Packed house at Justice Center

On Wednesday, September 27th, the Monroe County Board of Supervisors met at the Justice Center, at 6 p.m. A quorum was verified by the members present pressing “yes” on their keypads and a total of 14 of the 16 members indicating their presence. Absent were Todd Sparks – District 9, and Mary Cook – District 10, having been excused, according to Board Chair, Cedric Schnitzler.

While several items were discussed, the hot topics of the late September meeting were the public health vending machines, for naloxone, more commonly known as Narcan, and the memorial rock garden, for those who have lost their lives due to drug overdoses, in front of the Justice Center.

In 2021, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there were 1,400 opioid related deaths in Wisconsin. Narcan reverses the effects of opiates on the brain and restores breathing, safely, and with no side effects. Also available in the vending machines are Fentanyl test strips (FTS), which is an inexpensive way to test for the presence of Fentanyl in drug samples, prior to ingestion. Milwaukee County alone, is spending $11 million on all projects, to reduce drug overdosing.

The purposed memorial would go on the lawn of the Justice Center, and would include a rock garden and meditation area, along with a statue of an addict, in despair. Jason Hauser and Dan Rademaker, head designers and artists of the statue,  brought the statue with him, for attendees to look at, during a break in session. “The sculpture was originally supposed to be an addict overdosing, but Dan [Rademaker] and myself decided to tone it back, removing the shock value.,” stated Hauser. “We created someone who is just frustrated with everything — the deaths, lack of availability for resources to combat the problem, as well as how frustrated society is with the drug issue itself.”

The Meeting   

Monroe County Chair, Cedric Schnitzler, asked for a motion to approve the minutes, which was motioned by David Pierce – District 2, and seconded by Jason Jandt – District 4. Schnitzler then asked for a moment of silence, for Phyllis Jean Snider, who, in addition to being an amazing soul, had also served as a Monroe County Supervisor. She had represented Byron and Shennington, the same town where she was born in a blizzard, delivered by her father, on December 8th, 1934. Schnitzler believes Snider to have been the first woman to serve on the board.

A Plethora of Comments and Emotions

County Chair Schnitzler was handed the list for public comment, which usually averages two or three individual constituents, raising questions on an item or items that are at the forefront of current discussion amongst the board. “There are 22 individuals [for public comment] and I will tell you that you will have three minutes and I will let you know when your time is up,” Schnitzler informed the room. There were audible gasps when the number 22 preceded the public speakers, with an actual, “Oh Lord,” being voiced, slightly louder than a whisper, but less than a shout.

For: Justice Programs Director

Eric Weihe, Justice Programs Director for Monroe County, was one of many county employees who spoke in favor of the health vending machines and the memorial garden. “I have worked for the county for over 11 years and have directly worked with individuals who are addicted to alcohol and/or controlled substances,” Weihe began. “I am speaking tonight, to give an employee’s perspective, both in support of the public health vending machines and the memorial rock garden.” Weihe then went on to inform the board and attendees that from what he has heard and read, Fentanyl is being laced with all types of drugs and has been linked to a high number of overdoses in a community. “Narcan has been proven to reduce overdoses, is easy to administer, and has no negative side effects,” Weihe continued.

Weihe told everyone that family members often wonder what they can do help or prevent their loved ones from dying from drugs and addiction. “Besides encouraging treatment, family member’s options are limited,” Weihi stated. “Giving the opportunity to discretely pick up Narcan, to revive a loved one, or to get some test strips, to ensure that the drugs are not laced with Fentanyl, can help a loved one from passing away.”

Against the Memorial

Several public input speakers were against the Memorial Rock Garden and Statue. Among reasons voiced in opposition were:

-Why don’t we stop drugs at the border?

-Drugs are illegal and should not be done.

-The Justice Center is not the place for it.

Marla Leverich stood up in opposition of the statue. “It is tragic that we lose too many young people to drug overdose,” Leverich started out. “They have negatively affected not only their own lives, but the lives of their parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, relatives, and the community at large. I am so very sorry for days and hours of anguish that those families have had to experience. However, putting up a memorial to them, on the lawn of the County Justice Center, is just not appropriate.”

Marla went into who should be memorialized. “A memorial is an object or place, which serves as a focus for the commemoration of a historical event or a person who has been influential in society.” Leverich then went to say that a memorial should be reserved for someone who has had a positive affect on a community, city, state, or the nation. She then brought up Deke Slayton and Andrew Carnegie, saying that the younger generation has them to look up to and emulate. 

For the Memorial – Megan Urch

Megan Urch stood up in front of the packed room and gave an impassioned speech in favor of the memorial garden and statue. She had just listened to several community members speak against the proposed Justice Center tribute to those who have overdosed. “Hearing all of your speeches today, I am almost ashamed to say, that I stand in front of you today, a year and four months sober,” Urch said, with a shaky voice. “My mother raised me, telling me that doing drugs were wrong. She was caring and loving.”

Urch then went on to talk about standing in front of Judge Radcliffe, with 20 felonies and 10 misdemeanors. “If you would have asked me then if I thought I could get clean, I would have said no. Did I want to? I didn’t know how. This courthouse, right here, is where I got my help. I got sober … and I lost a lot of people along the way.” Urch’s sentiments echoed those of fellow addicts, that the Justice Center saved their lives and gave them hope and a direction and support. All stated that the Justice Center was the perfect place for the memorial meditation garden and statue.

Painting the Rock  

Megan Urch spoke to the powerful emotions behind painting a rock, like the Justice Center could have, if approved. “I painted a rock for one of my friends in La Crosse [who had overdosed]. I had no idea what to paint. I did not just want to paint his name; he has a gravestone for that. I ended up painting ‘You are my sunshine CJ’ and it was in Superman colors.”

Megan’s heavy words floated through the still of the Justice Center room and during her pauses, you could have heard the wisping of a butterfly’s wings in flight. She informed all attendees that her friend CJ was put into a medically induced coma, and CJ was wearing a Superman shirt. You are My Sunshine was the last song Megan had sung to CJ, while holding his hand.

Against Vending Machines: Sparta Police Chief Nottestad

Sparta Police Chief, Emilee Nottestad. Spoke to the Monroe County Board of Supervisors, advising them against the Health Vending Machines. “I am here to speak against the public health vending machines. I actually did not intend to speak tonight, but I think it’s important to address a couple issues. In law enforcement, we also work with addicts and their families, on a daily basis. We have some great things in motion, in and around Monroe County, and as law enforcement, we are involved in a lot of these efforts. These vending machines, however, are normalizing something that is illegal and extremely dangerous, as well as giving a false sense of safety.”

Chief Nottestad then went on to explain some more of the downsides of the machines. “Fentanyl is in high demand in this area. So, some of the dealers may use these test strips [available in the machines] to make sure that there is in fact, Fentanyl in the product, with the test strips then being used for exactly the opposite of their intention.” Chief Nottestad said that part of the incentive for getting the machines was that resourceful information would be available to the person getting the product, but when she wanted them to provide exactly what that resourceful information would be, they could not provide an answer. In addition to this information shared with the County Board, Chief Nottestad informed then that Narcan is available in Monroe County, just not in the vending machines.

After a couple hours of speaking, tears, voicing of pros and cons and a suitcase full of opinions, both the vending machines and the memorial garden were voted down, with only three people. The clear image pieced together by observant attendees, is that everyone involved with the Drug Court, from judges to addicts, as well as employees, are in favor of both the Narcan vending machines and the memorial meditation rock garden and statue. Community members, at least those who showed up last Wednesday night, September 27th, are not.