Common Council Anticipates Placing $1 Million Referendum on Nov. Ballot for Fire/EMS

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

The City of Whitewater Common Council at its August 2 meeting voted to proceed with the drafting of a referendum to exceed the levy limit by the amount of $1,000,000 to be placed on the November 8 general election ballot. Steve Hatton, Finance & Administrative Services Director, presented the council with the rationale for which he was recommending this action in order to fund the expenses that have rapidly risen in order to provide the required level of Fire and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) staffing to meet community needs. Since the referendum language was not yet available, the council decided, with the counsel of City Attorney Wally McDonell, to postpone the final vote on the matter. It was anticipated that a special meeting would soon be called for this purpose.

As was indicated in a previous Banner post, beginning on July 30 the city’s Fire and EMS services are now being provided by a municipal department rather than by the independent not-for-profit Whitewater Fire Department, Inc. (WFD) WFD has capably served the city since its founding in 1871, but, as has been the case with nearly all volunteer fire departments across the state, staffing challenges under the Paid-on-Call model made it increasingly difficult for the department to respond to increasing call volumes particularly for emergency medical services. Over the past year WFD migrated to a Paid-on-Premises (POP) model for EMS, where four positions are now staffed twenty-four hours a day, providing a two-ambulance response at all times. Recruitment is improved as reliable hours can be provided, and as a number of employees will become eligible for health insurance and retirement benefits.

At a special July 28 Common Council meeting, Hatton had given an extensive presentation regarding the recent escalation in costs for providing Fire and EMS Services. Total operating expenses in 2021 were $1,004,095. The WFD budget for 2022 was $1,509,341, but it is projected that the actual operating expenses will be approximately $2,016,000. Additionally, the department has vehicles and other equipment for which the estimated replacement cost is nearly $8 million. That equipment is expected to be replaced on schedules that vary from 5-30 years, and to fund that replacement an additional $384,000 would be needed annually. At that meeting Hatton indicated that he was still researching methods that other municipal departments that serve multiple constituencies use to allocate the cost of service. Whitewater’s department serves in whole or in part six towns besides the city. As of the July 28 meeting Hatton’s suggested method was to establish the contributions of the city and the towns based on equalized property value. Utilizing this method would allocate approximately an equal split to the city and to the combined towns. Under that method the city’s share would be approximately $880,000, or an increase of approximately $700,000 per year. See this post for further information on the July 28 meeting.

At the August 2 meeting, however, Hatton indicated that based on further research he was recommending that the allocation of expenses to the city and the towns be based on a blended method, with 25% based on equalized property value and 75% based on EMS call volume. This is the method that will be used in the new Edgerton/Milton Fire District. It was found that over the past five years approximately 80% of our EMS calls were for locations in the city. Blending the call volume with the property value resulted in an allocation of 73% of the cost of service to the city. This represented in an increase of approximately $998,000 per year, resulting in the one million dollar referendum recommendation. It is recognized that none of the towns will be likely to be able to fulfill their requested contribution for 2023, particularly since the deadline for approving a referendum for that year is August 31. Consequently Hatton’s recommendation is to request that WFD use its fund balance to cover the shortfall of revenue for next year.

The average assessed value of a home in the city is approximately $206,000, with the median value being about $194,000. The annual property tax increase for a $200,000 home that would result from passage of the proposed referendum would be approximately $302 in Walworth County and $306 in Jefferson County. The resulting revenues would support the staffing of four Emergency Medical Technicians round the clock, with the intention of ensuring that two fully staffed ambulances are available at all times to meet the emergency medical needs of residents in the city and surrounding towns.

Editor’s note: We appreciate the use of the image on the homepage, which was provided by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay.

This Week’s Yard Sales (Update: 4th sale added)

HUGE Yard Sale – 1,000’s of items. Priced to clear out the house! Tools: including a Dewalt 12 inch Miter Saw, Table Saw, many hand tools and mechanic tools, compressor, lots of kitchen items, microwave, appliances and furniture, holiday decorations for every holiday, many collectibles as well as MANY brand new unopened items: cookware, coolers, toys, and more.  There is something for everyone at this sale!  Come Friday, August 5 from 9:00 – 5:00 or Saturday 8:00 – 2:00  Richmond Township, 7 miles south of Whitewater, W9003 Lake Lorraine Road, Delavan, WI 

Moving sale. Sold our condo and everything must go. Couch and loveseat, recliner, leather recliner loveseat, end tables, lamps, coffee table, bedroom furniture, cathedral spinning wheel, Weber gas grill, a patio set and lots of Spode Christmas Tree dishes …and all the regular garage sale junk (lol). August, 5, 6, and 7, 8:00-5:00, 625 Waters Edge Drive.

