Lynn Binnie

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

The Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center (WAFC) has been operating for three years without the benefit of the necessary agreement between the City of Whitewater and the Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD). The Common Council and the School Board began the negotiation process towards executing a new agreement on March 2, 2023. Although at an October 11 joint meeting both entities expressed the view that an agreement could likely be consummated as soon their respective legal counsels completed their review, it appears that the parties are still not ready to sign what was proposed to be a five year contract.

On December 19 the Banner received from WUSD the press release that is provided below.

WUSD Board Learns of Changes to Aquatic Center Agreement

WHITEWATER, WI — During its December 18 meeting, the Whitewater Unified School District School (WUSD) Board learned of proposed changes to prior publicly negotiated agreements with the City of Whitewater Common Council regarding operations expenses of the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center.

In joint meetings of the WUSD School Board and the City of Whitewater Common Council, the Boards agreed to operations and capital funding responsibilities. Specifically, it was openly agreed that the Common Council would be responsible for operational surplus/deficits and WUSD would add additional funding towards capital maintenance. “The board is disappointed to learn that the city is trying to make material changes to provisions that both boards had agreed upon,” said Board President Larry Kachel. 

The Board is seriously considering seeking arbitration after the new year, should the City of Whitewater Common Council be unwilling or unable to meet with representatives of the WUSD School Board before that time.

The Banner provided the Common Council President, James D. Allen, the opportunity to comment on the WUSD press release. No response has been received. The Banner also reached out to the Office of the City Manager, and the following response was received.

City Manager’s Office Remains Committed to WAFC

Dear Common Council & Community Members,
In response to the recent press release issued by the Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD) regarding the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center (WAFC) agreement, the City Manager is clarifying his stance and actions taken in this matter.

In this context, it’s important to address recent actions by the School Board President. Recently, there were attempts to engage in individual discussions with members of the City’s elected body, outside formal public meetings. When the appropriateness of these private discussions was questioned via email by the City Manager, efforts were redirected toward a public strategy. This public approach, however, appears to misrepresent the sequence of events and the nature of the changes proposed to the WAFC agreement.

A review of the publicly available documents and video very quickly and effectively demonstrates the accuracy of the public negotiations.

On October 11, 2023, at the last joint meeting of the WAFC, which included the full governing bodies of both WUSD and the City, the City Council unanimously voted to approve a version of the WAFC contract. In contrast, the School Board did not, and their President indicated that any modifications from WUSD would be minor. However, as our legal counsel, Mr. Smith has clearly outlined in his memo in the November 7th Common Council packet, the changes subsequently made by WUSD were not minor but substantive, writing: “My recommendation is to come to a fair agreement regarding the scheduling and use of the WAFC, with either party paying for any operational cost overruns it may cause.”

With the City having agreed in its approved document to absorb any financial overages, any further modifications need to be met with additional resources or additional concessions, as outlined in Mr. Smith’s publicly available document to the City Council. In short, the public and WUSD had this information long before the most recent statement by WUSD.

The City Council, after openly reviewing Mr. Smith’s memo, convened in a closed session on November 7 and directed Mr. Smith to engage in negotiations addressing these material discrepancies. This step underlines our commitment to professional, legal mediation, and our responsibility to the City and its taxpayers. It was during this process that the School Board President began to approach individual members of the City’s governing body to discuss portions of the negotiations that were discussed in respective closed sessions as well as items that only would have been carried forward by Mr. Smith to the legal representatives of WUSD.
In light of this, I find it necessary to address the public narrative now being shaped by WUSD.

The City Manager’s office and the staff have always prioritized transparency and accountability. In line with this, my office has released all relevant documents, including those highlighting the initial and significant alterations made by WUSD to the City Council-approved agreement.

As City Manager, I remain focused on navigating these negotiations with the utmost professionalism and diligence and I will continue to provide updates as the City and WUSD work towards a resolution. The Common Council will be reviewing this topic with legal counsel at the January 16, 2024 meeting to try and find common ground so as to put this matter behind us and return to the successful operation of the WAFC.

Regards,
John S. Weidl, City Manager

The Banner provided WUSD School Board President Larry Kachel with the above response from the city manager.

Larry Kachel provided the following response to the Banner: “I just want to get the deal done, and I believe we will, but there has been a small wrench thrown in the works.”

Previous Banner posts on this subject may be found here:

“Aquatic Center Operating & Lease Agreement Negotiations Between WUSD & City Continue” – March 1
“City and School District are on Different Pages as Aquatic & Fitness Center Negotiations Commence” – March 24
WUSD Issues Statement on WAFC Agreement; City Manager Responds – May 15
“Weidl Suggests City Might Discontinue Aquatic Operations & Only Run a Fitness Center” – June 5
“Council and School Board Try Again Monday to Ink a New WAFC Agreement” (Updated) – August 20
“Council & School Board Reach Agreement on New WAFC Contract” – August 29

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Per Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, Willie Hearn, age 69, of 370 N. Tratt St., #124, was sentenced by Judge David M. Reddy in Walworth County Circuit Court on December 20 as a result of his conviction on October 24 of two felony and four misdemeanor counts arising from the armed robbery of the BP Station, 1138 W. Main Street in Whitewater, on May 19, 2023. The sentence for armed robbery with threat of force was eight years in prison followed by six years of extended supervision. Although additional confinement was ordered for the other five counts, those sentences will run concurrently with the first. The conditions of the extended supervision include maintaining absolute sobriety, no possession of any illegal drugs, shall not be in any establishment where the primary purpose is the sale and/or consumption of alcohol, no dangerous weapons or ammunitions. Hearn will also be prohibited from having contact with the BP Station (doing business as Raceway Food Mart) or their employees, or the victim, Sally Thompson.

