The Sturgeon Bay Common Council took action Tuesday to help the police department recruit and keep more officers while adopting a new part-time police officer position.
Through Personnel Committee recommendations, the council unanimously approved the abolishment of the residency requirement for law enforcement having to live within a 15-mile of Sturgeon Bay and adopting a part-time position in the department. Assistant Police Chief Dan Brinkman told the council that they are four officers down, the worst he has seen in his 33 years with the department.
A resolution to adopt the Adjusted Urban Area Boundary was sent to the Plan Commission by the Sturgeon Bay Common Council after discussion and concerns were raised during public comments that the Emerald Drive area might not fit the criteria for urban development. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is adjusting the Urban Area Boundaries for all Urban Areas within the state to provide better transportation based on the 2020 census. The change in the draft map includes the southwest of the city, down to Emerald Drive, near where commercial development is being planned along Highway 42-57.
In other business, the two first readings of rezoning ordinances were approved. One is for land at the northeast corner of South Columbia Avenue and Highway 42-57 by McDonald’s. The other one is a parcel located at Cove Road and Utah Street that is to be rezoned from agricultural to residential so the property can be split into two lots.
The final piece of business done Tuesday was approving an updated description for the Fire Chief position since the old one was last crafted in 1997.