Garage Sale: 216 Locust  Ln – Thursday and Friday 8:00-4:00; Saturday 8:00-1:00
Car seats (like new)  $25 each
Jogging Stroller  $40
Bike Trailer  $40
Girls clothes 3t-10/12  $1 or $2 
Kids Books  .25 or .50
Kids Movies  .50
Toys   $0-$3
Stuffed Animals (Ty and Scentsy – I know you parents LOVE stuffed animals) 
Some Household Decor <$5
Some womens clothing XL/XXL $2
Household Items <$10
New Outdoor Umbrella/Base $20

Rummage Sale in Whitewater!  1365 E. Jakes Way (East side of Whitewater) Thursday- Saturday Aug 4th, 5th, & 6th Opens at 10 a.m.

ALMOST EVERYTHING JUST $1.00!!!! Baby clothes 5 for $1.00

Baby and toddler clothes, kitchen items, decor, rugs, wine fridge, small appliances, Nerf Guns, toys, craft supplies, kitchen chairs, telescope, bike, and  furniture. Also, a Christmas Village, craft supplies, baby items and Hot Wheels cars in the package, other toys and more!

Friday is Last Day for In-Person Absentee Voting; What’s on the Ballot?

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

The partisan primary election will be held next Tuesday, August 9. In-person absentee voting is available at the City Clerk’s office, second floor of the municipal building at 312 W. Whitewater Street, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through this Friday. City Clerk Michele Smith indicates that if someone needs to set up a special appointment with her, they may reach her at 262 473-0102.

Voter registration is also available at the above hours, though same-day registration is also available at the polls, which will be open on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Downtown Armory, 146 W. North Street.

What’s on the ballot? This is a partisan primary, which means you may help to nominate the candidates for one party. Wisconsin does not have party registration, so you may cast a ballot for the candidates for either the Republican or Democratic party.

To find the candidates who will be on your ballot, you may go to www.vote411.org. Enter your address, choose “view my races,” and use the arrows to move from one race to the next. Candidates have been offered the opportunity to provide background information and to answer some questions. (Unfortunately the race for Walworth County Sheriff is not included.)

Here’s an overview of the races that will be on your ballot:


U.S. Senate
Note: Those who are voting Democratic may wish to be aware that the following candidates who will be on the ballot have
withdrawn from the race: Sarah Godlewski, Alex Lasry, and Tom Nelson.

U.S. House of Representatives
Note: Due to redistricting, Walworth County residents will now be in District 1. Candidates: Ann Roe (D) & Bryan Steil (R)
Those in Jefferson County will still be in District 5. Candidates are Scott Fitzgerald (R) and Mike Van Someren (D).

Governor
Lt. Governor
Attorney General
Secretary of State
Treasurer

WI Senate, District 11. Candidates: Steve Nass (R) and Steven J. Doedler (D)

WI Assembly: Jefferson County residents are now in District 33. Candidates: Don Vruwink (D), Scott Johnson (R) and Dale W. Opperman (R).

WI Assembly: Walworth County residents are now in District 31. Candidates: Jason Dean (R), Ellen Schutt (R), Maryann Zimmerman (R), and Brienne Brown (D).

Walworth County residents will also find County Sheriff on the ballot. Republican candidates are David Gerber and Craig Konopski. There are no Democrats in this race.

The Banner has offered the candidates for WI Assembly and Walworth County Sheriff the opportunity to provide another article for our publication. Responses will be posted on Friday.

Voter registr

Whitewater City Market to Celebrate National Farmers Market Week on August 9

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Downtown Whitewater, Inc.

From cake and kids activities to local craft beer and live music at the height of produce season, the market will be vibrant!

