The City of Milton will be awarding the following winners at the Commitment to Community Recognition Dinner on February 19, 2015. Tickets for the Community Recognition Dinner are $25 each and available at Milton City Hall, 710 S. Janesville Street.
Police Officer of the Year – Ryan Justice The Police Department Command Staff unanimously chose Detective Ryan Justice as 2014 Milton Police Officer of the Year. Detective Justice was chosen because of the outstanding work he did in helping The Milton Police Department achieve accreditation in December 2014. Detective Justice took over mid-stream as accreditation manager after the departure of Lt. Brad Smith in September 2013.
Citizen Heroism Award – Ryan D. Koenig The City of Milton recognizes Ryan Koenig with the Citizen Heroism Award for his efforts in preventing an intoxicated driver from leaving an establishment in Milton until police officers arrived to the scene. Blood alcohol tests were later received showing the driver was a .281 bac when tested after attempting to drive from the scene. Legal proof of intoxicated operation of a motor vehicle in Wisconsin is .08. The driver had recently been arrested in Janesville for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with several small children in the vehicle. Ryan is to be commended for physically preventing the driver from leaving the scene in her vehicle and possibly causing injury to herself or some other motorist or pedestrian. Ryan showed concern for the driver upon initially observing her, and later determining that she was incapacitated and should not re-enter the vehicle. It would have been easy to just say it wasn’t his business and leave it up to someone else to intervene; however, Ryan did the right thing and he is an example to others for his exemplary behavior.
Community Award – William Wallisch The City of Milton recognizes William Wallisch with a Community Award for his efforts to assist the Milton Police Department in apprehending two males who were arrested for theft. William contacted 911 when he noticed two males checking the door handles on numerous vehicles. He told the officer what he observed. The officer pulled the vehicle over and detained the two subjects inside. Confessions were received from both males that they had gone through 15 to 20 unlocked vehicles and that they had stolen cell phones and money from them. The stolen items were recovered from their vehicle and they were both arrested for theft. William is to be commended for his alert response to this crime as it occurred and his detailed description of the subjects and their vehicle. Not only did William identify a possible crime in progress, but he actively watched the subjects and kept an eye on them until they got into a vehicle and left the area. Without William’s observations and eye for detail, the Milton Police Department would not have been able to identify these subjects and stop a crime in progress.
Historic Preservation Award – Terry Williamson The Historic Preservation Commission recognizes Terry Williamson with the Historic Preservation Award. In 1997, Terry and her husband Joe purchased Goodrich Hall and began an 18 year renovation and continual maintenance on the building, which is part of the Milton College Historic District. Terry wrote a grant in 1999 to replace the Milton College Historic District Sign on the corner of High and Columbus, and she also joined the Milton College Preservation Society Board for which she has served as secretary and is currently treasurer. Terry also serves on the Historic Preservation Commission and has been a member since 2010. In 2013, Terry and Joe purchased a second historic building, the Goodrich House, and started renovations. She has also worked with the Historic Preservation Commission to list the property on the National Register of Historic Places. Terry’s love for history and preservation continues into her job in selling antiques. The Historic Preservation Commission is appreciative of all of her work to help preserve Milton’s history.
Library Volunteer of the Year Award – Ruth Wivo Volunteers play an important role as partners in the Library’s mission and ability to provide the many services it does to the community. Last year over 30 volunteers worked 1,100 hours at the Milton Public Library. Ruth Wivo has worked at the Milton Public Library for over 21 years, under 3 different Library Directors, and longer than many city employees. She single-handedly maintains and organizes the thousands of books donated each year for our Friends of the Library book sale. Ruth also organizes the many volunteers who spend several days setting up and taking down the sale each year. Her minute attention to detail allows book sale visitors to find books easily and subsequent sales provide thousands of dollars of income for the library each year. Ruth contributes her time, talents, and hard work for over 200 hours a year, and her efforts help to raise over $2, 500 for library services and programs each year.
Community Award – Rick Mullen Every year, Rick Mullen donates hundreds of hours to the Milton Police Department by volunteering to help maintain the Prescription Drug Drop-Off Box. The Milton Police Department is appreciative of his time and continued commitment to this important service for the Milton community.
Community Award – Kim Powers with Kim’s Kloset Kim Powers with Kim’s Kloset helps various nonprofit organizations in the Milton community with fundraisers including the Milton Lions Club and Moms on a Mission Exchange (MOME). She hosts fill-a-bag sales at her business, Kim’s Kloset, where people are invited to fill a paper grocery bag with as many items as they can fit in the bag and pay $10. Kim donates all of the earnings from these sales to the nonprofit organization hosting the sale. As a member of the new Milton Lions Club, Kim has also donated her time to the organization.
Community Award – James Bostwick James Bostwick has been a long standing member of the Parks & Recreation Commission. He helped extensively with fundraising efforts for the Tails n Trails Dog Park and currently assists with fundraising for the Milton Area Veterans Memorial. James helps at all of the Parks & Recreation Commission events including last year’s Build Day for the Crossridge Park Playground and the Tails n Trails Dog Park Clean Ups. He also volunteers his time through the American Legion. The City of Milton appreciates his continued commitment to the parks in the Milton community.
Community Youth Award – Marci Mitchell-Hallett The City of Milton recognizes Marci Mitchell-Hallett for her efforts in raising funds and bringing awareness to multiple sclerosis. Marci organized the MS Lock-In “Staying the Night to End the Fight” on December 6, 2014 with the help of the student council. All proceeds from the event went to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Wisconsin Chapter. Marci engaged the Milton community both inside and outside the school building. She had the courage to talk about multiple sclerosis and the fundraiser in an all-student assembly, at a monthly Milton Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC) meeting, and local media outlets. The event raised more than $3,250.
Employee of the Year – Leanne Schroeder The City of Milton recognizes Leanne Schroeder as Employee of the Year. She is a part-time employee, but during the transition period between City Clerks she worked full-time in order to fulfill departmental needs. Additionally, Leanne helped immensely during the move into the new City Hall. Leanne worked many long hours and did an amazing job during the interim period. Leanne’s commitment, professionalism, and willingness to always go the extra mile have made her an incredibly valuable member of our team at the City of Milton.
For additional information contact Al Hulick, City Administrator, at 608-868-6900 or by e-mail at
ahulick@milton-wi.gov.
