Parks board presses Oshkosh City public works on reorganization and event readiness

Brian Lumpky, Oshkosh City’s public works operations director, briefed the Parks Advisory Board on a departmental reorganization and drew questions about who will set priorities for park maintenance and event readiness.

Lumpky described the new structure as three divisions: public works operations (field operations), a sanitation and recycling division, and a newly formed buildings and grounds division that will combine parks maintenance and facility maintenance staff. “We broke it up into three divisions,” Lumpky said. He added that the buildings and grounds division will handle park maintenance tasks—“general repairs, grass cutting, weed control, general park cleanup,”—and will also take on city‑owned facility maintenance.

The presentation identified new staffing roles and cross‑training plans. Lumpky said the city recently hired Ashley Ranki as the buildings and grounds division manager; Ranki “started about a month ago” and brings extensive parks experience, he said. Lumpky said managers Andy (operations manager) and Larry (sanitation manager) and new supervisors will help coordinate daily schedules and shift staff between priorities when needed.

Board members pressed staff on how the reorganization will affect visible parks during events. A board member said, “I was very disappointed this weekend in Monomony Park,” and asked why grass had not been cut before a large tournament. Lumpky acknowledged equipment failures and said crews shifted resources when possible; he told the board the team will prioritize high‑visibility event sites and that one of Ranki’s early priorities is to “revamp some of those operational efficiencies.”

Board members repeatedly asked who has final authority to reassign staff when competing priorities arise. Lumpky said those choices will be made collaboratively: “We work very closely on a daily basis—Chad and his staff, the park services team are in the same building as where Ashley and the parks maintenance staff is…that is a group decision on what the priorities are.” He described daily coordination, route planning and a goal to add supervisors or leads to provide checks and balances.

The board also sought clarity on cemetery care and park assignments. Lumpky said groundskeeping for cemeteries falls to the buildings and grounds team while burial‑plot planning remains under park services. He said the city uses route‑based mowing and has “dedicated staff” for larger parks such as Monomony, South Park and Rainbow but will continue to move personnel as operational needs require.

Board members asked for more visible documentation of the new structure and workflows. Multiple members requested a flowchart or organizational chart to appear at a future meeting so they can better understand who is responsible for what and how event priorities will be set.

The board closed the discussion by urging continued communication as the new structure settles in. Lumpky said the summer will be a learning period as seasonal staff and new supervisors gain experience, and he emphasized the city’s intent to maintain service levels while refining efficiencies.

The board did not take formal action on staffing or budget at this meeting; members said they will follow up during budget and CIP discussions if staffing needs or capital requests are identified.