Katie Berman set to lead Peshtigo as new mayor

PESHTIGO — Alderperson Katie Berman says she is “very excited” to become Peshtigo’s mayor.

Berman defeated incumbent Cathi Malke in the Peshtigo mayoral race last Tuesday, 410 to 342.

“I know I have some very big shoes to fill,” Berman acknowledged. “Cathi has done a lot. She was the first female mayor we had, and I’m very honored to pick up where she’s leaving off and move us into the next decade of municipal government.”

Berman will serve for two years, starting April 16.

As an alderperson on the Peshtigo City Council for three years, she said she thought this role would be the best avenue to improve things for the next generation in Peshtigo.

“We have to change or kind of succumb to the change, and that’s not good either,” Berman said.

One of her main focuses is technology — getting the city up to speed on the digital demands that will keep people informed of what’s happening in the city.

“I feel we haven’t progressed as fast as some of the communities surrounding us,” Berman said. “We’ve really kind of fallen behind.”

She said she would like to ensure that agendas for city council meetings are made more readily available through the city website and text message alerts.

“I’m hoping to encourage more of those changes and facilitate them for a lot of our residents and even for myself,” Berman said.

She mentioned that the food pantry closed its doors last Wednesday for the first time in the five years since she’s been working there — a result of the snowstorm that tore through the area last Tuesday and knocked out power for many residents.

“It’d be nice to figure out how to text community members and say, ‘Hey, this is now an emergency, stay off the street and here’s a list of local resources,’” Berman said.

She mentioned partnering the text with cohesive messaging on social media.

“I think those are some things we can’t afford to scrimp on for any community,” Berman said. “It’s almost a need and not really a want anymore.”

As for the projects Malke is working on, including the $3 million expansion of the fire and EMS department, Berman said she hopes she can complete them and help the council complete them as well.

She also mentioned a wastewater river project, restoring dilapidated property and working to find places for more apartments in the area.

“That work would’ve never started without Cathi,” Berman said.

Malke

Malke said at first she felt hurt after not being reelected, feeling the residents of Peshtigo had let her know she wasn’t doing her job.

“Then I stepped back and told myself, ‘What more could I do? I was working 40 to 50 hours a week and if this was not good enough, I had no more to give,” Malke said.

She thanked the Peshtigo city staff and volunteers who “make our city the community it is.”

“I know some people make fun of my statement, ‘Peshtigo takes care of Peshtigo,’ but I strongly believe we have taken that direction for citizens’ needs moving forward,” Malke said.

“I do want to wish the new mayor elect, Katie Berman, all the best moving forward. She will have the best staff available and I have been proud to work besides all of them!”