Municipal judge issue comes back to Onalaska council tonight

A lot has happened in the month since the Onalaska’s last city council meeting.

Onalaska’s police chief resigned suddenly, the fire chief announced he’d be retiring soon and the municipal judge has been under pressure to resign.

Tonight, the council might cast a vote of ‘no confidence’ in Judge John Brinckman, who has said the handling of traffic tickets for Onalaska is not one of his specific duties.

“It’s OK for somebody to say, ‘Resign,'” Council president Bob Muth said. “Well, what happens afterwards? Let’s have some understanding of what’s going on or what could happen before you start rushing in.

Muth pointed out Brinckman serves several communities as municipal judge. Onalaska could withdraw from that joint court

“I’ve asked the simple question, ‘Suppose Judge Brinckman decides to resign. What happens?'” Muth said. “There has to be a special election, I’m assuming?”

Muth added that there’s only so much the city can do.

“We’ve got peple trying to dismiss him and we haven’t got the authority,” Muth said.

Mayor Joe Chilsen wanted Brinckman to speak at tonight’s council meeting but the judge said he’d rather discuss the situation in a different setting.

As it turns out, the mayor is out of town and won’t be at the meeting, anyway.