Whitewater City Market joins markets across the country in celebrating National Farmers Market Week from August 7-13, 2022. Celebrate with us at the farmers market on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 from 4-7 p.m. at the Historical Society’s Depot Museum (301 W. Whitewater St., Whitewater) for cake by The Bakehouse, kids’ activities, craft beer by Second Salem Brewing Company, Farmers Market “tattoos,” Market Bucks for the first 50 people who pop by the Whitewater City Market tent, live local music, and more!

In the midst of a global pandemic, farmers markets — like all other small businesses — have innovated to continue operations for the farmers and communities that depend on them. Farmers markets foster direct relationships between community members and farmers which can work to create a more fair and sustainable food system. Farmers markets are a hub for connection and collective action around shared values.

National Farmers Market Week is an annual celebration of farmers markets coordinated by the Farmers Market Coalition, a membership-based nonprofit organization that supports farmers markets nationwide through training, technical assistance, and network-building. This year, the campaign is centered around the essential role that farmers market operators play in our local food systems and in developing resilience in communities as hubs for local economies and connection.

The Whitewater City Market began in 2015 by Downtown Whitewater, Inc., and currently hosts 25-30 farmers and artisans selling a wide variety of products, including produce, fresh baked goods, popcorn, locally roasted coffee, sweets, local meat and eggs, handcrafted pottery, jewelry, wooden signs, and books.

“This year, as we work to bring our market attendance back up since the start of the pandemic, we’re grateful to all who make the market happen and the heart that goes into sustaining a vital community gathering space in our downtown. To market goers who return each year, thank you. You keep us going!” -Katy Daixon Wimer, Co-Manager of Whitewater City Market

“[The market offers] an opportunity to form relationships with the person whom you purchase an item from, which offers confidence in how an item is made or grown as well as a unique opportunity to learn about an item more than you ever could in a traditional retail setting.” -Lisa Dawsey Smith, Co-Manager of Whitewater City Market

The Whitewater City Market currently has a handful of vendors who accept WIC and SFMNP.

“Farmers markets are abundant sources of food, connection, and resilience in our communities across the country, but they don’t just happen on their own.” said Ben Feldman, Farmers Market Coalition Executive Director

Downtown Whitewater, Inc. is a volunteer-driven organization spearheading community efforts to re-energize and enhance our historic downtown. We are community advocates and volunteers who share a passion for Whitewater. We bring people from all walks of life together to celebrate Whitewater’s history and traditions, to care for our downtown neighborhood, and to inspire confidence and investments that are flowing toward an economically vibrant, engaging and exciting place in the heart of Whitewater – a place we love, a place we’re proud to call home, and a place where future generations can grow and take pride in calling their own.

www.downtownwhitewater.com
director@downtownwhitewater.com

Generac Education Center to be Added to The Arboretum at Starin Park

Note: The rendering of the Generac Education Center is representative of the pavilion that is in the final stages of design.

A grant from Generac Power Systems aims to create space for educational programming in the local community

Friends of the Arboretum at Starin Park and the City of Whitewater announced on August 2 that a grant from Generac Power Systems, a leading designer and manufacturer of energy technology solutions and other power products with a manufacturing facility in Whitewater that employs more than 1,000 people, will fund the creation of the Generac Education Center. The center, which will be located at the south end of Starin Park, will be a focal point of the Arboretum, hosting outdoor classroom activities while serving as a welcome center to the trails and greenery.

The Arboretum at Starin Park (AASP) is a community initiative to restore the beauty, health and diversity of the woodlands in the park, enhancing its role as a vital natural sanctuary. Educational programs at AASP aim to connect youth to nature and teach the fundamentals of stewardship and ecology. AASP expects to host their first school groups in spring 2023, featuring Arboretum-specific curriculum and hands-on science activities.

“Starin Park has lost a considerable number of mature trees over the years,” according to Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission Chair Sherry Stanek. “This is an effort not only to draw attention to the need to maintain the city’s important inventory of life restoring urban trees but to also emphasize native plants and establish a learning experience for future generations,” said Stanek. “Generac’s stepping forward to provide the funds to build an Education Center, along with contributions from other private and corporate citizens, establishes the foundation for an important community asset that not every community is able to provide.”   

