Life-saving heroes’ actions honored by City Council

COVER PHOTO: (From left) Mayor Jennifer Antel congratulates Rod Mauchmar for being alive because of heroic efforts by Laura DeWeerd and officer Todd Hudson.

It was a special lifesaving recognition festival at the Wayland City Council meeting Monday when several first responders and public safety personnel were lauded for making a difference.

Earning special recognition were cardiac nurse practitioner Laura DeWeerd and city police officer Todd Hudson, whose quick thinking saved the life of election inspector Rod Mauchmar, who suffered a heart attack at the polls election night, Tuesday, Feb. 27.

Ironically, Mauchmar is a former city councilman.

Wayland City Clerk Leanne Clausen said DeWeerd administered CPR immediately after he fell to the floor under duress and then made way for Hudson to use some technology to get Mauchmar’s heart beating again.

Afterward, several firefighters, first responders and election workers on site added their efforts to stabilize Mauchmar and have him transported by ambulance to the hospital.

Mauchmar, special guest at the ceremony, personally thanked all who helped in the life saving efforts and he got to shake hands for the first time with DeWeerd, quipping that somehow they had met before. He said he was surprised because he has been a daily runner around town and thought he was in excellent health.

A representative of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson reported to council that because of this incident, there is a movement to supply automatic defibrillator (AED) devices at election sites.

In other business at Monday’s meeting, the City Council:

• Adopted after a second reading a new ordinance that permits accessory buildings for residences, often used as additional homes for elderly next door or in addition to primary residences. Ordinance approval had been delayed earlier this month because of a few loose ends handled by Professional Code Inspections and insistence on some way to assigning addresses for emergency personnel.
• Awarded the low bid of $2.584 million to Brenner Excavating of Hopkins to pave and reconstruct Elm, Church, Park and Mill streets later this year.
• Was told by City Manager Josh Eggleston that the city intends to have final interviews for the new treasurer by mid-April. The candidate selected will succeed Cherie Parrish, who was fired in February.
• Learned from Clausen that band responses to inquiries about playing for the four Friday Concert in the Park series has been better than in previous years. Thus far, Six Pack has agreed to return.
• Was told by Mayor Jennifer Antel that the student representative at council meetings has decided to resign because because of negative comments made last week in Townbroadcast.