Mayor's Community Update - 12/06/2018

Greetings! Recently our economic development team toured Evansville, WI with WEDC and Evansville’s Community Development Director. We were able to gather information about how they are structuring development work in their central business district and will be using that information as we continue work on our downtown redevelopment plans. Additionally, we continue our work with Envision Greater Fond du Lac and recently met to review their blueprint for talent development for the region. Workforce remains our number one barrier to economic development. We will be joining a regional implementation team focused on advancing the work within this plan.

We are working to finalize work on our aging planning grant and recently held a roundtable discussion at the Senior Center to review results and discuss our next steps. There was a good deal of discussion about the current facility and the future needs of our community. Staff expects to have the grant report complete and recommendations ready to present to the Council by early 2019.

On Wednesday, November 28, we hosted a public information meeting on the Madison Street reconstruction project. The project will begin in March/April, depending on weather. The North Madison segment is planned to complete prior to the Waupun Truck’n Show in August. The South Madison Street project will be done in phases based on new information just received about a WI DOT grant that we are to receive. We are working to understand the impact timing of that grant will have on the project and will communicate a revised plan for South Madison Street in the near future.
Finally, after numerous rounds of testing of our new warning sirens, a fourth siren has been installed in the Industrial Park (corner of S. Watertown Street and Barnes Street) to improve our alert system. This will result in a relocation of the Libby Street siren and we will announce further details when exact placement is determined.

Thank you to My Property Shoppe for sponsoring the first annual Christmas Light Contest! Around town, our community calendar continues to be filled with activities that you and your family are sure to enjoy this holiday season. You’ll find details on the city’s website. 

See you around town! ~ Mayor Julie Nickel