By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Veteran Whitewater Common Council member Patrick Singer will lead the city’s top decision-making body for a ninth consecutive year, following a unanimous vote by his elected colleagues.
The council president position is up for grabs annually. A member of the council is named to the post in mid-April, after the dust from the spring general election settles.
Singer, who was re-appointed during an organizational portion of the April 19 council meeting, has been an elected official in Whitewater for a decade.
Another veteran council member, Lynn Binnie, was named council president pro tem, meaning he will assume Singer’s duties at a meeting if Singer is unable to attend.
Other highlights of this year’s organization meeting:
- City Clerk Michele Smith administered oaths of office to the four council members — Patrick Wellnitz (District 1), James Langnes III (District 2), Lynn Binnie (District 4) and James Allen (at-large) — who were voted into office this spring.
Langnes, Binnie and Allen are serving two-year terms, while Wellnitz was voted into office for the remaining year left on the District 1 seat. The city’s council positions run for two years. During even-numbered years, aldermanic districts 2 and 4 are up for grabs, as is one of the two at-large positions.
Wellnitz, Langnes and Binnie were re-elected to their posts, and Allen is filling a position Ken Kidd vacated. Late last year, Kidd announced he would not be seeking re-election.
- Council members were appointed to a dozen boards, commissions and committees. In some instances, the appointees will lead a group, which delves into specific issues and makes policy recommendations to the full council. In other instances, the appointee serves as a council representative.
Stephanie Goettl, Langnes and Singer will serve on the Alcohol Licensing Committee, and Allen will pull up a seat on the Birge Fountain Committee. Binnie will continue to provide council representation to the Cable TV Committee.
Allen and Singer will have spots on the economic development-focused Community Development Authority, while Singer will serve on the Landmarks Commission. Chris Grady is the sole council representative on the Library Board and Parks and Recreation Board.
Binnie is the primary council representative for the Plan and Architectural Review Commission, and Grady was named as an alternate, meaning he will serve on an as-needed basis. Goettl will serve as the sole council representative of the Police and Fire Commission and Technology Park Board.
For the time being, the city has two fire department-focused groups, though one is expected to extinguish in the near future. Langnes will serve on the board of directors of the newly incorporated Whitewater Fire Department Inc.
Additionally, Wellnitz will serve on the Fire and Rescue Task Force, which has been meeting in recent years as the city’s volunteer-driven department has been going through a metamorphosis. Despite stepping down from the council, Kidd also will have a seat on the task force through its duration. He has served on the task force since its formation.
- The Whitewater Register was again designated the city’s official newspaper. This distinction means any notifications — including legal notices — requiring publication will be placed in this newspaper.
- Three local banks — Associated Bank, Commercial Bank and First Citizens State Bank — have been named the city’s official depositories. As part of the motion, city accounts are held at one of these three financial institutions.
