Mayor's Community Update - 01/10/2019
Greetings! As 2019 begins, city staff are preparing for several large public works projects this year. The Madison Street reconstruction project is scheduled to begin in late March or early April, weather dependent. Late last year, the city learned that we will be awarded a grant from the WI DOT for a portion of the Madison Street project. The timing of that award does not align with our existing construction plans and we will be adjusting those plans as follows. Instead of the entire length of Madison Street being reconstructed as originally communicated, we will reconstruct from the bridge located on North Madison Street through the intersection of Lincoln and South Madison Streets in 2019. The grant award will cover a majority of remaining costs for the section from Lincoln Street south to the City limits. Timing of that final portion of the project is pending WI DOT confirmation but will likely be complete by 2021. This is a major reconstruction project that includes replacement of all utility and storm water services along Madison Street. During the reconstruction period, Madison Street will be closed to traffic. We do plan to have North Madison Street open by the 30th Annual Waupun Truck-n-Show in August. There will not be posted detour routes within the community but there will be recommended alternative routes communicated via the city’s website and social media channels. Given the shift in our construction plan, we will add a mill and overlay improvement to Brandon Street to occur in the fall of 2019.
Additionally, we have received a WI DNR grant to support storm water improvements in the community. Our approved water quality plan requires the city to mitigate phosphorus levels from run-off. This will require that we add a number of storm water detention ponds around the community. In 2019, the grant award from the WI DNR will support the addition of a detention pond near Monroe Street.
Finally, crews will be making ADA improvements to the bathrooms at Wilcox Park. We will also be adding remote locking systems to all park bathrooms as a cost saving measure. Previously city staff had to visit and manually lock/unlock park facilities each day.
Around town, January 16, 2019 is scheduled to be a busy day at the Christian Home & Rehabilitation Center as employees and volunteers prepare to move residents to their new home at 452 Fox Lake Road. The move culminates several years of intensive planning for a new $22.4M skilled nursing, rehabilitation and assisted living facility. A grand opening is planned for Sunday, January 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Overflow parking will be available with shuttle services at Central WI Christian School. I hope to see you there!
See you around town! ~ Mayor Julie Nickel
