The celebration is sponsored by the Brodhead Chamber of Commerce and includes lots of fun for the whole family. A parade will be held on Sunday at noon.

The event begins on Friday, Aug. 13 with a street dance downtown featuring the band Munkey-Du. There is also a beer garden and a garden club display, both downtown. A softball tournament is planned for Legion Park.

On Saturday, a Fun Run/Walk will be at 8 a.m. at Sugar River Trail. Other Saturday events are:

Garden Club display – a.m. - Downtown

Tractor show, thresheree – 9 a.m. - South End of Brodhead

Toy tractor pull for children 11 a.m.

Flea Market – crafts and food – all day – South End

Downtown sidewalk sales with vendors and music

Food stands and beer garden – South End

Model A. Antique Drive (8 to 10 miles per hour) 4 p.m., - starts at South End

EMS rummage sale – Downtown

Antique tractor pull 1 p.m. – South End

Jaycee Sand Volleyball Tournament – all day – Legion Park

Horse show – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - South End

Jaycee sand volleyball tournament – all day – Legion Park

Softball tournament – all day – Legion Park

Horse show – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – South End

Sunday, Aug. 15

Old fashioned church service – 9 to 10 a.m. - Veterans Park

Motorcycle show 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – South End

Classic car show 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - South End

Tractor show, thresheree – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – South End

Flea market – crafts and food – all day – South End

Parade – 12 noon

Antique tractor pull – 1 p.m. South End

Garden tractor pull – 1 p.m. South End

Softball tournament – Legion Park

Food stands and beer garden – South End

The special council meeting consisted of about 20 minutes of open session, followed by over three and a half hours of closed session. Then the Council reconvened in open meeting and voted 6-0 to extend another contract to Chief Bohan.

A long parade of people met with the City Council behind closed doors during the course of the evening, including members of the city’s Personnel Committee, fire department staff, town board officers, representatives of the Brodhead Rural Fire Association, and private citizens.

The closed doors of the council chambers swung open periodically as the night wore on, with Acting City Clerk Ellyn Popanz appearing in the doorway to ask if anyone else wanted to speak to the Council. A few chose not to, such as Bob Olsen, a member of the fire department for 42 years, who said he was just there to support the chief. “It’s tearing us apart,” he said in regards to the contract renewal process. Chief Bohan and his wife, Holly, sat in the City Hall corridor throughout the evening, along with several dozen other public employees and citizens, waiting for the Council to reach its decision. “I feel much, much, much better,” said Bohan the following morning. “I really appreciate the support of the City Council.”

In reference to the controversy and lengthy deliberations regarding his re-appointment, Bohan said: “I’m the first full-time chief and that’s a huge change. When you make a change in a fire service, it hits hard. I think what we’re going through is growing pains.”

Alderman Ric Genthe [Ward 1], a member of the Personnel Committee, seemed to concur: “Two years ago, when we hired a full-time, professional fire chief, I think the City overall – the Personnel Committee, Public Safety Committee, the mayor and the City Council – really was not prepared to bridge that gap between a volunteer fire department and a paid fire chief.” “I’m confident we made the right decision,” Genthe said regarding the Council’s vote to stick with the chief. The Brodhead City Council first appointed Bohan on July 14, 2008. His new contract will extend until July 28, 2011. Bohan is a native of St. Joseph, Minnesota, where he served as fire chief at St. John’s University.

At their next meeting, the City Council will consider recommendations made by Tom Purdy, a community planning and administration consultant from Monroe, regarding operations of the fire department. Among the recommendations is to develop a policies and procedures manual for the department, including a proper grievance procedure. At the July 20 meeting, the Council voted to award Popanz a “bonus differential,” an increase of $1.58 an hour for the eight weeks she has served as Acting City Clerk. She is also the Municipal Court Clerk. Former City Clerk-Treasurer Nancy Schoeller was terminated from her position in June, after serving more than 30 years. Mayor Doug Pinnow said no decision had been made yet regarding filling the clerk-treasurer position, but he hoped the city would be able to address the issue soon.

Committee membership will include three Board members, the superintendent of schools, and the district business manager. The Board is also seeking a community volunteer to serve on this committee. It is hoped that the community representative will bring some experience in public sector finance or other financial experience. Individuals interested in serving in this position should submit a short letter of interest, providing an overview of their qualifications for the appointment. The letter of interest should be submitted to the District Office no later than 3 p.m. on Monday, August 9th. Current Finance Committee members will review the letters of interest at their meeting on Aug. 11, and determine a selection process dependent on the number of applications received.

Time commitment for this appointment will include a monthly meeting prior to the Board meeting each second Wednesday of the month. This monthly meeting will convene at 6:30 p.m. In the months of January, April and October, the Finance Committee will meet at 6 p.m., to provide additional time for budget work. Additional meetings may be scheduled by the Committee as needed. Term of appointment will run for one year, concurrent with School Board committee appointments (typically May to April).