I’m always here I’M STILL HERE!for you! 27 years in VASD Housing Market
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Kathy Bartels
Friday, April 9, 2021 • Vol. 8, No. 2 • Fitchburg, WI • ConnectFitchburg.com • $1
608-235-2927
KBartels@StarkHomes.com
Spring election
Inside
Herbst unseats incumbent
Pickleball courts approved for McGaw Park
Lokuta, Pankratz win for OSD; Williams, Murphy, Porco win in VASD
Page 2
KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group
Meet the administrator candidates Page 3 Photo by Justin Loewen
UW Health’s Laura Kane loads a box of food into a patron’s trunk during Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin’s mobile food pantry at Fitchburg Fire Station No. 2 on Wednesday, March 24.
Mobile food pantry visits Star correspondent
Leopold gets $2,500 grant Page 8
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin’s mobile food pantry came to Fitchburg Fire Station No. 2 on Wednesday, March 24, providing local
families with access to free food items without the need to show identification or make reservations. The food program took place in a drive-thru format, with volunteers from UW Health helping to load vehicles.
Inside More photos Page 2
Sports City of Fitchburg
Council rejects $250K claim from Marsh Edgewood dominates state swimming Page 12
Schools VAHS plans graducation, prom Page 15
Business From STEM to stern Page 19
City staff packed up his items because of concerns caused by his behavior KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group
The City of Fitchburg has rejected a $250,000 insurance claim from former administrator Patrick Marsh for items he said the city failed to return from his office. Marsh, who signed a voluntary resignation agreement in January paying him six months’ salary, accused the city of packing up his office without his consent and losing three personal keepsakes that are “priceless,” according to a letter from him to the city that was included in the council
packet. Marsh told the Common Council prior to its vote on the claim Tuesday, March 23, that he planned to pursue litigation against Marsh the city if alders were to deny it. The council voted unanimously after a 30-minute closed session and held no discussion in open session. Ald. Julia Arata-Fratta (Dist. 2) abstained from the discussion and vote over Marsh’s insurance claim, which she also did when the council approved the voluntary resignation conditions for Marsh at the Jan. 12 meeting. Both times, she offered no comment as to why. City staff cleaned out his office after more than one person had asked city leadership to not allow
Marsh come back to pack up his office because of behavior multiple employees saw as intimidating, a city official told the Star on Wednesday, March 24. The Star is not naming the official because of potential litigation concerns. The behavior that concerned employees occurred both before and after the separation agreement was signed, the unnamed official told the Star. Marsh told the council he had returned twice to the building to retrieve personal items after being put on administrative leave Nov. 30. Marsh told alders during the public comment period that because he was allowed into City Hall twice prior to signing the agreement but after he was put on leave, he should have been permitted to re-enter to pack up his personal items himself. The items Marsh claims are
Turn to Election/Page 9
Turn to Claim/Page 9
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JUSTIN LOEWEN
There will be three new people on the City of Fitchburg Common Council at the end of the month In District 1, longtime Board of Public Works chair Dave Herbst defeated incumbent Dorothy Krause by a vote of 375-323. Districts 3 and 4 will also have new alders Herbst in Jay Allen and Jim Wheeler. Wheeler ran for council unopposed, succeeding Tom Clauder, who had decided in December against running for another term; and Allen won against opponent Shawnicia Allen Youmas by a vote of 576-396, who had told the Star earlier this spring that she planned to decline the seat if she won. Incumbent Julia Arata-Fratta is the only returning member of Council, as she won Wheeler against Plan Commission member Steven Heller by a vote of 1,144-605. Two of the city’s school districts also had contested races for their respective school boards. Arata-Fratta For the Verona Area Board of Education, incumbent Yanna Williams, Jen Murphy and John Porco won a three-year At-Large term from a five-way race for three seats that included incumbent Carolyn Jahnke and Nicole Vafadari. Meredith Stier Christensen, who represents an Outside Cities seat, ran unopposed. At least one new board member was guaranteed to win, as Tom Duerst had announced in December he would not run for reelection. For school district races, with 11 of 12 precincts in Dane County
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NEW YEAR, NEW APARTMENT! 5. Riva
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