2018. We have lived in Chetek for over 28 years now and during all that time I have never known any mayor to serve less than two terms. My theory as to why that is is that the first two years fly by so fast that when it's time to take out election papers again people's response tends to be 'Already?' So if you get elected once there's good chance based on historical precedent that you'll get elected twice. But during that same time I am only aware of Diane Knowlton serving a third term. (If I'm wrong about that fact I anticipate I will be quickly corrected).

In any case, I'm running again. And here's why: I thoroughly enjoy serving this city as mayor. Sure, I hear complaints from time to time and criticism, fair or not, but this comes with the territory for an elected official. But having said that I also hear a lot of 'atta-boys' and get enough pats-on-the-back to make the thought of continuing to serve in this capacity something to look forward to.

Welcoming then Gov. Walker
to our city a few years ago was
a BIG honor

The mayor of the City of Chetek, contrary to what some may believe, really doesn't have a lot of power. After all, it's the council that by and large makes the decisions that our staff then enact. Sure I get to weigh in on matters and vote in case the council is deadlocked. And surprisingly, though we all get along very well, in three and a half years I have voted twice. Once in 2016 to allow Kwik Trip to offer a small selection of distilled spirits and recently to increase the hanger lease fees at the Chetek Municipal Airport. Otherwise, its the elected aldermen who are the ones who decide yeah or nay on all the matters that come before them.

So if the Mayor isn't sitting on some kind of throne at city hall pontificating directives for the operating of this city, just what does he do? Well, technically, he (or she) sets the agenda of the monthly council meetings and then chairs them. (I gotta tell you, though, in my experience the aldermen generally skip talking to me and just call Carmen to add something to the agenda. I suppose it's just one less thing to do.) He also chairs the monthly plan commission meetings. He appoints both councilmen and local citizens to various committees to serve. It's his signature that goes out on pretty much every legal document that we send out (and in the course of a year I sign dozens of documents). Legally, he's the head of the Police Department and can request the Chief of Police to act on matters that are of his or the council's concern. When Diane Knowlton served as Mayor she asked then Chief Mark Peterson to have his officers stop in regularly at The Garage (the former Youth Center) to maintain healthy relationships with the kids that hung out there – and they did.

In order to raise money for a family's adoption fees
I don't take myself too seriously

The mayor represents us and is an ambassador for our community. He is, from time to time, asked to appear at certain community functions and gatherings. But for the most part – at least in my experience – he gets to be a part of the conversations that are going on regularly about city matters with both department heads (Public Works, City Hall and Police Department) and elected officials. And in my mind, this is a big deal.

When I was seated as mayor in 2016, the sale of then Knapp Haven Nursing Home had just been completed the day before. Many of us recall what a contentious and difficult season that was for our city. In my early months as mayor I was frequently asked if I had been serving at the time of the sale would I have voted to sell Knapp. I refused to publicly comment because I live by a rule that you should never criticize anyone publicly and if you do you better have the story straight. Better to simply keep your mouth shut. I'm real glad I did. Because this is what I've learned during these past three and a half years: that with every “big” decision that a council makes – and the selling of Knapp Haven was über-big - there have been (usually) many meetings that have preceded that decision and many, many conversations that have occurred as well as the council slowly works toward a decision. To me, it's like accompanying your girlfriend to her family's reunion for the first time and hearing all kinds of family stories and inside jokes that everyone laughs at. But since you don't know the people nor get the context all you can do is politely laugh even though you're pretty much clueless at the time. City business feels like that to the new guy (or girl) on the block. There's a lot that's gone on and a lot more that's been said before you're ever seated at the council dais.

A lot has changed in the last three and a half years. Ron Ambrozaitus was installed as Chief of Police and with the exception of (now) Lt. Jessica Larson he now commands a whole new crew of officers. Over $150 thousand dollars worth of new sidewalks in the downtown business district have been laid down. Main Street Park has been added to and much needed improvements have been made to it (with more to come). When Lakeview Cemetery Association chose to dissolve, the City became the new caretaker and owner. A new sexton was hired. Significant upgrades to the The Center have been made with the generous help of private citizens. To address the current housing shortage in Barron County the city purchased the old breeder farm on Knapp Street and are currently in the process of working out the details of the best way to move forward with this 39 acre addition. In order to extricate ourselves from the failing Central States pension plan, we had to take out a note for a negotiated $700 thousand-some dollars (but to have remain attached to this sinking ship any further would have cost us even more!) And on at least two occasions the city helped two local businesses remain local and expand (Chetek Cafe and Sather Family Dental).

Getting to ride in the parade is always fun

Mind you, I'm not taking credit for these things. All these decisions (and many, many more) were made by your elected aldermen. While there are only four who serve at one time in three and a half years I have served with eight different individuals and each council in my experience has sought the same thing: to live within our means (have you noticed that your city tax rate has stayed even for three years in row!?) and yet at the same time seek to continue to find ways to improve the amenities and services of our city. Frankly, I've enjoyed working with every one of them.

We have wonderful people who serve our city. At the top of the list I'll state the obvious: Carmen Newman our City Clerk extraordinaire. She is smart, intelligent, charming and one tough cookie. Public Works Director Dan Knapp is not only knowledgeable but a straight-shooter, too. He'll tell you what you need to know as well as (at times) what you don't want to hear. City Inspector Joe Atwood knows his stuff and works with both residents and business owners to resolve things that are not in compliance with our code of ordinances. But he does it professionally and graciously. Chief Ron, Lt. Jessica and the rest of Chetek PD not only keep us safe but do so in a common-sense, friendly manner. Of course, when bad guys need to be stopped, they do that too. And I haven't even mentioned the rest of the guys at Public Works or the gals at City Hall. But the bottom line is we are served well.

Photo credit: the Chetek Alert

Looking ahead, improvements to our city parks and docks will continue. The property committee has identified and prioritized what they feel needs to be addressed with regards to the property the city owns (i.e., The Center, City Hall, Chetek PD and the Calhoun Memorial Library) and will look to the council's response. A plan is going to emerge over the winter months of how we precede with that 39 acres on the west end of town. We have serious concerns about the rapidly increasing price of our ambulance services. And a wastewater treatment plant is now at the beginning stages of development. All these matters (and others that I haven't mentioned) involve meetings and many conversations that will occur as we try and work out what's the best way forward.

In my experience, this is how city business tends to get done: talk, talk, talk; mull, mull, mull; further talking, further consulting and then...the glacier moves one inch and we return to talking again. Of course, I'm oversimplifying but not by much. I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of these conversations and hope to continue to be a part of that. I've tried to represent us well. I've tried to keep people in the loop of what's going on either through my column, blog or the mayor's page on Facebook. And, one of the greatest things of local government, perhaps, is that you can call your mayor up at his home number or stop him on the street or at the diner to either ask your question or vent your spleen of the goings on in town. I'm not saying I like getting an ear-full (that really doesn't happen too often) but I welcome the opportunity to talk with people and share with them the things I've learned while sitting in meetings and participating in all that talk at City Hall.

I'd appreciate your consideration next April and if re-elected look forward to continuing to serve the town that we call home.