News

Guidance for Business Reopening from Walworth & Jefferson Counties

Walworth County Public Health Provides Guidance to Community Following the End of the Safer at Home Order

Per a press release on May 14, “In the wake of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Safer at Home Order, effective immediately, businesses can open and people can travel and gather in large groups. Walworth County’s Division of Public Health will not be issuing orders that replace Safer at Home at this time.

Today, Walworth County released guidance on the county website for area businesses on how to implement protocols to protect their customers. County Public Health Officer, Erica Bergstrom stated, “We have faith in our business leaders and believe they will follow these guidelines and implement strategies to protect their customers and staff.” The risks to the public from COVID-19 are ongoing and will extend beyond the next week or the next two weeks.  As such, short-term public health orders are not likely to have a significant lasting impact.  Any effective solution will be dependent upon individuals and businesses making personal decisions to proactively protect themselves, their guests, and their customers. 

Walworth County places great importance on the health and safety of the public. We have already seen businesses take extraordinary steps to continue to provide services while keeping their employees and members of the public safe. “Novel Coronavirus 2019 is still circulating in the community, and we need all businesses, residents and visitors of Walworth County to actively participate in controlling the spread of disease,” said Bergstrom. “Even though the Safer at Home Order has been overturned, we strongly advise that everyone voluntarily comply with its key components: physical distancing, limited travel and gatherings, and frequent cleaning.” Walworth County will continue to perform communicable disease surveillance and prompt follow-up with confirmed cases and close contacts.

The Division of Public Health, Emergency Management, first responders and local government will continue to work together to keep people safe. Public Health advises everyone take the following steps to avoid getting sick or spreading COVID-19:

  • Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and water, or hand sanitizer.
  • Stay home when sick, including even mild symptoms, and discuss your health with your primary medical care provider.
  • Practice physical distancing.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes.
  • Avoid touching your face.

View the guidance document for business here: https://www.co.walworth.wi.us/856/COVID-19.

Banner opinion: The above guidance document has very specific strong recommendations for various types of businesses and organizations such as churches/religious entities. For example, bars and restaurants are encouraged to maintain a minimum of 6′ between parties and to limit capacity to no more than 50%. The suggestion is also given to continue limiting gatherings in a room or confined space to less than ten people. Though this guidance is not a legal order, it would be prudent for serious consideration to be given to the pertinent recommendations. There have been confirmed COVID-19 cases in Whitewater, and a significant outbreak has been identified at the Birds Eye plant in Darien.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES GUIDANCE TO PREPARE FOR A SAFE REOPENING
Yesterday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the Safer at Home Emergency Order #28.
The Court determined that the order is subject to administrative rule-making, and because it
was not established in rule, but rather it was established via order, the Supreme Court found
EO #28 “unenforceable.” This ruling takes effect immediately.
Jefferson County Health Department places great importance on the health and safety of the
public. We have already seen essential businesses take extraordinary steps to continue to
provide service while keeping their employees and members of the public safe. This needs to
continue.


In light of the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling, many businesses that have been closed will
choose to open their doors soon, and many others will choose to expand their operations.
Businesses need to do so responsibly. All Jefferson County businesses should continue to follow
CDC guidelines for social distancing, cleaning, and disinfecting whenever possible. They should
also consider the guidelines provided by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation at
https://wedc.org/reopen-guidelines and consult with their respective trade or business organizations to identify
industry best practices to safely welcome back employees and customers.


Businesses may also want to check with their legal counsel to see how to open safely during a
pandemic while also considering legal implications of cases that may be related to their
business operations. (Emphasis added by the Banner.)


