Parks Commissioner complains about lack of local news
By Brandi Makuski
STEVENS POINT — A Stevens Point woman addressed the City Council on Monday night to complain about a lack of information in the local press.
Liz McDonald, who is also a Stevens Point Parks Commissioner, spoke during the non-agenda item public comment period at the July 15 Common Council meeting. In her remarks, McDonald, a longtime volunteer in city and civic dealings, asked for two things: A voter drop box for the fall presidential election, and more information about the proposed city administrator role.
Mayor Mike Wiza explained to McDonald that the city still had the drop boxes from the last election, and they would be installed in November, or possibly sooner.
McDonald also expressed concerns about local reporting on the proposal to introduce a city administrator position.
“I’ve heard a little bit, I think Channel 7 or 9 covered the fact that there was some discussion within the City Council of looking at having both a mayor and a city administrator, and I think before something like that happens, there’s got to be an opportunity for a lot of public discourse on it,” she said. “I’m wondering number one, what prompted this discussion, and I’m wondering also, what other cities in the state of Wisconsin that are approximately our size have both a city administrator and a mayor.”
McDonald also said she wondered what problem existed in city government that an administrator would address.
“And if there is a problem with what we’re currently doing, is there a way to fix it that would be less expensive than adding to staff? I know the police department wants to add some patrol officers, and we all agree that we desperately need that, and I think we should really have some discussion going talk to the public in general,” she said.
McDonald also expressed distaste over the lack of local news reporting.
“We don’t have print newspapers in Stevens Point anymore, or I guess we do, but the news that I do see, like in the Stevens Point Journal, I think we finally got coverage of Riverfront Rendezvous yesterday. So, I mean, it’s really not current coverage on those things,” she said.
Because it was a public comment period, there was no discussion on McDonald’s questions.
See some of the Metro Wire’s reporting on this and other issues since July 1:
Council President claims he isn’t seeking part-time mayor; docs differ
UPDATE: New city administrator position would cost nearly $200K annually
Chief to Council: City admin idea overshadows promised staffing at SPPD
After Board approval, contract for Michigan Ave. rebuild headed for Common Council
County highway department to consider capital improvement plans for 2025-30
Alderman quietly shopping resolution to address homelessness
Humane society needs donations to ready 16 rescued dogs for adoption