Mayor's Community Update - 03/09/2019

Greetings! Last year, we began work with surrounding townships to evaluate the possibility of consolidating city and country fire departments through the creation of a fire district. Work on that project continues with our staff and representatives from the townships evaluating funding and governance models to determine feasibility. Our goal is to collectively work to create efficiencies and reduce capital expenditures between the two departments over the long term. While in discussion with the townships, the subject of emergency management services (EMS) has emerged. We currently contract with Lifestar Ambulance Service for EMS. Within Dodge County, townships and municipalities from across the county have recently started a discussion about the shortage of qualified EMS staff needed to run ambulance services. This shortage is putting pressure on emergency response capabilities in many areas of the county. While we currently have adequate coverage in the Waupun area, we are continuing to monitor the county-wide discussion as over the long-term the issue of qualified workforce needed to provide emergency response may pose concerns for us. We are seeing similar discussions emerge as it relates to availability of volunteer firefighters to respond to emergencies and the fire district committee has identified this as a long-term issue that will need to be addressed to insure our ability to respond to emergencies in our area. Please stay tuned for further information on this important subject.

The City is currently recruiting to fill summer positions for park and recreation positions. Each year we hire roughly a dozen individuals, mostly students, to help with outdoor maintenance and to run our park programs. These temporary assignments occur from May through August. If you or someone you know is interested in summer employment, please have go online to our city website and/or stop by the City Hall to fill out an application.

Around town, celebrate your Irish with the Drowsy Maggies on Saturday, March 16, 2019, 6:30 p.m. at the historic City Hall Auditorium. This event is sponsored by Waupun Fine Arts. Also, on Sunday, March 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Waupun Junior/Senior High School Music Department is hosting a bowling fundraiser at Judson’s. Proceeds from the event will support music students who will travel to Florida in March of 2020. I hope to see you around town!