ThriveED, Jefferson and Dodge County Economic Development Consortium, will be holding two
peer to peer virtual meetings to assist businesses on how to open safely. They will continue to
assist businesses by providing information on state and federal funding and programing
available to help them recover from the effects of COVID-19. They have many COVID-19
resources on their website: https://www.thriveed.org/. Jefferson County Health Department
will continue to collaborate with ThriveED and the business community to allow for the safest
operations of businesses while the virus is still a threat to the health of our residents.
Jefferson County will continue to operate safely. For information about Jefferson County
operations residents can get more information at https://www.jeffersoncountywi.gov/Health/COVID19/Jefferson%20County%20Services%20COVID%20Status.pdf.

The Health Department will continue the strong partnership with the Department of Health
Services and Fort HealthCare in the response to this pandemic and monitor trends, testing
capabilities, and needs should there be a surge in cases and need for patient care. The need for
personal protective equipment for all emergency responders and medical providers has been
an issue during this pandemic and will continue to be monitored and resources provided as
available.

Jefferson County Health Department will continue to have an active and aggressive response to
the COVID-19 pandemic. The Health Department, along with Emergency Management,
emergency responders and other municipal departments continue to work together to keep
residents as safe as possible while assisting our community to recover and continue to remain
safe from the effects of COVID-19.
In order to protect the health of our community, the Health Department will continue with the
following:
• Continue to provide active surveillance in the community and look for trends including
location of cases and demographics including occupations of those affected

• Tracking active cases of COVID-19 in a timely manner
• Increasing the number of contact tracers to mitigate disease spread
• Working closely with local hospitals, neighboring counties and the state to ensure
continued adequate testing capacity
• Continue to be a resource to the community

Even though the Court ruled in this way, Jefferson County Health Department strongly
encourages all Jefferson County residents to voluntarily comply with the key components of the
Safer at Home Order. Guidance on large gatherings will be coming out soon. For now it is still
recommended to continue to limit numbers of people gathering to limit spread of the virus.
These include:
• Maintain at least 6 feet between yourself and others;
• Do not congregate in groups larger than 10 people without physical distancing between
groups;
• Wash your hands frequently;
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
• If you are considered high risk due to age or health condition continue to remain safer
at home and take precautions – only going out for essential reasons and working from
home as much as possible.

There are many things that businesses and organizations should be doing to prepare for a safe
reopening, including:
• Develop flexible sick leave policies that encourage staying home when ill
• Set aggressive infection control policies (hand washing, surface cleaning, barriers to
reduce contact between customers and staff)
• Source needed disinfectants, soap, sanitizer, and PPE if used
• Ensure all operations support 6 feet physical distancing
• Create a system to monitor any symptoms your employees may have
• Cross train and prepare for absenteeism
• Implement a system to limit and direct traffic in your business
• Communicate your plan to employees and customers
Covid-19 has not gone away and will not in foreseeable future. The Health Department will
continue monitoring for increased cases and may need to target certain areas for restrictions
based on those case increases.

A strong economy is vital to public health and safety. We can’t have healthy residents and a
healthy community without people working and our businesses providing the goods and
services needed. We simply want everyone to continue to be safe.

Peaceful March for Racial Unity on Sunday at 10 a.m. in Whitewater

Whitewater Unites Lives will be hosting a peaceful march for racial unity this Sunday, June 7 at 10 a.m. (rain or shine). The group would like to invite community members to meet at 10 a.m. at Cravath lakefront near the parking lot for a peaceful march. They will begin with a moment of silence and then they will walk down Main Street on the sidewalk to the Birge Fountain (in front of the Cultural Arts Center) and back.

Signs are welcome with a peaceful message on racial unity.

For health and safety during COVID-19 please wear a face mask and use social distancing practices.

If you have questions, please contact whitewaterunites@gmail.com

WHS Virtual Graduation Ceremony Scheduled for Sunday, June 7, at 2:00 p.m.; Ceremony Available Here and on Channel 990

The Whitewater High School Virtual Graduation Ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 7, at 2:00 p.m., and will last approximately 1 hour.

