Weekly Report
City Manager Report 2/11/11
Spring Nonpartisan Primary Electrion Next Tuesday-Council Meeting Moved to Feb. 17
Common Council February 7 Meeting Highlights
North Street Bridges to be Replaced
Community Member needed for Opening on Park & Recreation Board
De-Clutter Coach Classes to be Held at the Senior Center on March 5
Fourth Annual Whitewater Environmental Achievements Awards Program Announced
Whitewater Make-a-Difference Day to be held April 29
Whitewater Athletics article in "The Business Journal"
Spring Nonpartisan Primary Election Next Tuesday; Common Council Meeting Moved to Next Thursday, February 17th Due to Election
Be sure to vote in the Spring Nonpartisan Primary Election next Tuesday, February 15! The only race on the ballot is the primary for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice. All four candidates for Supreme Court recently responded to the Wisconsin League of Women Voter’s questionnaire. Read their answers at the Wisconsin League of Women Voters website. Check your voter registration status, polling place and a sample ballot on the Voter Public Access website, https://vpa.wi.gov/.
Common Council February 7th Meeting Highlights
The Whitewater Common Council held its first February meeting last Monday evening due to the cancellation of its meeting on February 1st because of the major snowstorm that hit our area.
The major actions taken by the Council at this meeting were the following:
Adopted an Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan
Recommended Adoption of the Amended Whitewater Tax Increment District (TID) #4 “Distressed” Project Plan to the TID Joint Review Board
Approved the Engineering Design and Bidding/Construction Contract with Strand and Associates for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Biogas Project
Approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and Community Development Authority and the Whitewater University Technology Park for the Operation of the Whitewater Innovation Center and University Technology Park
North Street Bridges to be Replaced
The Common Council heard a report this week on the planned replacement of the two North Street bridges scheduled for later this year. Both of these bridges, which are located immediately east of the Old Armory building, are in disrepair and their walkways have been closed to pedestrian traffic for the last several years. The Council moved this project ahead in the City’s Capital Improvements Program (CIP) to be completed this year.
A public meeting to present the need for this project and the proposed project improvements and financing has been scheduled for March 8th beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Municipal Center Community Room.
Common Council Meeting Rescheduled to Next Thursday, February 17th
As mentioned above, due to the election scheduled for next Tuesday, the Common Council meeting regularly scheduled for that evening has been rescheduled to the following Thursday, February 17th. The Council has a light agenda that includes the following items:
Approval of an Engineering Services Agreement with Strand and Associates for the Five Points Intersection Improvement Project
Adopting a CDBG Citizens Participation Plan for the North Street Improvement Project
Consideration of Donating a Retired Fire Engine to Gateway Technical College
Discussion on Improving the City’s Planning Process and Planning Fees
Conducting the Annual City Manager Performance Review
Community Member Needed for Opening on Park and Recreation Board
The City of Whitewater invites community members to submit an application to serve on the PARK AND RECREATION BOARD (to fill a vacated position). To apply for a position on the committee, please complete a Citizen Interest Form. The form can be obtained from City Clerk Michele Smith.
Interest forms must be returned to the City Clerk, P.O. Box 178, Whitewater, WI 53190 by 5:00 p.m. on February 14, 2011. For further information, please contact City Clerk Michele Smith at (262) 473-0102.
De-Clutter Coach Classes to be Held at Starin Park Community Building on Saturday, March 5th
Whitewater Parks and Recreation is offering three de-clutter classes with the Clutter Coach Kathi Miller on Saturday, March 5 at the Starin Park Community Building, 504 Starin Rd, Whitewater.
10:00-11:30 am is De-Clutter Today for a Carefree Tomorrow. Gain a new perspective on your belongings. Learn how to decide what to keep and how to get rid of the rest. Cost: $5.00
1:00 – 3:00 is Clutter Coach Course for Your Garage and Basement. Learn how to decide what to keep, discard or donate and how to organize what's left. Turn your basement and garage into useful storage. This is a good introductory class to help anyone rethink how much stuff they really need in their lives. Cost: $15.00.
3:30 – 5:30 is the Clutter Coach Course for Your Home Office. Learn an easy system for managing all your paperwork, whether you run a business from your home or are just trying to keep track of your mail. Reduce stress and increase productivity. Applies to both home and workplace offices. Cost: $15.00.
The registration deadline is February 23. Register online at www.activenet9.active.com/whitewater, go to the City of Whitewater Website/Departments/Parks and Recreation or call 262-473-0101. A credit or debit card is required for online and phone registration. Mail or drop-off the form in the Parks and Recreation brochure which is available at the Municipal Building, ILY Library, Starin Park Community Building, and the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center. (Note: $10 late fee after February 23.)
Fourth Annual Whitewater Environmental Achievement Awards Program Announced
The Whitewater community and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater are pleased to invite nominations for the Fourth Annual Whitewater Environmental Achievement Award. This award was created to recognize individuals, high schools and companies from Whitewater and the surrounding area who have made especially noteworthy contributions to addressing important environmental issues. Please see more detail at http://www.uww.edu/sustainability/awards/.
We are now accepting nominations, with a deadline of March 31, 2011. Award finalists will be contacted in early April and recipients will be announced during Earth Week at UW-Whitewater.
The winners of the 2010 Whitewater Environmental Achievement Award were Eric Compas and George Savage (individual category), Crave Brothers (company category), and Hillcrest High School (high school category).
Whitewater Make a Difference Day to be Held Friday, April 29th
The City, UW-Whitewater and Whitewater Unified School District will again be sponsoring the Whitewater Make a Difference Day on Friday, April 29th from noon to 4 p.m. Corporate sponsors this year include Qdoba, LSP-Whitewater, L.P., University Dining, Nelson Bus Company and Sassy Shirts with help from Commercial Bank and DLK Enterprises.
This event was started by then UW-Whitewater Chancellor Martha Saunders and me in 2005 as a way to bring the campus and the community together to work on various community improvement projects. It has been very successful over the years with hundreds of volunteers participating each year.
UW-Whitewater students/faculty/staff can sign up individually at https://my.uww.edu Community Members can sign up individually by contacting Matt Amundson, Whitewater Parks and Recreation Director at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The deadline to sign up is April 15th and the event again will start at Starin Park.
The attached Article comes from this week’s The Business Journal…nice piece on the impact that UW-Whitewater athletics has on our community!
Quote for the Week
"What seems nasty, painful, evil can become a source of beauty, joy and strength, if faced with an open mind. Every moment is a golden one for him who has vision to recognize it as such" - Henry Miller