“Starin Park has so much to offer our community and with this generous donation from Generac, it creates another element to the park for the community to enjoy.” said Eric Boettcher, Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Whitewater. “It’s wonderful to see that a partnership between the Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission, Generac and the City of Whitewater is able to create this new amenity to the park.”

Construction of the Generac Education Center will begin in September. Volunteers and some city staff will construct the 14-foot by 18-foot pavilion, which is expected to be completed in October. Generac’s contribution will cover the cost of materials for the structure, helping AASP meet the matching requirements of a DNR grant supporting the development of the Arboretum.

“Investing in education and sustainability is a priority for us and The Arboretum is an inspiring environmental project in Whitewater,” said Hasan Celik, senior director of operations at the Generac Whitewater facility. “As one of the leading employers in Whitewater, we are pleased to help make this available to our community and look forward to seeing the outdoor classroom come to life.”

Three micro-climate interpretive areas are being developed during AASP’s first year of operation: The Natural Play Area, Food Forest and Shelter Circle (Maple, Beech Basswood) Forest, with other areas to be developed in subsequent years. Earlier this year, more than 190 native trees and shrubs were delivered to the City of Whitewater to be planted in the Arboretum, expanding the urban forest canopy.

AASP is seeking additional contributions, members and volunteers to maintain the facility and new plantings. Learn more at www.arbatstarin.org or email EntAtStarinArb@gmail.com.

About the Arboretum at Starin Park

The Arboretum At Starin Park is dedicated to helping create a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world.

About the City of Whitewater

The City of Whitewater provides efficient and high-quality services which support living, learning, playing and working in an exceptional community. Visit www.whitewater – wi.gov for community information and updates.

Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by the City of Whitewater.

Local Residents Graduate from UW-Madison

Editor’s note: The following announcement was received from UW-Madison.

About 7,700 students received degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison on May 13 and 14, including students from your area. 

There were two live ceremonies: one at the Kohl Center on May 13 for doctoral, MFA and medical students; and one at Camp Randall on May 14 for undergraduate, law and master’s students. 

The commencement speaker was U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who encouraged students to take risks.

“If you stay comfortable – if you stay in your comfort zone, sticking to what you know – then you are making a bet,” she said. “You are betting that your life, and the world, will stay the same. And let me tell you, you will lose that bet every time.”

It was the last Badger commencement for Chancellor Rebecca Blank.

“In my nine years leading this great university, some of my most memorable moments have been with our students,” Blank told graduates Saturday. “You have inspired – and occasionally challenged me – with your passion, enthusiasm, and curiosity. And I’ll admit you’ve given me a good laugh with some of your ‘Becky Blank’ memes.”

Barni Shiferaw, the senior class vice president and Saturday’s student commencement speaker, said the celebration came with mixed feelings.

“In the past few days, there have been a lot of lasts,” he told his fellow graduates. “The last class. The last test. The last day at The Terrace. The last night out on the town. And I’m not going to lie, it’s a bittersweet feeling. But that feeling means something. It’s a testament to the place this university holds in our hearts.”

For more information about UW-Madison, visit http://www.wisc.edu.

Whitewater, WI

 Jesenia Cuevas, School of Nursing, Bachelor of Science-Nursing, Nursing
 Ali Ketterhagen, School of Business, Bachelor of Business Administration, Business: Marketing
 Rebecca Littlefield, Col of Agricultural & Life Sci, Bachelor of Science, Genetics and Genomics

Common Council Voting on Placing Referendum on November Ballot to Fund Fire/EMS

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

As was indicated in a previous Banner post, beginning on July 30 the city’s Fire and EMS services are now being provided by a municipal department rather than by the independent not-for-profit Whitewater Fire Department, Inc. (WFD) In summary, after nearly a year of discussion and negotiation, the City of Whitewater Common Council on July 28 approved an agreement with WFD for this transition. WFD has capably served the city since its founding in 1871, but, as has been the case with nearly all volunteer fire departments across the state, staffing challenges under the Paid-on-Call model made it increasingly difficult for the department to respond to increasing call volumes particularly for emergency medical services. Over the past year WFD migrated to a Paid-on-Premises (POP) model for EMS, where four positions are now staffed twenty-four hours a day, providing a two-ambulance response at all times. Recruitment is improved as reliable hours can be provided, and as a number of employees will become eligible for health and retirement benefits.

