www.westalliswi.gov
Honoring 2021’s First Place Honorees and Employees of the Year
Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, 3 p.m.
FOURTH ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY
In 2021, we continued to see many blessings and challenges come our way with the ongoing pandemic. However, as we witness West Allis grow and evolve in wonderful and diverse ways, I continue to be quite proud of all we are accomplishing as a municipality. This City of West Allis team pays close attention to resident needs, and continues to raise the bar in providing excellent service across the board. Our 2021 SCORE Corps honorees went above and beyond in so many remarkable ways. As I was re-reading our monthly winners, it is impossible not to notice how dedicated you all are, not only to seeing your jobs well done, but in making residents feel heard, seen, and supported in any pressing need they have at the time. We are grateful to our 2021 SCORE Corps winners, and thank our entire team for their persistence and passion in serving West Allis. Sincerely, Dan Devine, Mayor of West Allis
MARIANNE FLETCHER Won: January 2021 Department: Police Nominated by: Gale Ireland Core Value Nominated for: Service Excellence Details of Nomination: On 1/26 during the snow there was a hit & run accident that occurred on 73rd & Greenfield Ave. A basic description of the offending vehicle was given out over the radio and Parking Control Operator Marianne Fletcher notice a vehicle matching that description with damage to the front end parked in a driveway on 84th St. She was able to provide a partial plate as she drove by and it turned out to the vehicle involved in the crash. The offender was given several citations.
West Allis Score Corps Awards - 1
MIKE WEISNICHT Won: February 2021 Department: Building Inspection & Neighborhood Services Nominated by: Dan Adamczyk Core Value Nominated for: Service Excellence Details of Nomination: A resident named Nancy was calling several departments about a fire hydrant in front of her house on Greenfield Ave. She left a message stating she was in her 80’s and she wasn’t able to dig out the fire hydrant because the plows buried it and then the snow froze. She was upset she received a post card for Adopt A Hydrant and she couldn’t clear the snow around hers. Mike was out on inspections and drove by the property and the resident was out by the hydrant with an ice pick. Mike stopped and without hesitating grabbed a shovel from his car and shoveled out the fire hydrant for her. He also left door hangers at properties within 150 feet of the hydrant letting them know they are also responsible for shoveling out the hydrant.
West Allis Score Corps Awards - 2
KEITH KLESCEWSKI & CARLOS MEZA Won: March 2021 Department: Public Works Nominated by: Don Molleson Core Value Nominated for: Service Excellence Details of Nomination: I’m writing to nominate Carlos and Keith for the 2020-2021 relamping work. Between the two of them they relamped 1493 city street lights which is done during the winter months every year. Normally there is four to six people on this project every year but due to other projects this winter and being short handed they were able to complete all the relamping for the year on there own.
JAY ZIELINSKI
Won: April 2021 Department: Public Works Nominated by: Michael Brofka Core Value Nominated for: Service Excellence; Continuous Improvement Details of Nomination: The Water Division has an increased demand to flush fire hydrants to maintain water quality standards for the Optimized Corrosion Control Study we are currently conducting. With this increase, we needed to order new flushing equipment to have multiple team members flushing at the same time. We ordered a flushing diffuser and the item broke after only 2 weeks of use. Jay looked at the flushing diffuser and told me he could make a replacement that was going to be stronger and much cheaper in cost. Jay was able to fabricate 2 separate diffusers of much higher quality for a quarter of the price of the one unit we ordered. Jay’s innovative thinking and outstanding technical expertise saved the Division from having to buy a new inferior diffuser at a much higher price. Keep up the great work Jay!
West Allis Score Corps Awards - 3
West Allis Score Corps Awards - 4
JENNIFER BARTEL & LILIA GARCIA Won: May 2021 Department: Communications & Health Nominated by: Jon Matte Core Value Nominated for: Continuous Improvement; Equitable Details of Nomination: I am nominating Lilia Garcia and Jennifer Bartel for Continuous Improvement and Equitable. The Communications Dept recently created a 24 page New Resident Guide. Upon completion of the guide, Jennifer and Lilia collaborated to convert the piece into a Spanish version. This bilingual communication greatly helps enhance the city’s diversity and inclusion efforts. Well, done!
