City Attorney

department head: Steven T. Chesebro

City Attorney

Steven T. Chesebro, City Attorney
SChesebro@watertownwi.gov

Sandy Helwig, Paralegal
shelwig@watertownwi.gov

Nauri Luna, Legal Assistant

NLuna@watertownwi.gov

106 Jones St., Second Floor,
Watertown, WI 53094
Hours:  8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
Phone:  (920) 262-4033   Fax:  (920) 262-4032

The City Attorney is one of the statutory officers enumerated under Wisconsin Statute at sec. 62.09(1).  The city attorney’s obligations are generally described under Wis. Stat. sec. 62.09(12).

The mission of the City Attorney’s Office is to provide efficient, effective, high quality legal representation to the City of Watertown.  This includes general legal counsel to the Mayor, City departments and officials including, but not limited to, drafting, negotiating and reviewing contracts, purchases, bonds, retention of services, real estate and property acquisitions.  The City Attorney is responsible for representing and defending the City and its officials in all civil actions as well as advising personnel as to their legal duties, compliance with the law and all other matters pertaining to the preservation of the City’s legal interests and mitigation of legal risk to the City.  The City Attorney pursues debt collection on behalf of the City including recovery of delinquent personal property taxes by money judgment in circuit court and subsequent enforcement of judgment when necessary.  The City Attorney also provides legislative counsel, including drafting, revising and advisory services concerning the Common Council’s past, pending and prospective legislative enactments including City ordinances and resolutions.  Finally, the City Attorney is responsible for prosecuting all violations of City ordinances in Watertown Municipal Court, and, when necessary, on appeal, in Dodge or Jefferson County Circuit Court.

The City Attorney represents the City of Watertown in its legal entity status as a municipal corporation; the City Attorney is ethically prohibited from providing legal advice to the general public.