The ceremony will be available on the Whitewater High School webpage and Whitewater High School Facebook page as well as on Charter/Spectrum Cable Channel 990 and here in the Whitewater Banner. Watch for the post at exactly 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Virtual Coding Club for Youth aged 10-18 offered via Whitewater Library – June 4 and June 18

Virtual Coding Club will be hosted via Zoom meeting June 4th and 18th at 3:30 p.m. Interested coders can earn to create their own filters, memes and more using JavaScript. They can create and share their own unique projects and learn from others. No previous coding experience is required. This club is recommended for ages 10 – 18.
Coders can register on the library’s website to receive an invitation to participate:
whitewaterlibrary.org

June 2 Common Council Highlights

By Lisa Dawsey Smith
Whitewater Banner Staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

The Common Council met virtually again on June 2. City Manager Cameron Clapper reported that the major street and utility reconstruction projects on Milwaukee St./Elkhorn Road and Clay Street are progressing well. The Cravath Lakefront Park amphitheater structure has arrived and is being installed. The Municipal Building reopened on June 1. Citizens having business in the building are encouraged to wear a mask. A virtual town hall meeting that will include a city operations and university update, resources for businesses, and Q&A will be held on Thursday evening at 5:30. The public is encouraged to participate. Information regarding registration is found on the Banner.

Finance Director Steve Hatton indicated that the state Public Service Commission (PSC) held a public hearing on May 26 in response to the rate case that was filed for the water utility. There were no public comments at the hearing. It is anticipated that a decision will be announced within the next ten days, likely resulting in an increase of approximately $3.54 per month for an average residential user of 3,000 gallons. The city is required to implement whatever decision the PSC announces. There was no way for the city to have known when the case was submitted in May, 2019 what the extraordinary economic situation would be today.

Police Chief Aaron Raap reflected on the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the resulting protests around the nation. Mr. Raap spoke of his and the department’s philosophy of community policing and their policies around use of force, including the fact that citizen complaints against an officer are reviewed by four persons in the chain of command, including himself. The Chief indicated that he expects the community to hold the personnel accountable, and encourages citizens to file a complaint any time they experience or see a police action that they feel is inappropriate, as well as reporting if they see something good occur. Our officers are trained in deescalation, fair and impartial policing, and positive interactions with the public. Chief Raap will be issuing a public statement on Wednesday, June 3.

An ordinance prohibiting the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores was adopted. Although there is no such establishment in the city at this time, it was indicated that such animals often come from “mills” where poor treatment routinely contributes to poor health, behavioral issues and the like. Megan Nicholson, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Humane Society, congratulated the Council for the action, indicating that we are the first municipality in Wisconsin with such an ordinance, although similar measures have been adopted in many cities and states around the nation.

Finance Director Steve Hatton reported on the annual financial audit by Johnson Block CPAs. Johnson Block issued an unqualified (or “clean”) opinion. The auditors commented on the operating deficit for the Aquatic and Fitness Center, something which city staff have been devoting considerable attention to since the city took over the operations. Otherwise it was a good year for the city financially. The organization has a goal of maintaining a 20% unassigned fund balance, a target which was reached for the first time in many years at the end of 2019, with a 22.5% “reserve ratio.” This provides a cushion which can be used in case of unanticipated major events.

The following individuals were appointed to the Library Board: Doug Anderson and Lisa Dawsey Smith as regular members, and Steve Smith and Jennifer Motszko as alternate members.

City Virtual Town Hall Meeting: Updates Concerning COVID-19 Pandemic – Thurs., 6/4

According to a press release, the City of Whitewater will be holding a virtual Town Hall meeting Thursday, June 4
at 5:30 p.m. to discuss updates concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with city operation updates, the agenda includes updates on resources for businesses and updates from the university. The meeting will then open up for a question and answer period, allowing citizens to interact and ask questions.


