Village board faces complaints from family of former chief
No news about a new police chief came out of the August 14 Rib Lake Village Board meeting, but accusations were made against the village board regarding its actions toward the former police chief.
Prior to the official start of the meeting, Tracy Beckstrand, the mother of former police chief Derek Beckstrand, aired grievances to the board.
Tracy Beckstrand began by saying Derek Beckstrand was not paid for his vacation time accrued. Kristin Lueck, Village Clerk, disputed this claim.
Next, Tracy Beckstrand questioned the board about why Derek never received a raise after the Rib Lake School district passed a 5.5% raise for the school liaison officer in August 2023, a role Derek Beckstrand filled (The Star News requested confirmation that Beckstrand did not receive a raise from the village but received no response).
“What happened to that money?” Tracy Beckstrand asked.
“It’s in the general funding under police. That’s not his money. That’s the village’s money,” Board President Bill Schreiner responded.
“It’s for a raise,” Tracy Beckstrand said. Schreiner stated the school reimbursed the village for the time Beckstrand worked at the school and that Beckstrand received wages from the village, not the school district.
“But they gave him a raise,” Tracy Beckstrand replied.
Tracy Beckstand then alleged Schreiner has been speaking poorly of Derek Beckstrand around the village, to potential employers, and to Derek Beckstrand’s current employer.
“You’ve done it to everyone who has ever worked here Bill,” Tracy Beckstrand alleged.
Lastly, Tracy Beckstrand alleged Schreiner told Derek Beckstrand that he was “lucky to be a cop” and tried to get Derek Beckstrand to resign by offering a positive recommendation. “It’s all recorded. You can’t run like that,” she said.
Schreiner replied, “I told him I didn’t know which way the vote was going to go.”
No official vote was taken on the matter of Derek Beckstrand’s contract at a meeting and the contract was allowed to expire without action on June 30. Moving to the content on the agenda of the August 14 meeting, Schreiner reported the village is at 68% of the expected annual general expenses and 30% of the annual expected revenue. “The budget is looking pretty decent,” he recapped.
The board approved an agreement with MSA, a wastewater planning company, to begin work on 2nd, 3rd, and Church Street. Schreiner noted the village received a $1 million grant to complete the project. “We could very well do it without raising [water and sewer prices],” he said.
In the reports portion of the meeting, trustee Rocky Jones said road work on Front St. and North St. took place, and Landall Ave. is next in line. The village storm grates were cleaned. The village was marked for fiber optic cable.
In other business, the board Approved an October 5 street closure on Landall Ave. from McComb Ave. to Mill Ln. for a saw competition event hosted by Hanke’s Little Bohemia.
Renewed the Street Machinery CD and the Sweet Projects 2 CD.
Approved the purchase of a 30 gallon pull behind sprayer for weeds.
Passed a height exceedance for the high school gym. Village code allows for building to be up to 35 feet hall, and the gym will be 36 feet.
Voted to remove Village Fire Department Ordinance 2.24. President Schreiner noted the Village Fire Department is no longer the operating fire service and suggested the code be removed.
Approved a picnic license for Good Shepherd Catholic Church for the Fall Festival.
Approved a bartender’s license for Tom
Bill Schreiner