At the July 28 special Common Council meeting, Steve Hatton, Finance & Administrative Services Director, gave an extensive presentation regarding the recent escalation in costs for providing Fire & EMS Services. Total operating expenses in 2021 were $1,004,095. The budget for 2022 was $1,509,341, but it is projected that the actual operating expenses will be approximately $2,016,000. Additionally, the department has vehicles and other equipment for which the estimated replacement cost is nearly $8 million. That equipment is expected to be replaced on schedules that vary from 5-30 years, and to fund that replacement an additional $384,000 would be needed annually.

Total Financial Overview presented by Hatton:

Annual operating expense$2,016,089
Capital expense 384,000
Total expense 2,400,089
2022 City funding 182,529*
2022 Towns funding 202,301
Fees for service, etc. 645,537
Total funding gap 1,369,722
* It should be noted that the city additionally covers a number of other expenses for the department, such as utilities and facility maintenance.

Hatton indicated that he has been unable to identify the methodology that has been used to arrive at the annual contractual funding that has been expected to be paid to WFD by the six towns that are served in whole or in part by the department. He has been reviewing the funding formulas used by other municipal departments that serve multiple constituencies. His suggested method, pending further research, was to establish the contributions of the city and the towns based on equalized property value. Utilizing this method would allocate approximately an equal split to the city and to the combined towns. The city’s share would be approximately $880,000, or an increase of approximately $700,000 per year.

Although the towns have been alerted to the need for increased funding of the department, no numbers have been provided to them as of yet, and it is not possible for them to absorb the increases without a referendum. The state’s levy limit program prohibits any county, city, village or town from increasing its “base” tax levy in any year by more than the percentage change in the local government’s January 1 equalized value due to new construction. The only exception is when a referendum is passed by the citizens, and the deadline for publishing a referendum for the following year is August 31. Hatton’s suggestion is to provide for a gradual increase in town contributions such that they would meet their full allocation, for example, within four years.

The Common Council on August 2 will be asked to authorize placing a referendum on the November ballot. As of August 1, Hatton told the Banner that a decision had not yet been made as to how much to recommend that the Common Council authorize be requested on the referendum, but he expected it would be at least $700,000. According to Hatton’s calculations, such an increase in levy would result in an increase of approximately $200 in property tax per year for a home with an assessed value of $200,000.

City Water Utility Employees Begin Going Door to Door to Identify Type of Material Used in Water Line

Editor’s note: The following announcement was posted to the city’s website on August 1.

In December of 2021, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) – the federal regulation designed to control lead and copper in drinking water. Those revisions require our Water Utility to create an inventory of public and private service laterals by 2024. The City of Whitewater is beginning the process of identifying any private unknown service laterals within the City. Examples of materials may include copper, iron, plastic or lead. 

Water Utility employees will be going door to door to inspect the type of material used in your water line. Normally the water line is located in your basement, near the water meter. If you do not have a basement, it may be located in a closet on the first floor. 

The inspection will only take a few minutes. If you are not home at the time that a water utility employee comes to your door we are asking you to call the Water Utility at 262-473-0560 to make an appointment for a representative to come back and identify the type of material you may have. You only need to make this appointment if you receive a letter on your door with this information. The representative will have identification and will show it to you upon request. We ask if you have any records or knowledge of your private side water lateral ever being replaced or repaired that you share this information during the time of inspection.

Editor’s note: The image on the homepage is by Jan from Pixabay

Obituary: Manfred Jurgen Engel, 72

Manfred Jurgen Engel, 72, passed away on July 15, 2022 at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, WI.

Manfred was born in Germany to Gustive and Paula (Kerpa) Engel on January 20, 1950.  His parents, he and his sister Hannelore, immigrated to the United States in 1952.  Manfred graduated from Whitewater High School in 1969 then went to the UW Whitewater for 3 ½ years.  He worked for VIP Services Inc. in Elkhorn, WI, retiring in 2017.  He enjoyed reading the bible, listening to music, and watching sports. Especially the Packers and the Badgers.  

He is survived by his sister Hannelore (Lorie) Engel, Madison, WI.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hillside Cemetery, Whitewater.

Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family.