Public Discourse (and how to do it well)

Photo from Kenton Troutman, Chetek Alert

It was standing room only in Council Chambers last week as the City Council heard from a local business owner about the idea of selling Denny Overby Field to her. Beth Siems, co-owner of Phil's Bar & Grill, has an idea of transforming this property into an 18-hole mini golf course as well as potential other amenities in the future. It was letter “I” on the agenda (of one that ended at “J”) and it was merely a discussion point but it was enough to fill up Chambers with a lot of citizens who were alarmed that the city would even consider such a thing. 

I think one of the great traditions in local government is the Public Comments section in the monthly meeting of the council. At that point, any citizen has a right to address the council and in three minutes time speak their peace. The council cannot take any action (whether or not the person is speaking to an agenda item) but they give their attention to the person standing at the podium and hear them out. 

In the lead up to last Tuesday's meeting, I received a couple of emails expressing concern that the council was entertaining such an idea. The rest of the council expressed that they too had heard from constituents by email and phone along the same vein. Last Tuesday night to begin Public Comments, City Clerk Mark Eby read five emails he had received all of which expressed their opposition to selling the ball field. And then the floor was opened to hear from anyone who wished to address the council. 

It's usually a scary moment for a lot of people. Studies have shown that way beyond fear of heights or creepy crawlies, public speaking is the number one fear that many of us struggle with. But in the next twenty minutes we heard from four or five individuals, both in-town and out-of-town, all of them opposed to selling Denny Overby Field. I'm sure there could have been more but there wasn't much more argument to be made after these folks had spoken; mainly, that there is limited space already for Little League ball in town, that Denny Overby Field is a beloved institution that has been enjoyed by thousands over the decades, and if the field goes away the council would be doing a great disservice to the kids of our area. 

Personally, I thought it was a good meeting. While there was obvious tension in the room, everyone behaved, spoke civilly, and yet expressed their opinions strongly. Contrary to this was the discourse that occurred on social media prior (and even after) the meeting. If you know you know. Of course, people will say things on social media that they would never say to a person's face because it's the easiest thing in the world to take potshots at elected officials. Its these same guys, I might add, who for very little money and yet a whole lot of love serve this town that they call home while getting, at times, heckled digitally. I guess it goes with the territory.

The arbiter rules

You probably have already heard what happened but just in case you hadn't individually the council commended Ms. Siems' interest in wanting to provide more amenities to our community but to a person they felt that Denny Overby Field should remain what it is: a ball field. Had there interest been piqued, at the very least someone might have motioned to send her to the Economic Development Committee to discuss the merits of her idea. But in the absence of that, the matter was settled in silence. 

For those of you who showed up to the meeting and, even more, addressed the council either via email or at the podium, thank you for caring enough to take time out of your week for this purpose. The entire council is grateful that you took such an interest and hope that you will continue to keep your ear to the ground about other matters that you believe affect our town and reach out either to your alderperson or myself and share your opinion. That's one of the reasons we're here after all.

Play ball!

Martin for Mayor

This was the 2020 campaign and those young gals
have grown up some since

Most of us should be aware that there's an election coming up around the corner. With the exception of the Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice, however, most of the candidates are running unopposed. 

For us locally that means that Ward 2 Alderman Trevor Dysland, whom I appointed last year when Earl Grover moved into Ward 1, is running as a candidate in a race he's certain to win. Same goes for Ward 4 Alderman Bryce Burdick whom I appointed in January following former Alderwoman Thea Hemple resignation from that post. John Banks and Bob Rogers have chosen not to run again for County Board Supervisor in Districts 1 and 3 ensuring that Mark Eby and Scott Bachowski are shoe-ins (don't worry, City Clerk Mark Eby will carry on with his day job). Barron County Circuit Court Judge Branch 3 Justice Maureen D Boyle and Chetek-Weyerhaeuser School Board Members Barbara Reisner and Kelly Olson are all on the ballot and also running unopposed. That leaves just one more candidate who is running in these uncontested races: me. I am currently running for my sixth term as Mayor of the City of Chetek.

First time

In 2016, I was elected for the first time as mayor. I had no ax to grind
nor any major issues I hoped to tackle. Honestly, I wasn't even sure what the job involved – or even if you got any kind of pay! (The mayor and the alderpersons are all paid a small stipend for their services but don't quit your day job). We've lived in Chetek, now, almost thirty-five years and if the past thirty-five years teaches me anything it's that if you get elected once as mayor, you're certain to serve at least two terms. Consider the following fun-facts of mayoral terms going back to 1982:

Irv Beuthling (1982-1993)

Shirley Webb (1993-1999)

John Banks (2000-2003)

Jerry Whitworth (2004-2006)

Diane Knowlton (2008-2013)

Mike Linton (2014-2015)

Jeff Martin (2016- )

If there are any outliers to the train of two-term mayors is that both female mayors served three terms, Irv Beuthling died half-way through his sixth term and toward the end of Mike Linton's first term he chose to move away. So it's usually “two and done” but in my case I've signed up to run again – for the sixth time. Why?

Why indeed? Well, for what it's worth, it's not because I crave power. If you want to have “power” don't run for mayor. By design, the structure of the governing body of our city ensures a strong council/weak mayor format. I don't set the agenda of regular council meetings as any council member can confer with the city clerk and add items to it. Unless the council members are deadlocked, I can't vote. And as far as council meetings go, more often than not the mayor is supposed to be like a referee on the field ensuring that the game is played fairly and with proper decorum. No, if you want get things done run for city council. Once elected, you can roll up your sleeves and go to it.

Then what do I get out of it and why do I choose to run again?

