Mequon Weekly Bulletin - May 1, 2020

Upcoming Meetings
Board of Police & Fire Commissioners:  May 5 - 8:00 A.M. (Agenda)
Ad Hoc Emergency Management Committee:  May 5 - 3:00 P.M. (Agenda)
Future of Our Fire Department Committee: May 5 - 6:00 P.M. (Agenda)
Park & Open Space Board: May 6 - 2:00 P.M. (Agenda)
Planning Commission:  May 11 - 6:00 P.M.
Architectural Board: May 11 - 6:30 P.M.
Public Welfare Committee: May 12 - 5:45 P.M.
Finance Personnel Committee: May 12 - 6:15 P.M.
Public Safety Committee: May 12 - 6:45 P.M.
Public Works Committee: May 12 - 7:00 P.M.
Sewer Utility District Commission: May 12 - 7:30 P.M.
Common Council: May 12 - 7:30 P.M.

Emergency Loan Fund Program Established to Assist Mequon Businesses
The Emergency Loan Fund Program adopted by the Common Council on Tuesday, April 28 becomes effective next week on Tuesday, May 5.  A press release, loan program guide, loan application and instructions on how to submit materials are now available on the City website for interested businesses.  Since the announcement to the public, there has been significant interest by local businesses, and the press release was distributed locally to the Mequon-Thiensville Chamber of Commerce, News Graphic, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Biz Journal and Biz Times.  The City’s designated Loan Review Panel is prepared and will review applications on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority granted based on the completeness of applications and strength of business. The Panel is committed to reviewing applications and making a loan offer to qualified applicants within five business days. Please see attached press release for additional details.

Common Council Holds Annual Organizational Meeting
The Mequon Common Council recently held its Annual Organizational Meeting to swear-in newly elected members, elect a Common Council President and approve various subcommittee and aldermanic liaison assignments for the 2020-2021 legislative year. This year, the meeting was conducted over two successive Tuesday evenings on April 21 and 28, due to a requested recount in the City’s District 5 aldermanic race. In all, four sitting aldermen were sworn in following re-election on April 7, including Glenn Bushee (District 2), Dale Mayr (District 3), Mark Gierl (District 5) and Brian Parrish (District 6). The Common Council elected District 8 Alderman Andrew Nerbun to serve as Common Council President over the next year, and the following assignments were also approved:

The four subcommittees of the Common Council noted above (Finance-Personnel, Public Safety, Public Welfare and Public Works) are next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, May 12, where newly appointed members will elect a committee chair for the upcoming year. Mayor John Wirth also made appointments to a number of the City’s citizen boards, commissions and committees, a listing of which is attached here.

Webinar on Blueprint for Reopening Washington & Ozaukee Counties Next Week
The Washington/Ozaukee Public Health Department (WOPHD) released a “Blueprint for reopening Washington and Ozaukee Counties” on April 21.  The Blueprint provides broad guidance for reopening the economy safely and incrementally after Governor Evers’ Safer at Home order is lifted.  WOPHD and its partners are offering a webinar on May 5 at 1:00 p.m., where attendees can listen to the public health department highlight key elements of the blueprint including health metrics, guidelines for businesses upon reopening and re-evaluation processes. 

The WOPHD is also requesting feedback from local businesses to help refine further development of these guidelines. This event is free, but pre-registration is required. To register for the event, please email oed@co.ozaukee.wi.us.  A Blueprint FAQ document can also be viewed by clicking here. For more information on the webinar, please see the attached flier.

Public Works Gradually Deploying Increased Staffing Levels
Last week, the Department of Public Works (DPW) increased from operating with minimum staffing levels to having 50% of its Parks and Highway Division staff report on a daily basis.  Starting next week, DPW will increase staffing levels again, to 75% of available staff. Increased staffing levels will address spring cleanup and additional operations associated with warmer weather and the onset of the growing season here in Mequon.

Superintendents are and will continue to be mindful of the current Safer at Home Order to ensure that essential operations are completed, while continuing to keep a number of staff isolated and safer at home. Staff will receive orders remotely, stagger start times, use separate vehicles or equipment, work mostly in isolation and take breaks and lunch on site to avoid person-to-person contact.  Operations will be sensitive to what private property owners can do under the order, so that DPW operations do not conflict with such mandates, cause confusion or create any inequities.

Engineering Division and Administrative staff will continue to work from home and perform field inspections as required.  Staffing levels will continue to be evaluated to ensure that DPW has adequate personnel to address essential operations, while also protecting the public and workforce.

Police Department Receives Equipment Sanitizing Donations
The Mequon Police Department has received several generous offers from local companies for sanitizing the Department’s squad cars and booking room, at no charge to the City.  Squad cars are being sanitized both inside and out with approved procedures, a valued service during the COVID-19 pandemic. These services are being donated by Absent Odor, LLC which is owned by Adam Dietzo who is a Mequon resident, AdvantaClean which is owned by David Harley, also a Mequon resident and SERVPRO, which is owned by Bill and Jan Callaway who are residents. The latter two companies are also Mequon-based businesses. The Police Department and the City are grateful for the services donated by all three companies. 

Mequon Police Honored with “Thin Blue Line” Truck
Delivering much more than just a meal to the Mequon Police Department, a local trucking company brought food to the station this past Thursday, April 30, along with sustenance for the soul.  Kriete Truck Centers brought lunch to the Police Department delivered in a quad-axle dump truck with a special "thin blue line" paint job, listing the names of all Wisconsin law enforcement members who have lost their lives in the line of duty. To view a video of the event click here.

Social Distancing Apps for Seniors Now Available
The National Council for Safety, Protection and Wellness offers a guide to practical apps for seniors. The guide provides information on how seniors can communicate, have groceries delivered, find home care, and locate health monitoring tools using apps for seniors. Please select the following link to the Social Distancing Apps for Seniors guide to view the free source. 

Community Blood Drive Scheduled for Friday, May 8
As a reminder, a Community Blood Drive will be held from 7:00 A.M. - 2:30 P.M. on Friday, May 8, in the Common Council Chambers at Mequon City Hall, 11333 N. Cedarburg Road. Donors are urged to make an appointment to help uphold the event’s strict protocol on social distancing and sanitizing. Visit bit.ly/jillmay2020 to make an appointment.