Tuesdays with the Mayor: A weekly update with Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza
By Taylor J. Hale
Staff Writer
STEVENS POINT – Mayor Mike Wiza sat down with Gazette staff to give an update on Stevens Point developments. Wiza touched on elected versus appointed officials, a new downtown piano, and more.
Elected versus appointed officials
City officials will again discuss changing how the city clerk, treasurer, and attorney are brought into the office, at a personal committee meeting on July 13.
The agenda item states, “There are two distinct concerns or lines of argument that are worth distinguishing. Some advocates of this change see a clear trend in the complexity of municipal management that increasingly demands technical skills. According to this view, the responsibilities of the comptroller-treasurer, clerk, and city attorney are becoming so technocratic that it makes more sense to recruit and appoint professional specialists than to decide at the ballot box. The other argument looks at the issue as a matter of risk exposure and the supply of talent in the local labor market. In other words, can we count on having suitable candidates come forward and run for these offices?”
The meeting will be open to the public on July 13 at 6:55 p.m. on Zoom.
Downtown Piano
Wiza noted that the downtown Bus Depo Stage would be receiving a small upright piano for anyone to play for fun or impromptu concerts.
“We got a piano donated,” Wiza said. “We have some people painting it right now to make it a little more weatherproof. Anyone can come up and just sit down and play if they want.”
Wiza asks that residents be respectful of the instrument and do not cause any intentional damage.
Follow the Gazette for more information on when the piano will be installed.
Union Cemetery sign reward
A citizen has posted a $500 cash reward for the return of the Union Cemetery sign after it was stolen last month. The 18-foot sign was removed by city crews and taken while it was down.
“The reward is still definitely there if someone has it,” Wiza said.
Those with information are encouraged to call 715-346-1531.