Loyal Common Council sets committees, receives reports
By Valorie Brecht The Loyal Common Council recently held its first meeting after the April election, in which the new council members were sworn in and committees were set for the upcoming year.
At the organizational meeting, which took place on April 15 directly before the regular council meeting, new council members Gwen Klevgard and Amanda Stephens were sworn in. They join six other council members: Tom Bobrofsky, Greg Brock, Tim Froeba, Dave Geier, Curtiss Lindner, and Kayla Schar. The council also voted unanimously to make Bobrofsky the council president.
The council also approved various committees for the city. There was no discussion on committees, but the council approved all of them at once.
Committee members are as follows, with a star indicating the chairperson: Finance/City View Estates: Stephens*, Geier, Klevgard Personnel: Geier*, Brock, Klevgard Library: Bobrofsky Board of Review: Mayor Carmen Englebretson, Bobrofsky, Froeba, city clerk Shannon Toufar, Klevgard Planning Commission: Steve Dix, Englebretson, Schar, Froeba, Kirsti Clements, Tony Wilke, Jason Toufar County E.D. Coordinator: Bobrofsky Police/Ambulance: Bobrofsky*, Klevgard, Brock Utilities/Cemetery: Lindner*, Froeba, Brock Parks and Recreation and Advisory: Schar*, Lindner, Stephens Board of Appeals: Bob Meyer, Ed Stumpner, Alice Kennedy, Lori Seliskar, Sharon Schoonover Weed Commissioner: deputy clerk Viki Pieper Sex Offenders Review: Toufar, Schar, Bobrofsky, Coni Meyer, Englebretson Veterans Memorial: Bobrofsky Other business During the regular council meeting which followed the organizational meeting, the council received updates on the community garden, summer help, and the library.
Citizen Brian Milz asked about the status of the community garden on Bluebird Lane. He said the back four lots were getting low. Lindner said he could bring in some more dirt to level things off. Milz also asked if the plots were going to be tilled, because some community members would like a plot, but can’t till it themselves. Lindner said he would be going in and tilling it once, and after that, they were on their own. The tiller is there for people to use.
Pieper notified the council that the city was looking for summer help for lawn mowing, watering flowers, cleaning, and other tasks.
“Both of the people we’ve had are looking to go somewhere else this summer,” said Pieper.
One of the council members asked about compensation. “We usually start at $10, but will bump it up depending on experience to $11 or $12,” said Toufar.
Applicants must be 14 years old with a work permit. Applications can be obtained from city hall. The application deadline is May 15 at 3:30 p.m.
Bobrofsky gave the library report. The library received a donation of $300, which allowed it to purchase 11 digital books on Libby. The March circulation was 1,783. The Game Group made a $50 donation to the library in thanks for letting them use the space every month.
The library recently purchased a new copier, as the old one was getting worn out. The old machine was in operation from Dec. 31, 2019, to March 12, 2025, and in that time made 65,411 copies.
Library director Teresa Hall also spoke about a presidential executive order signed March 14 calling for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law” other than those components or functions that are statutorily required. IMLS funding supports the 21 Smithsonian museums, as well as a variety of library services, such as interlibrary loan, access to databases, Braille books, and literacy programs.
“This happened last term and never got off the ground. The IMLS funds Libby (the library’s ebook and audiobook platform) hugely. It also supports interlibrary loan. We have access to 9 million items just in Wisconsin. Without that funding, we can’t borrow from anyone else in the state,” said Hall.
She urged council members or anyone who cares about libraries to visit ala.org/faq-executive-order-targeting-imls to find out more information about the executive order and send a letter to their legislators urging to overturn the executive order and protect IMLS funding.