Easy. While born and raised in Milwaukee, attended high school in Madison and college in Chicago, at nearly 64 years of age I've now lived in Chetek longer than I've lived anywhere else in my life. After renting two years, we bought a 100 year-old five-bedroom home on Fifth Street and over the decades have remodeled all of it (a few rooms twice!) We raised our four children here who now as adults are well into their careers. In three and a half decades I've worn a lot of hats – from weekly reader at Roselawn to the chairman of the Facilities Improvement Committee that brought ten million dollars in new construction and remodeling to our school facilities back in 1999 to C-WHS Cross Country coach, to being one of the founders of the youth center known as The Garage where AutoZone now stands, to fifth term (and soon to be sixth term) mayor. Simply put, Chetek is our home and I love this town.

Okay, I had a hand in that one

As mayor, you can't really point to stuff and say, “I did that” or “that happened because of me” because, after all, as mayor you don't vote. (However, if you like the new Family Dollar and are glad you don't have to make another Wal-Mart run up to Rice Lake for supplies, you're welcome. I cast the deciding vote that rezoned that property from R-1 to C-1). But for the most part, the most I can say is that I've been a part of all the conversations that have occurred over the last ten years that have brought the new Waste Water Treatment Plant, the new Water Tower, the new 38 acre development on Knapp Street, the Sports Complex at Gotham Park, the remodel of Main Street Park, the new municipal parking lot on Moore Street, the new and improved docks on Stout Street, Knapp Street and City Dock, all improvements that your city council has made possible. If you ask me, that's pretty good for ten years worth of meetings and conversations to say nothing of being apart of the transitions when former City Clerk Carmen Newman and Public Works Director Dan Knapp retired.

So I'd like to keep on serving because there's more to do. I'd like to see the Swiderski development come to completion less than two years from now. There's more planning to be done for the rest of Gotham Park as well as figuring out the future of the band shelter as well as the plot of land where the former Waste Water Treatment Plant stood.

When a friend of mine from college-days heard that I was running unopposed for my sixth term he remarked, “The people of Chetek must know something and are happy that you want to continue to serve as mayor.” Well, I hope so. Nevertheless, I appreciate your ongoing vote of confidence as I seek to continue to serve the city we all call home. I love this town.

"I love this town!"

Have an ice day: this year's edition of the municipal skating rink

If you've lived around here for awhile you're aware that Chetek hasn't had a municipal ice skating rink since the days they used to flood the field at the corner of Morrison and Eighth behind Roselawn Elementary. When that went away you had to drive to Rice Lake or take a shovel out onto the Chain and clear away the snow if you wanted to get your skating in.

But toward the end of 2024, inspired by how extravagantly local folks were giving toward the future Sports Complex (now complete), the Parks & Beach committee brought to the council a proposal to build a rink on the infield of Denny Overby Field. Given the board of the former Youth Center that used to meet on Knapp Street donated the money for the materials we needed, the council was only too happy to approve.

We got the green-light for the project in mid-December 2024 but by the time the materials arrived and the rink assembled it was nearly February 2025. Still we probably got about six weeks of ice before the weather warmed and the liner had to be wrapped up and stored for this year. Those of us on Parks & Beach, however, considered it a “dry-run” for the 2025-26 season. Speaking only for myself we got a lot of “attaboys and girls” from folks appreciative of the fact we were attempting to add something to the landscape of the city for those who don't ski or snowmobile.

Last year's site

By day

By night

She was pretty soupy

In the spring we did get a few complaints from some of the parents of the girls on the C-WHS softball team. They felt that all that melting water made Denny Overby Field far soupier than normal and inhibited it from drying out in time for the season opener. They probably were right but the fickleness of spring weather in these parts affects all our athletic fields use, the track included.

New season, new location

So this year, we are at a new location: 210 Water Street, the site of the former municipal basketball court right behind Denny Overby Field. According to Josh Eby, a member of Parks & Beach who took point on this project last year and this, the new location has actually given us more square footage than last year. At our request, Excel Energy installed a large spotlight on the light pole across the street from the rink giving good illumination for skating at night. The Lions Club built and donated four 8 foot benches for skaters to sit down upon to either lace up their skates or take a breather. And just before Christmas the warming house showed up courtesy of funds donated by the former youth center. Benches have already been placed within and rubber mats between the shack and the rink have been laid down.

The new spotlight installed by Excel Engery

Warming shack arrives
(submitted photo)

Benches courtesy of the Chetek Lion's Club
(submitted photo)

According to City Clerk Mark Eby, all total thus far (2025-26) $10,632.50 for this project came from the former youth center, $1,085 in private donations not including the donations in kind that have come from the Lions Club for the benches (approximately $200 in materials) as well as to Britt Hodgson from Jerry's Tree Service and Brad and Zach Ingram from Blackjack Towing & Repair who took it in hand to deliver the warming house which was purchased from Chetek Sheds and Buildings at the The Pine Lodge. Talk about many hands making light work!

Just this week all the electrics were installed inside the shack as well as the heater courtesy of TNC Electric. The ground is frozen so electricity probably won't be run to the shack until later this year. In the short term, everything will run off a battery. Next on the agenda is to spray foam the building in order for it to retain heat.

It's important to remember that all the labor thus far has been done by volunteers. Donations are still being received for the ice rink at City Hall. Future monies will be put toward adding additional lighting and other appropriate amenities for the rink.

While the Sports Complex was a much more involved project, the spirit of this endeavor is the same: generosity fueled by a sincere desire to make this town we love an even better place to live. Thank you to all have contributed thus far and for the gently used skates that have begun to show up at the warming shack. To borrow a cheesy metaphor from the skating world, have an ice day!

She needs a good polish but looking forward

to seeing more skaters enjoy the ice