Previous reports related to this case may be found in the following Banner posts:
Willie Hearn convicted of armed robbery of BP station. – October 24
Whitewater Police make arrest in BP station robbery – May 19
Whitewater man charged with armed robbery of BP/Raceway Food Mart – May 22

Historic Heart Prairie Lutheran Church
Christmas Eve Services, Sunday, Dec. 24th
1:00 & 2:00 p.m.
R and W Townline Rd, on Whitewater Lake
Dress warm

First English Lutheran Church
Sunday, Dec. 24th
4:00 p.m. Candles & Choir, Brass & Strings Service
7:00 p.m. Contemplative Guitar, Organ, and Flute Service

Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by Rev. Joseph O’Donnell.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.

This week we return to our tradition of posting a penny postcard “wishing you a Merry Christmas.” These penny postcards were popular during the first few decades of the 20th century and cost only a 1 cent stamp to send. This card was printed in Germany and has “post card” written in many languages on the back.

Merry Christmas and join us next week for New Year’s greetings.

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

The Whitewater Area Regional Ministry (WARM) of the United Methodist Church presented the Christmas cantata, “A Journey to Joy,” a beautiful brand new work by Joseph M. Martin, on Sunday, December 10 at First United Methodist Church. Presentations took place at the 10 a.m. worship service and at a 4:00 p.m. concert. The 35-voice choir included singers from the community, including UW-Whitewater, as did the 17-piece orchestra.

Soloists for the presentation were Jen Crone, Nathan Roley, Barb Taylor and Kay Ebert.  The choir was conducted by Christine Hayes and accompanied on piano by James Athas.  The work is a joyful blend of traditional carols and contemporary selections all telling the Christmas story.  Scripture and narration interjected throughout the cantata was delivered by The Rev. Dan Fahs and The Rev. Beth Staniforth-Seamster.

Christine Hayes said, “The cantata, “A Journey to Joy,” truly proved to be prophetic. Bringing together 50 singers and instrumentalists lifted our souls as we prepared this beautiful music. The musicians represented the Whitewater community, churches and university.  As we rehearsed each week, the messages of peace, love, hope and joy rang out.  Presenting this Christmas message to hundreds, either in person or watching virtually, culminated in a joyous and emotional experience for the audience and performers.  We are deeply appreciative of Joe Mansfield, who gifted us with memorial funds, making these two performances possible. It will carry us all through the Holy Christmas season. May we all carry the joy of Christmas in our hearts.”

A video of the cantata may be viewed here. The cantata begins at 19:50 on the recording.

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from UW-Whitewater.

A total of 50 students from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater were hired before graduation.

The following University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students [who consider Whitewater to be their home] recently graduated and were hired before graduation:

Patrice Achu, who graduated with a DBA in business administration.

Brett Knowlton, who graduated with a BBA in finance.

Chloe Welak, who graduated with a BBA in supply chain management.

April Wright, who graduated with a A.A. in fine arts.

Conner Young, who graduated with a B.S. in legal studies.

The holidays can be tough for hospitalized patients and their loved ones – especially if they need blood. Please spare a moment this season to give the life-changing gift of blood and hope for these families. Donors will receive a $20 e-gift card* as thanks!  This includes those who have already made an appointment.

OLD WHITEWATER ARMORY
Thursday, 12/21/23 (1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.)
146 W. NORTH ST.
WHITEWATER, WI 53190

*Donors will receive an email from Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin <noreply@tangocard.com> 4-7 business days after their donation with a link to redeem $20 at a vendor of their choice, including Amazon, Starbucks, Target, Walmart and 60 more. Donors must have a valid email address on file with us prior to their appointment, or update it at the time of their donation.

Please make an appointment at this link or by calling Lynn at 262-473-2997. If you are a new donor to Versiti, use the link and then click on “login” and follow the directions under “new donors.”

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was an American icon, the first woman on our Nation’s highest court. She spent her career committed to the stable center, pragmatic and in search of common ground. Defined by her no-nonsense Arizona ranch roots, Justice O’Connor overcame discrimination early on, at a time when law firms too often told women to seek work as secretaries, not attorneys. She gave her life to public service, even holding elected office, and never forgot those ties to the people whom the law is meant to serve. She sought to avoid ideology, and was devoted to the rule of law and to the bedrock American principle of an independent judiciary. Justice O’Connor never quit striving to make this Nation stronger, calling on us all to engage with our country and with one another, and her institute’s work to promote civics education and civil discourse has touched millions. She knew that for democracy to work, we have to listen to each other, and remember how much more we all have in common as Americans than what keeps us apart.

As a mark of respect for the memory and longstanding service of Sandra Day O’Connor, retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that on the day of her interment [Tuesday, December 19], the flag of the United States shall be flown at half‑staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on such day. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same period at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.

                            JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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