Due to Coronavirus concerns, this will be a virtual meeting (not in person). Citizens are welcome and encouraged to attend the virtual Zoom meeting by registering at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EQrxnGfiRxCFSUUJMSEz7Q. After registering, a confirmation email willbe sent with instructions to join the virtual meeting via a computer, smart phone or telephone.



Agenda

  1. Welcome and Introductions
  2. City Operations Update
  3. Updates and Resources for Businesses
  4. Updates from the University
  5. Question and Answer Period
    It is possible that members of, and possibly a quorum of members of, other governmental
    bodies of the municipality may be in attendance at the above‐stated meeting to gather
    information over which they may have decision making responsibility. No action will be taken by
    any governmental body at the above‐stated meeting.

Gov. Evers: We Must Confront Society’s Comfort with Racism

MADISON —​ Gov. Tony Evers on June 2 released a video statement following the death of George Floyd and the ongoing unrest, urging Wisconsinites to offer their compassion, support, and action to the Black community. This includes calling on the Legislature to pass Assembly Bill 1012, relating to use of force practices. 

The video message is available here. 

Over the past few days, we have been grieving as another Black life was extinguished before our eyes. His name was George Floyd. He was 46. His life matters. His family deserves justice. And he should still be alive today.

But his death was not an anomaly. We hear the echo of the words of Eric Garner. We relive the pain of the death of Black Wisconsinites like Dontre Hamilton, Sylville Smith, Ernest Lacy, and Tony Robinson. We listen to the call and repeat, answered by generations of Black voices who’ve marched before in these very same streets.

George Floyd’s death—and the lives taken before him—are symptomatic of the disease we’ve failed to adequately treat for four centuries. Racism has never really gone away—it has only manifested itself in different ways, from incarceration rates to health outcome disparities, the wage gap to education inequity, and in good intentions.

These past few days, millions have gathered to memorialize George Floyd, to demand change and accountability, and to call on this country to keep its promise of justice, fairness, and equity.

There was no empathy or humanity in George Floyd’s death, but there must be empathy and humanity in our response to it. We must see the trauma, fear, and exhaustion of being Black in our state and in our country. We must reject the efforts of those who seek to undermine and distract from the pain of generations of injustice. We must condemn all those who encourage violence against Black lives. We must offer our compassion, we must offer our support, but most of all, we must offer our action.

We can start with accountability for unacceptable use of force by certain law enforcement officers in our country and our state. So, I am calling on the Legislature to immediately pass Assembly Bill 1012 that would reform our use of force policies by prioritizing preserving life and minimizing the use of force and send it to my desk for signature.

I am also calling for local government leaders to join us in demanding change, and I am asking for partners to step up in every corner of this state and put in the work that needs to be done.

This legislation is an important first step, but we know the solution to racism isn’t in one bill or one person. I know I don’t have all the answers–no one does. This is on all of us, together.

We need systemic change to address the racism in our state and our country. We must be willing to face it, with clear eyes and open hearts, recognizing that folks who look like me have been part of creating, exacerbating, and benefiting from the systems that we must now turn to dismantle.

We must confront society’s comfort with racism. We must reestablish trust with communities of color. We must be willing to listen, we must be willing to be uncomfortable, we must be willing to do the work.

We must lay bare the notion that this is not who we are. It is who we have been. It is who we are. But it is not who we have to be tomorrow.

I have seen hope in those who’ve joined this cause in support, who’ve lent a hand to a neighbor, who’ve showed up with brooms and dustbins in hand to help clean up our neighborhoods. We must use this dark moment to begin to be an example for the rest of the nation. Wisconsin will lead, we will listen, and we are going to put in the work.

Please be kind to each other, support each other, and keep each other safe tonight and in the days ahead. We have work to do tomorrow, together.


