Mayor's Community Update - 04/12/2019
Greetings! City staff is working on a number of new initiatives this year and I’d like to highlight the work of various departments over the coming weeks. In addition to the numerous road improvement projects I’ve previously written about, our Department of Public Works (DPW) is focused on improving energy efficiency across all city facilities. In late 2018, the Council adopted a resolution that commits to being an environmentally responsible community dedicated to improving global and local quality of life through active environmental stewardship. As part of this commitment, we are focused on reducing electricity and natural gas usage and have set a goal to curb use of electricity by municipal building facilities by 5% from levels measured in 2018 within the next three years. The first project being worked on relates to the installation of LED lighting in city facilities.
The next project that DPW is working on this year relates to our water quality planning specific to storm water runoff. I’ve previously written about this, but as a refresher, we are working to meet minimum levels of storm water phosphorus runoff that enters the Rock River in an effort to meet WI DNR standards. The plan that we’re required to implement calls for a large number of storm water management ponds to be built across the community. In 2018, staff wrote and received a grant to construct a pond which will be located off Monroe Street near Harris Mill Park. The grant is for $110,000 and covers one half of the project cost. Construction of this pond will occur this summer/fall.
DPW is also working to install automatic door locks at all park facilities. Our parks are open daily April through October. Prior to this installation, daily staff time was required to visit each park to lock and unlock facilities. Over an entire park season, that required staff time valued at approximately $6,500. This project eliminates this direct cost to park operations and allows us to refocus resources on other value-added projects for our community.
Other DPW projects include work to make ADA improvements at Wilcox Park; participation in our facility advisory committee to develop plans to address needs at the Senior Center, City Hall and other community facilities; and work on sculpture maintenance to preserve the rich legacy of Shaler’s artwork on display across our community.
Yard waste collection begins the week of April 15 (weather dependent). Around town, the Waupun Rotary will host their annual Easter Egg Hunt at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at Tanner Park. And, Waupun Festivals is hosting an evening of comedy improv on Saturday, April 27, 2019, featuring “Direct from Chicago” The Second City Comedy troupe. More information can be found online. I hope to see you around town!