West Allis Score Corps Awards - 5
KATIE HUBBARD Won: May 2021 Department: Library Nominated by: Jenny Kosek Core Value Nominated for: Service Excellence; Equitable Details of Nomination: In 2020, the WAWM Mental Health and Substance Abuse Task Force had a fully prepared campaign developed to launch in May to promote Mental Health Awareness Month and the Community Read of the book “Beautiful Boy”...and then the pandemic struck. Plans were shelved until 2021. In early 2021, the Task Force began conversations to revive the Community Read in a virtual format as the pandemic continued. However, follow through from group members and the finalization of details faltered in the planning. As May and Mental Health Month approached, only the Library had developed concrete activities to support this event. Thanks to Katie’s hard work, the Community Read did move forward this year, and with her leadership and creativity, a host of activities were provided to encourage residents to read the book, engage with the Library, and work to #stopthestigma surrounding mental health. Katie proactively reached out to Communications to receive promotional materials to spread the word about these events. She set up displays at the Library to highlight the book and Mental Health Awareness Month. She coordinated distribution of promotional materials to the Health Department and Apostle Presbyterian Church to promote these activities further. She created “Mental Health Break” take-and-make kits to give away to Library patrons. Katie promoted virtual book talks heavily on social media and even led a Facebook Live to promote “Beautiful Boy” and other mental health titles. Katie’s passion for this topic, organization, and follow-through are much appreciated and admired. Katie has been a leader in the WAWM Mental Health Task Force and has repeatedly shown commitment to Goal “2-2 Support/leverage Health Department partnerships and Community Health Improvement Plan 2016-2020 across additional City departments, agencies and key groups to focus on health lifestyles, substance abuse and addiction, and Mental Health issues” of our Five Year Strategic Plan as she has brought great energy, compassion, and thoughtfulness to the group’s activities. Thank you, Katie, for leading the efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in our community and for providing educational resources to residents of all ages on this topic through the Library.
West Allis Score Corps Awards - 6
PETER FANTLE Won: June 2021 Department: Information Technology Nominated by: Steven Schaer Core Value Nominated for: Service Excellence Details of Nomination: Planning requested a custom GIS map through IT support for an upcoming Safety and Development Committee meeting, but was informed by IT support that our City GIS Analyst, Peter Fantle, was out of town on vacation and not due to return until the day of the meeting. Planning would need to prepare a work around map to present to Committee. Then on the morning of June 28, Peter happened to return home a little earlier than expected from his wilderness adventure up in the boundary waters and was tired/recovering. He checked his emails and reached out to Planning indicating, “I should be able to knock it out fairly quickly, provided I can get the Deet fog and sleepiness under control. When do you need it by?” Later the same afternoon we had our map for a presentation to the Safety and Development Committee meeting. Thanks to Peter for exceptional service delivery in response to our needs.
West Allis Score Corps Awards - 7
THAT’S WHY WEST ALLIS
Find out more at thatswhywestallis.com
West Allis Score Corps Awards - 8
DENISE CLEARY Won: July 2021 Department: Communications Nominated by: Caitlyn White Core Value Nominated for: Service Excellence Details of Nomination: Denise consistently goes above and beyond when helping out her co-workers if they need an extra hand. Most recently, Denise covered for me when I needed someone to be at the July 9 Food Truck Friday event. Having a staff member on site at the event ensures someone is there to handle emergency situations, answer any vendor/customer questions, and lock up the market structure after the event. After already having a busy work week, she still offered to help me out and be at the event when I couldn’t be on site. Her willingness to work outside of the scope of her position and at a Friday night event just to help me out shows just how supportive and dedicated she is a team member. Thank you Denise!
