City Hall  
City of La Crosse, Wisconsin  
400 La Crosse Street  
La Crosse, WI 54601  
Meeting Minutes  
Police and Fire Commission  
Thursday, June 19, 2025  
8:30 AM  
City Hall - Hedgehog Conference Room  
Draft until approved at the Commission's July 17, 2025 meeting.  
The Police and Fire Commission meeting was conducted through video conferencing and  
available for public viewing at the following link:  
https://cityoflacrosse-org.zoom.us/j/87129529405.  
Members of the public who wished to speak on an agenda item were asked to contact the  
Commission Secretary by emailing ihrkem@cityoflacrosse.org, calling (608)789-7595, or  
using the drop box outside of City Hall.  
Call to Order  
Meeting called to order by Chairperson Happel at 8:31 a.m.  
Roll Call  
Guests: Chief Schott, Chief Kudron, Assistant Chief Neher, Rebecca Franzen  
Present: 3 - Doug Happel, Ellen Frantz, James Szymalak  
Excused: 2 - Bruce Jentz, Nese Nasif  
Approval of Minutes  
Minutes of May 15, 2025 meeting.  
Motion by Commissioner Szymalak to approve the minutes of the May 15, 2025  
meeting. Motion seconded by Commissioner Frantz. Unanimous approval.  
Agenda Items:  
Fire Personnel Report - June, 2025  
I.  
Presented by: Chief Schott  
Motion by Commissioner Szymalak to accept and file the June, 2025 Fire  
Personnel Report. Motion seconded by Commissioner Frantz. Unanimous  
approval.  
A. Appointment of the following to regular status following successful completion of  
introductory period:  
1. Assistant Chief Blane Neher  
2. Battalion Chief Jesse Walters  
3. Captain Andrew Formanek  
4. Captain Brandon Gritt  
5. Lieutenant Ryan Scheel  
Motion by Commissioner Szymalak to approve the appointment of Blane Neher  
to regular status following successful completion of the introductory period.  
Motion seconded by Commissioner Frantz. Unanimous approval.  
Motion by Commissioner Szymalak to approve the appointment of Jesse  
Walters to regular status following successful completion of the introductory  
period. Motion seconded by Commissioner Frantz. Unanimous approval.  
Motion by Commissioner Szymalak to approve the appointment of Andrew  
Formanek to regular status following successful completion of the introductory  
period. Motion seconded by Commissioner Frantz. Unanimous approval.  
Motion by Commissioner Szymalak to approve the appointment of Brandon  
Gritt to regular status following successful completion of the introductory  
period. Motion seconded by Commissioner Frantz. Unanimous approval.  
Motion by Commissioner Szymalak to approve the appointment of Ryan Scheel  
to regular status following successful completion of the introductory period.  
Motion seconded by Commissioner Frantz. Unanimous approval.  
Police Personnel Report - June, 2025  
II.  
Presented by: Chief Kudron  
Motion by Commissioner Szymalak to accept and file the June, 2025 Police  
Personnel Report. Motion seconded by Commissioner Frantz. Unanimous  
approval.  
A. Promotion of Sergeant Steve Pataska to the rank of Lieutenant.  
Motion by Commissioner Szymalak to approve the promotion of Sergeant  
Steve Pataska to the rank of Lieutenant. Motion seconded by Commissioner  
Frantz. Unanimous approval.  
Next Meeting: Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 8:30 a.m.  
III.  
A. Future Agenda Items:  
1. Police Officer interviews to follow July and November meetings in 2025.  
Adjournment  
Meeting adjourned by Commissioner Happel at 8:44 a.m.