Mayor Derek Woellner takes personal time to grieve
TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Alderman and Merrill City Council President Paul Russell stepped in as temporary acting Mayor of the City of Merrill on Tuesday, Sept. 21, in the absence of Mayor Derek Woellner.
Woellner is taking personal time to grieve the unexpected death of his fiance, Amanda K. Groth, age 28, who passed away on Sept. 21 after complications with colitis and cancer. Services for Groth were held on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Cedarburg.
Originally from the Cedarburg area, Groth moved to Merrill in 2017. She recently joined the Merrill Parks and Recreation Committee.
Russell will act as Mayor until Woellner’s return, in accordance with Ch. 2, Art. IV, Sec. 2-80 of the Code of Ordinances which says, in part, the Council President shall, in the absence of the Mayor, preside at meetings of the Council and, during the absence of the Mayor, have the powers and duties of the Mayor. The ordinance does, of course, specify that “he shall not have the power to approve an act of the Council, which the Mayor has disapproved, by filing objections with the City Clerk.” This is standard practice for such circumstances.
Russell said Woellner may return in time for the Oct. 12 City Council meeting, but it is too early to confirm that.