TRACI GENGLER Won: July 2021 Department: Engineering Nominated by: Peter Daniels Core Value Nominated for: Service Excellence Details of Nomination: Traci has been very responsive to the residents and alderpersons concerned about the 4 poor railroad crossings in West Allis. Traci very diligently engaged with the Union Pacific Railroad and Commissioner of Railroads for over 2 years to resolve the very poor condition of these 4 railroad crossings in West Allis. But finally the intransigence of the railroad led to the City’s filing a petition for a formal Railroad Commissioner investigation and hearing on this matter. Traci very professionally prepared all the needed documents and resolutions for the petition. Traci then prepared the lengthy and very professionally written testimony and gathered the voluminous photos needed to document the poor condition of the crossings. The testimony was required to be in a very specific legal format similar to a court case which Traci provided perfectly as required. The Railroad’s Hearing Examiner referred to the photos gratuitously during the verbal testimony and the Union Pacific Railroad did not even try to deny the poor condition of these crossings as a result, but immediately engaged in scheduling negotiations which will result in immediate repairs and in completely new crossings being installed at all four locations over the next two years. West Allis Score Corps Awards - 9
NATALIE DOBSCHUETZ & BRITNIE KUHNMUENCH Won: August 2021 Department: Police Nominated by: Eric Jansen Core Value Nominated for: Service Excellence Details of Nomination: On 8/5/2021, Dispatcher Kuhnmuench received a 911 call from a male party who believed that there were armed men in his apartment. The caller also had a handgun and was clearly deranged and intoxicated. The caller disconnected shortly after giving this minimal information. Dispatcher Kuhnmuench promptly dispatched officers to the scene and attempted to call back the phone number the call came from. However, the number was disconnected. Thankfully, the caller called back from a different phone. I (Supervisor Jansen) spent the next approximately 30 minutes on the phone with the individual attempting to convince him to come down the stairs unarmed to meet with officers. During this time, the dispatch center was nearly overwhelmed with calls for service. We received 26 calls for service from the time we originally received the 911 call from the delusional male party (1349 hours) until the party was safely in custody and the apt was clear (1448 hours). That’s a new call for service approximately every 2 minutes, and that’s in addition to all of the other calls that were answered without creating a call for service as well as the nearly overwhelming amount of radio traffic between police and fire radios (this was also the opening day of State Fair!). Dispatchers Kuhnmuench and Dobschuetz remained calm, professional, and provided EXCEPTIONAL service to citizens, officers, and fire personnel during this hectic time in the dispatch center, and they should be commended for their performance. West Allis Score Corps Awards - 10
FRANK LEUNG Won: September - October 2021 Department: Public Works Nominated by: Alexander Weislak Core Value Nominated for: Service Excellence Details of Nomination: Frank went above and beyond his employment duties to mentor and encourage a new inspector, and to ensure that City specifications were being obtained in the field. The project assigned to the inspector had many unforeseen underground obstacles, which brought along a plethora of unique and interesting challenges that needed to be addressed. Frank not only assisted in teaching the new inspector the correct procedures to follow when situations such as this occur, but also went out of his way to provide a culture that supports questions and learning opportunities. Through his actions the City has been able to update necessary infrastructure that will serve West Allis resident’s for years to come. West Allis Score Corps Awards - 11
MAHESH NEPAL & RICHARD ROGNSVOOG Won: November 2021 Department: Public Works Nominated by: Dave Wepking Core Value Nominated for: Service Excellence Details of Nomination: Mayor Dan Devine, On behalf of myself and my boyfriend, who live at 8246 W. Montana Ave., I would like to reach out and let you know how impressed we were with a recent service by the Department of Public Works at our home. We had two large trees that we recently removed and proceeded to reach out to the city for assistance in removal of the brush. The workers arrived this morning and did just an amazing job. They not only removed the brush, but they raked the yard of debris as well. Joe and I feel so thankful and blessed that we live in such a great community. We both grew up in West Allis and are thoroughly enjoying being a part of the city again. Sincerely, Michelle Gross and Joe Rieland
TRACY MANZ Won: November 2021 Department: Police Nominated by: Brian Saftig Core Value Nominated for: Continuous Improvement Details of Nomination: Since late July 2021, the West Allis Police Department has been working diligently to combat motor vehicle thefts in the city. Detectives have identified ‘hot spots’ in the city, distributed 3,000 crime prevention flyers to residents and partnered with the Hyundai Motors to obtain anti-theft locks for vehicle steering wheels. To date, over 400 steering wheel locks have been distributed to residents. To continue crime prevention efforts and encourage officer engagement with citizens, Administrative Support Specialist Tracy Manz suggested officers give steering wheel locks to individuals while out on patrol. The locks can be given to victims reporting motor vehicle thefts (for other existing vehicles), victims of attempt thefts and/or to any citizen an officer encounters who might be unaware of the program or steering wheel lock availability. This is a phenomenal idea that will increase officer / citizen engagement while supporting our overall mission to prevent crime in our city, as well as West Allis Core Values: Continuous Improvement and Service Excellence.
