Mayor's Community Update - 06/15/19

Greetings!  The month of June marks the kickoff our annual festival season.  Mark your calendars for the 8th Annual Celebrate Waupun festival, held June 28 through 30, at Tanner Park.  Admission is free and you’ll find something for everyone to enjoy, from live entertainment, and carnival rides to a kids’ zone.  Returning for a second year, Waupun Festivals is hosting trolley-ride sculpture tours.  Trolley tours depart at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. on Saturday June 29 from Rock River Intermediate School (RRIS) parking lot.  This is a great way to learn about the history of our community and the legacy Clarence Shaler left us through his art.  Additionally, Hispano Fest returns for a second year, celebrating the future and our connections to a global economy.  I encourage you to take time to enjoy the folkloric dance, live bands, authentic cuisine that will be part of this unique celebration.  New this year, Waupun Festivals and the Waupun Fire Department are excited to announce that the 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit will be part of our community celebration.  This is an opportunity to hear first-hand from FDNY firefighters about their experiences on 9/11.   The high-tech, 53-foot trailer transforms into an 1,100 square foot exhibit to help us learn and remember the events of 9/11 and we hope that you and your family take time to enjoy this interactive experience. This is only the second visit of this exhibit to the State of Wisconsin since it was created in 2013, and we expect that it will bring visitors from around the state.  Please extend a warm Waupun welcome to those you see!  If you helped support the fundraising efforts through one of the numerous community fundraisers held to bring this exhibit to Waupun, we say thank you!  This would not be possible without the community support we received.  Also, I want to take a moment to thank the numerous volunteers and business sponsors who work to make this annual celebration possible.  Thank you for making Waupun a great place to live, work and play!  Here are some things to know before you go.  Tanner Park is located near the Waupun Community Center on Spring Street.  You can avoid lines at the festival by purchasing Megaband wrist bands for carnival rides, and tickets for the Friday community fish fry now.  Visit hometowntickets.com or the Waupun City Hall from now through Thursday, June 26 to get your tickets and/or wristbands.  Also, Madison Street construction will impact travel to and from the festival grounds this year.  This will also pertain if you are getting your kids to/from summer school at Rock River Intermediate School (RRIS) that week.  If you regularly use Fond du Lac Street to access Tanner Park or RRIS, please be advised that Spring Street will close for festival setup on Tuesday, June 25, and will remain closed until Monday, July 1.  Please plan to use Brandon Street to Edgewood as an alternate route to access Spring Street if needed during that time.  The full schedule for the weekend’s events can be found online at waupunfestivals.com.  The Waupun Festivals committee and all Waupun city staff are looking forward to celebrating with you and we hope to see you for this great community event!On Tuesday, June 11, 2019, the Waupun Common Council will meet at 6 p.m.  The second reading of the proposed chicken ordinance will occur after which the council is scheduled to take action on the proposed ordinance.  The current draft ordinance restricts the number of hens that can be kept to 4, limits the number of permits in the community to 10, and requires that property owners seek the approval of all abutting property owners prior to obtaining a permit.  A copy of the draft ordinance can be found in Tuesday’s agenda packet on the city’s website.

Around town, the Waupun Aquatic Center officially opens for the season on Saturday, June 8.  On Thursday, June 13, the Waupun Public Library will host a Lego & Game Night, from 4 to 8 p.m.  There will be games for all ages (age 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult).  Finally, on Saturday, June 15, from 8 a.m. to noon, you are invited to help the Waupun Area Animal Shelter “Cram the Van” to stock up on much needed supplies.  Supplies can be dropped off across from Piggly Wiggly.  Details on all of these events and more can be found on the city’s website.  See you around town!

Around town, please join us for our annual Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 27, at 9 a.m. The parade route has been altered this year due to Madison Street construction. Parade line up will be near Howard’s Field (off East Spring Street) at 8:30 a.m. The parade begins at 9 a.m. and will proceed west on East Spring Street toward North Madison Street, ending at Shaler Park at the War Veterans Memorial where a ceremony will be held at approximately 10 a.m. Parking is available at the Community Center, Tanner Park and Rock River Intermediate School. I’d like to extend a special thank you to the all-volunteer committee that works each year to make this important celebration happen in community. I hope to see you there!