The Best In Government

Menomonie serves as the Dunn County seat, with most governmental offices and agencies located here. Menomonie is a third-class municipality with a Mayor, 11-member City Council and Planning Commission. The city limits encompass 8,960 acres, including 4,700 undeveloped acres and another 325 devoted to parks.

The city and surrounding townships are protected by the Menomonie Fire Department, which provides firefighting and ambulance service around the clock. The two stations are staffed by 27 full-time firefighters, with another 12 part-time volunteers. Department equipment includes three advanced life-support ambulances, three pumpers, one 85-foot snorkel elevating platform, two water tankers, two brush trucks for firefighting in rural areas, a rescue equipment truck and one rescue boat. The department responds to 2,200 calls for service annually, and has recently improved its ISO insurance rating of three.

The new Police Department facility, located at the Dunn County Judicial Center, offers a modern building containing all the county's criminal justice components. The department has 26 full-time officers and 14 support staffers, and provides protection to city residents around the clock. The City and County have joined together for a 911 dispatch center.

Officers work with individuals and community groups through neighborhood watches to find solutions to common problems. The community policing philosophy pays off: total crime in Menomonie declined by 15.1 percent in 1998, repeating the double-digit drop seen the previous year. The trend is especially remarkable in light of the city's steady population growth during this period.

Public utilities include power and natural gas and local cooperatives also provide bottled or LP gas. Consumers have numerous choices for providers of telephone and Internet services.

Menomonie has a sanitary landfill site; private haulers handle both commercial and residential pick-up. A citywide mandatory recycling program is in effect.

Civic Clubs
A diverse assortment of organizations are always at work to improve the quality of life for Dunn County residents, provide social activities and sponsor events that enrich community life. Some of these committed groups include the American Red Cross, American Legion, Beta Sigma Phi, Disabled American Veterans, Kiwanis, Lions, Moose Lodge, Optimists, Rotary, Woman's Club, League of Women Voters and United Way.

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