See the Election Guides for New Richmond Alderperson District 6, 4:

New Richmond District  6 Alderperson race

Mike Montello (Incumbent)

Occupation: General Manager, Bernards

Prior elected positions: City Council (1989 – 1993) (2016 – July 2023) (December 2023 – present) council president 5 years. Serving the community continuously, in a variety of roles,  since 1985

Family: Married (Liz), three children, 10 grandchildren

How long have you lived in New Richmond?

43 years (44 years in area).

What do you believe are the two biggest challenges facing the city and what do you think is the best course of action to address those challenges?

Continuing on the path of fiscal responsibility while meeting our public safety needs for our growing community. The best course of action is to continue to support city staff in their continuing efforts with fiscal discipline and support our public safety agencies in the ways that put them in the best position to meet the needs of our community.

Do you support spending taxpayer dollars on the new library project? Why or why not?

Yes. The library serves a vital function in our community and the current facility is ill equipped to meet the needs of its patrons. Library staff does an incredible job. The time is past due for a new facility. Our library, like many libraries, provides resource assistance to many families and individuals who have limited, if any, other options.

Would you support the City building its own biosolids handling facility? Why or why not?

The handling of waste water at our waste water treatment plant is a process that involves local processing, and the trucking of material to a cooperative facility in Ellsworth and bringing by-product back to NR. In addition to growing cost of trucking, that facility is in need of substantial investment. River Falls recently decided to build their own facility. I support our plan to research this to see if the economics of building our own facility make sense.

How would you address the City’s shortage of affordable housing?

This is a challenge with no easy solutions. The need for affordable (workforce) housing is evident and I (as well as the council) have been supportive of various affordable housing initiatives (like setting aside money earmarked for workforce housing from closing local Tax Increment Districts). There is no simple answer and many different initiatives have been tried across the U.S. This will continue to be a “front burner” issue for the City and will be a part of future efforts.

Do you believe the City should continue its practice of purchasing and developing property downtown? Why yes or why no?

The threshold is high as to what needs to occur for this to be a viable means of development. It depends on the specifics of the situation.

Bill Kwasny

Occupation: Civil Engineer

Prior elected positions: NONE

Education: BACHELOR degree and MASTER of SCIENCE degree in CIVIL ENGINEERING from Marquette University (1966 and 1968)

Family: Married for 56 years (wife Jan), with five adult children and 15 grandchildren

How long have you lived in New Richmond? Since January 2023. Note: My engineering Company, GME Consultants, Inc., first provided soil engineering in New Richmond in 1991. I worked on over 20 projects in New Richmond, including the Elementary School on CTH GG, the Post Office, a new hangar at the airport, New Richmond Senior Housing, School District Office Building, Community Center

What do you believe are the two biggest challenges facing the city and what do you think is the best course of action to address those challenges?

1. The reinvigoration of downtown – address by public-private joint ventures

2. Transparency in all phases of the City government – e.g., disclosure of the facts in the Fire Department controversy

Do you support spending taxpayer dollars on the new library project? Why or why not?

I have visited the library, and I agree that a new or expanded facility is needed.

The plan on the table right now is for the library to be on the first floor of an apartment building. I have been on the engineering team for this type of project and I have seen that it can work if done correctly, and to the benefit of the government entity and the local citizens. 

Would you support the City building its own biosolids handling facility? Why or why not?

I do not support the development of a manure digesting facility in or close to the City of New Richmond. Such a facility, given the truck traffic it would generate and the odors that would emanate, should be built in a rural area where no future development is planned or likely.

Further, if the biosolids are to include sludge from treatment of City waste water, the presence of prescription drugs which are not broken down during treatment could be an additional hazard. 

How would you address the City’s shortage of affordable housing?

My first approach would be to explore if the private sector (developers, housing contractors) can and will address this issue. As a second course of action, I would want to see whether a joint venture of the City + St. Croix County could acquire the land, then contract with a housing developer with experience in projects of this type to accomplish the construction. The City should then hire a private firm to manage the housing. Regardless of which path is taken, I am of the opinion that affordable housing should be close to locations of businesses  providing job opportunities.       

Do you believe the City should continue its practice of purchasing and developing property downtown? Why yes or why no?

I do not believe that the City should continue its practice of purchasing and developing property downtown. It is not the function of government to compete with the private sector.

New Richmond District 4 Alderperson race

Thomas Weinmeyer

Occupation: semi-retired 

Prior Elected Positions: Alderman District 3

Education: Architectural Technology

Family: Wife/four kids

How long have you lived in New Richmond? 

17 years in New Richmond.

What do you believe are the two biggest challenges facing the city and what do you think is the best course of action to address those challenges?

The No. 1 thing I always hear is about taxes, and keeping them low. The price of doing business is always going to go up, like everything else. Wisconsin does not make it easy for cities to get other sources of income, like in Minnesota. We have to borrow money for some of the things we need to get done … but try to get the best deals we can, and apply for as many grants that we can.

Do you support spending taxpayer dollars on the new library project? Why or why not?

We do need a new library. Per population size we have the 11th smallest library in Wisconsin. It has been said if we do not do it now, it will never happen. Most people I have talked to are in favor of this … as I am also. Hopefully we can keep the cost down though.

Would you support the City building its own biosolids handling facility? Why or why not?

After the uproar of the manure digester I am still on the fence with this one. It all depends on the cost of one … how much money it will involve, and save us, and problems that might involve smell.

How would you address the City’s shortage of affordable housing?

The city cannot force builders to build affordable housing. We can strongly push for that to be so, but that is up to them.

Do you believe the City should continue its practice of purchasing and developing property downtown? Why yes or why no?

I do not want to see the City in the real estate business and be in competition with our local businesses' unless it is absolutely necessary, even though this has happened several times in the past.