By Craig Marx, Editor

The City of Antigo Common Council Meeting went along swimmingly on Wednesday night. Tom Bauknecht, Ward 4 alderman, presided over the council in the absence of Mayor Bill Brandt.

Third ward alderman Tim Kassis was also not present.

Fire Chief Jon Petroskey commended Lt. Mark McKinney for his completion of the Four Year Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy, a program that graduates approximately 100 top-flight executive fire officers per year.

“I want to say thank you to my family, who I could not do this without,” McKinney said. “I would also like to thank [Chief Petroskey] and [Police Chief] Eric Roller for their help. Without them, I would never have been able to do this.”

As the consent agenda was approved 7-1 and two resolutions, including a lengthy list of license renewals throughout the city, also passed, Dumaine “Red” Turney was brought to the podium to speak about his interest in the vacant Ward 6 position.

“I’ve lived in Antigo nearly all my life, and I think it’s a disgrace that more people were not running for this position,” Turney said. Turney is currently a member of the Historic Preservation Committee and was later accepted as the current Ward 6 alderperson by a 7-0 vote.

As the end of the meeting drew close, Ward 8 representative Reinhardt Balcerzak brought up the standing issue concerning the addition of sidewalks on Sunset Drive. The acceptance of the proposal had previously tied in session 4-4 last month, with Mayor Brandt electing to send the issue back to the Public Works Committee.

“There would be no initial cost to have this sidewalk put in, especially to the people that live on Sunset Drive. I think that those people that live there don’t want to have to shovel it is all. It is our duty to make the pedestrian traffic as safe as we can for people,” Balcerzak said.

Seventh Ward alderman Glenn Bugni, a resident currently living on Sunset Drive, felt differently.

“The reason why Mayor Brandt had this sent back down to the Public Works Committee in the first place was to have people talk about this issue. We should be spending our money where it is really needed, such as improving the roads in this city,” Bugni commented.

The brief debate was halted when City Attorney Mike Winter and Clerk-Treasurer Kaye Matucheski reminded the council that the issue was not an item on Wednesday’s agenda.

The Public Works Committee is scheduled to meet again on Wednesday, May 25 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.