 
 

Whitewater Arts Alliance Presents the WRAP Show at the Cultural Arts Center in June; Sets Health and Safety Procedures

(WHITEWATER – Whitewater Arts Alliance Submission) The Whitewater Arts Alliance will be hosting the Wisconsin Regional Art Program (WRAP) exhibit that features the works of non-professional Wisconsin artists at Whitewater’s Cultural Arts Center, 402 West Main Street, from June 7 through June 27. Visitors will be asked to participate in health and safety measures in light of COVID-19, to include wearing a mask at all times (masks will be provided), entering via the elevator and exiting via the front door (unless they require the elevator), and keeping six feet apart.  There will be a ten-person maximum in the building at all times.

Artists from Wisconsin will be exhibiting art in a variety of media including 3 D and photography.  Artists and art-advocates alike are invited to view the exhibit free of charge.  The exhibit will run from 2 to 4 p.m. beginning June 7th and running through June 27 on the following days:   Fridays (for at risk individuals only – age 65 and over or with immunocompromised health conditions), and Saturdays and Sundays for all others.

A FREE reception to meet the artists will be Sunday, June 7 from 2 – 4 p.m. and will take place outside (the reception will be cancelled if it rains).  There will be no food.  Individuals who would like to attend should RSVP to this free reception only by e-mailing wwartsalliance@gmail.com or calling 262-374-2499.  A  maximum of 45 people will be able to attend in order to keep six feet apart. 

WRAP was established to encourage Wisconsin citizens with a serious interest in art – people who make art purely for the love of it, rather than for fame and fortune. The purpose of WRAP is to encourage nonprofessional artists to develop their abilities. The Wisconsin Regional Art Program consists of many artist workshop/exhibits that meet throughout the year statewide. Each one has a different artist demonstration or slide lecture and a different judge to lead the afternoon critique. Artists may enter as many Wisconsin Regional Art Workshops as they like. The program is run by the Association of Wisconsin Artists (AWA), formerly named WRAA.

Artists winning a State Exhibit Award are eligible to compete for monetary awards at the State Day in Madison.  In order to enter the State Exhibit you must be a member of the Wisconsin Regional Arts Program – you can join the organization at any time before the state exhibit by going to wraawrap.com and click on the tab to register.

The first Rural Art Exhibit was held at the Memorial Union during Farm and Home Week in 1940. Under the guidance of John Stuart Curry, the exhibit grew rapidly, expanding from 30 nonprofessional artists in 1940 to over 100 by 1947. The energy and enthusiasm of Curry’s successor, Aaron Bohrod, the WRAP directors, James Schwalbach and Ken Kuemmerlein, and the help of the AWA have continued to make the exhibition and workshops cornerstones of activity for nonprofessional artists throughout the state.

WRAP is developed and administered by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Liberal Studies and the Arts.  WRAP exhibits and workshops began in 1940 to encourage the creative growth of non-professional artists from rural areas. 

Big thanks to our sponsor!

The mission of the Whitewater Arts Alliance is to promote the visual and performing arts through an alliance of artists, individuals, educational resources, and organizations to promote creativity and diversity that will serve to educate and enrich the lives of the residents of the Whitewater community and surrounding areas.

Dr. Roberta Wedl, WWUSD Medical Advisor, Offers Shout Out to Administration, Board, Teachers & Staff

As volunteer Medical Advisor for the WWUSD, over the past several months I have been involved in many discussions with administrators, health personnel, school board members, teachers, and staff regarding the management of district responsibilities amid the COVID-19 crisis.  I would like to offer a big shout out to these individuals who are working tirelessly to plan and carry out not only the education of our students during this unusual time, but also celebratory school events within the confines resulting from the global pandemic.  As a public entity, the school district is accountable to the people and must at all times consider the health and safety of their students, staff, and community as a first priority.  I have seen, firsthand, how these caring leaders work (at all hours) within the limits of state restrictions, legal requirements, public safety concerns, and liability coverage in order to plan the most meaningful events for their students.  Thank you to the administration, school board, teachers and staff of the WWUSD for your time and efforts.  We appreciate you. 

Roberta Wedl, M.D.