City of Peshtigo police chief retires

PESHTIGO – The Peshtigo Common Council held their monthly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
During the meeting, a variety of personnel changes were discussed.

The city approved the retirement of City of Peshtigo Police Chief Fred Popp effective Feb. 15. This retirement comes four years after Popp took over as chief.

Following this retirement, Lieutenant Derek Koronkiewicz — who has been with the department for ten years — will serve as the interim chief with an hourly salary of around $38 an hour.

“Chief Popp definitely got the department going in the right direction… so, I just want to continue what we have. We’re an awesome department, so we’ll keep that going,” Koronkiewicz said.

He added that he hopes to continue working with the community and hosting engagement events.

Additionally, two Peshtigo Fire Department and EMS employees resigned as well. One accepted a full time position in St. Cloud, Minn., and another accepted a position elsewhere in Wisconsin.

Alderman Tony O’Neill asked if there was anything that can be done regarding retention, contracts and tracking staffing. Fire Chief Chuck Gardon said that these changes can be tracked, but said it is hard to compete when people are looking for full-time positions.

In other items approved by the board, Resolution No. 2026-01, a “Resolution Exercising Option to Repurchase Lot 81 and Lot 82 in the Pine View Industrial Park” was approved. City attorney David Spangenberg said that this was a standard requirement before entering the process of taking the lots back.

Spangenberg also will be looking at a 36-month Industrial Waste & Disposal Services Agreement with Michigan Environs, Inc. Menominee Landfill — a Waste Management Company — at a rate of $50.45 per ton with an additional 18.9% waste water management charge.

City of Peshtigo Mayor Katie Berman said she spoke to the staff members who will be impacted by this working location change, noting that they were all comfortable with commuting up to Menominee, Mich.

Also approved was the quote from Camera Corner Connecting Point for $686.19 for interim cybersecurity during IT upgrades to be funded by the CIP Loan proceeds.

Berman said that the cybersecurity transfer process has been going smoothly and that it should be completed around the predicted end date of April 10. She also added that the recent phone and internet outage was not related to this process, but to Spectrum.

Lastly, the council approved a $50,114 bid from Ewald Automotive Group for a 2026 Durango pursuit vehicle to be funded from the CIP. There was also a line item adjustment of $12,500 to be moved towards covering any additional outfitting costs for the vehicle.

The purchase is being made via a state contract, which the police department has done before.

The Peshtigo Common Council will meet next at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3.