Dells Events

Wisconsin Dells Police Chief Bret Anderson has no plans to retire, but the city’s personnel committee Tuesday discussed his retirement and another job for him.

The closed session, attended only by members of the committee, discussed Anderson becoming a supervisor in the city’s public works department, Mayor Eric Helland said after being questioned by the Events. Members of the committee are Mayor Helland and Alderpersons Dar Mor, Dan Gavinski and Joan Ragan.

"We are looking at Bret’s retirement. He’s considering it, and we have been wanting some oversight in public works," Helland said in a telephone interview.

However, Anderson, 51, with 32 years as a Dells police officer, said he has no plans to retire. In response to an inquiry from two city officials, Anderson sent this e-mail response, which he shared with the Events, "I have no intentions to retire from the police department at this time. I will notify you after a meeting with the Wisconsin Retirement Board, (which has not been scheduled, nor are there plans to schedule) and notification to the retirement board of an exact retirement date. Any questions regarding my retirement are premature and should be directed to me."

An e-mail to the Events said the committee had set a salary for Anderson after his retirement and taking over the oversight position. It said he would draw his retirement salary, too. The writer seemed angry the city was establishing a new position while it claimed to be out of money.

However, Helland said the committee had not agreed on anything. "Too much is up in the air, before we can make a commitment."

Helland said the idea came up because the city has issues with overtime in the public works department, and it is trying to get a "better handle" on the overtime. He said he doubted if the city could ever eliminate overtime in public works because of the need for snowplowing, public works emergencies and other duties that require weekend work.

"We’re not dissatisfied with Mike’s (Horkan, public works director) work," Helland said. In fact, he said Horkan was a workaholic, and he has seen "nothing but excellent work from him. He’s got a lot on his plate."

Helland denied that any decisions had been made and added that members of the committee did not even agree. "Some see it happening more than others," he said, and he does not like to say anything will happen until decisions are made.

Anderson speculated that talks of his retirement started after he and his wife visited the state retirement board in March to see what his retirement benefits would be. "That’s what got the buzz going." However, he said he is not retiring. "It’s premature on anybody’s part to say I’m going anywhere but the Dells Police Department." Like others have, Anderson said he has a mortgage to pay and needs health insurance.