By Dave Fidlin
Whitewater’s emergency management plan has been tweaked, following the recent retirement of a venerable staffer within the ranks of the city’s police department.
The Common Council on July 15 appointed Todd Lindert to the position of emergency management coordinator. Sabrina Ojibway and Ryan Dion will work alongside Lindert as deputy coordinators.
Having professionals on hand to address emergency management procedures, proactively and reactively, has been viewed as important in the event natural disasters were to occur within the community.
The trio of professionals has Whitewater connections and received the backing of Police Chief Lisa Otterbacher. She cited their extensive training and emergency management experience.
Lindert carries two titles. He is captain of the Whitewater Rescue Squad and also serves as communications director of Jefferson County’s communications center.
Ojibway works as a dispatcher with the Whitewater Police Department and Dion is a full-time firefighter with the Waukesha Fire Department and a volunteer firefighter with the Whitewater Fire Department.
Whitewater police officer Mike Ciardo previously held the position. He retired recently.
With a changing of the guard in place, City Manager Cameron Clapper said a review of the city’s existing emergency management system was warranted.
Clapper and Otterbacher met with the fire chief and other command staff. Consultation also was made with officials within Walworth County government.
“(We) met in June to discuss the need for a new coordinator of emergency management and the possibility of also appointing deputies to assist in ensuring adequate resources are available, Clapper said.
Elected officials were supportive of the revised plan presented. “I would endorse all of your choices,” council member Ken Kidd said. “I know all of these people.”
Kidd, however, raised a question about whether the emergency management appointees will be compensated for their time.
“We’ll have to research paperwork,” Otterbacher said, in response to the question. She said she believed Ciardo had received some level of pay, but was uncertain how the new arrangement would be carried through.