West Allis Score Corps Awards - 12
MITCHELL SCHROEDER Won: December 2021 Department: Police Nominated by: Lisa Bergmann Core Value Nominated for: Service Excellence; Equitable Details of Nomination: Mitchell Schroeder has been a Community Service Officer for a little over 7 months. He primarily monitors the front desk, assists those in the lobby, handles many types of complaints, fingerprints people for job applications, checks on prisoners being held in a cell, and assists the Records Clerks with walk-in guests. Mitchell has been a huge asset to the Records Unit. In his short time working the front desk he has proven himself to be dedicated, intuitive, and kindhearted. It takes a special skill set to work with some of our most challenging guests. In my opinion one of his best qualities is his dedication to go above and beyond. He has never once not helped with a task regardless how big or how small. He seems to know exactly when to step out of his office to help the Records Clerk with an unhappy customer. And, when the Clerks check in guests who request a desk officer he is quick to help them from the beginning to the end never complaining about what type of report it is...In the past few months our department has been giving out auto theft clubs to anyone who comes in to request them. Without being asked he has gone to our basement level and brought up boxes of them because he saw we were running low. These boxes are bulky and heavy and would be difficult for some of our staff to carry. He went as far as opening the boxes (which are taped shut and ziptied) knowing that would be helpful to the Clerks as well as breaking down the cardboard for our maintenance men. Not many people are able to carry out a task in that amount of detail without being asked. This week I was working later than normal and there were very few people in the building. In the middle of printing a large report the copier stopped working. I asked a few people for help and they were unable to help me. I jokingly asked Mitchell for help. He said he wouldn’t mind taking a look at it. Lo and behold he was able to figure out the problem. He also helped me locate a new toner (which also needed to be changed), and installed that for me. His help made it possible for me to finish my task in a timely manner. It’s these little things that Mitchell does for others that make a huge impact. To some it might seem small and silly, but to those it is helping it can make a bad day seem good again.
West Allis Score Corps Awards - 13
FOURTH ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY: FUN FACTS Person with the most nominations within one month for 2021: Melissa Weisnicht, Finance (2), Boualin Xayyavona, IT (2)
Person with the most nominations total for 2021: Jessica Castiglione, Police (3), Melissa Weisnicht, Finance (3), Boualin Xayyavona, IT (3) Persons with the most first place nominations for 2021: None Total number of employees honored for 2021: 61 Total Nominations for 2021: 76 Total Nominations for 2020: 200 Total Nominations combined: 276 Total number of employees first time nominations: 18 West Allis Score Corps Awards - 14
S.C.O.R.E.
About the SCORE Corps The City of West Allis Core Values spell the acronym “SCORE,” and the SCORE Corps was created in 2018 to instill these values in employees and uphold employees for demonstrating these values in actions, words, and performance. A peer-to-peer recognition program, the SCORE Corps allows any employee, regardless of department, tenure, or rank, to commend another employee for demonstrating or practicing one or more of the Core Values. Each month, nominations are received and reviewed by the City Administrator and Mayor, who select and rank honorees based on the nomination information. Winners are honored with certificates and announcements on AskAllis and the employee e-newsletter, and may also receive additional rewards.
Continuous Improvement
Service Excellence
Exceptional professional service for
AND by outstanding people; Responsive, efficient, dedicated and engaged workforce.
Innovations through creative
AND strategic management; Sustained improvement through goal oriented customer focused results.
Renewal
Open & Transparent
Revitalization through collaborations
AND
Ethical, accessible
AND accountable government operations.
Equitable Respectful, responsible, compassionate,
AND welcoming to all.
partnerships with a focus on image, economic development, and growth.