News & Events

You’re Invited!
Starin Park Purple Martin House Dedication
Saturday, May 13, 2 p.m.

The Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission invites the public to attend the dedication of a new Purple Martin house located in the Arboretum at Starin Park on Saturday, May 13 at 2 p.m. behind the Senior Center. This Martin house is the third Purple Martin habitat that Urban Forestry has been able to put in place thanks to the city of Whitewater and donations from individuals throughout our community. The other two Martin houses, located in Minneiska Park and Clay Street Nature Preserve, have successfully fledged Martins every year since they were installed. Martins enjoy showing their aerial acrobatics and serenading an audience and are not put off by human visitors!

Purple Martins are beneficial insectivores that depend upon man-made housing. After migrating 4,000 miles from the Amazon, they lay only one clutch of eggs each year. They face severe competition from invasive house sparrows and starlings so these structures have to be managed until the Martins become established in each house. Through the efforts of Bill Chandler, member of Urban Forestry, our first two Martin houses have become very well established and are enjoyed by many people as well as the Martins! We look forward to providing this at the Arboretum at Starin Park as well.

Whitewater has earned the designations of both Bird City and Tree City. Please join volunteer members of the Urban Forestry Commission as well as city staff and others on Saturday, May 13 at 2 p.m. at Starin Park for the dedication of the 3rd Purple Martin house.

Three Whitewater High School Computer Science Students were honored at the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Awards Ceremony at the Milwaukee School of Engineering on Sunday, May 7. Senior Jazmin Cederberg was honored as a Wisconsin State Winner, while Freshman Ace Hudec and Senior Dayna Carlson were honored with Wisconsin Honorable Mentions.

The three-hour formal program included guest speakers from industry, Q & A with a panel including college students currently studying computer science related majors, and a motivational speech from the National Director of the Aspirations program. 153 students from across the state of Wisconsin were honored as either winners, honorable mention, or rising stars.

A major focus of the program is to provide access to scholarships, internships, and connections with IT professionals for female and non-binary students who are pursuing their interests in computer science.

All three honorees have studied computer science at WHS and have been involved with the FIRST Robotics Competition Team Ferradermis as programmers. Both Jazmin and Dayna intend to continue their study of computer science at UW schools next fall.

Article and Photos Submitted by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Computer Science Teacher and Banner Volunteer
lmasbruch@wwusd.org

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #197 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Sun., May 7, 2023, as a mark of respect for the firefighters of Wisconsin who have given their lives in the line of duty. “Every day in communities throughout our state, Wisconsin firefighters bravely put their lives on the line to protect the health and safety of others,” said Gov. Evers. “Honoring those firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty is a responsibility we share as a state and nation, and I am proud to recognize these fallen heroes and share our deepest condolences with their families, friends, colleagues, and loved ones on these occasions throughout the year.” Executive Order #197 orders the flags to be flown at half-staff on Sun., May 7, 2023, in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service during National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. Previously, National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend had been held in October, but beginning in 2023, was moved from October to May by the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation.  In Wisconsin, Wis. Stat. 995.225(1) still designates each week annually during which October 9 falls as Fire Prevention Week and designates the Saturday at the end of Fire Prevention Week as Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day. To that end, Executive Order #197 also orders the flags be lowered on Sat., Oct. 14, 2023, in honor of Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day during Fire Prevention Week.

You won’t want to miss our League’s BIGGEST membership event of the year, our
Annual Meeting! It will be held in person on Saturday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to Noon in
Fairhaven Senior Services’ Fellowship Hall, 435 W Starin Rd, Whitewater. A delicious
light brunch will be provided.

The League board encourages all League members and interested members of the
public to attend this important social and business gathering. Please join us as we
review and celebrate our work in the past year, look forward to the new one, and
conduct the business of the League, which includes voting on a slate of Board of
Directors and Officers, a proposed budget, and local programming focus for FY
2023-24.

As a member of our League, your vote on these significant actions counts – but only if
you appear in person. We want to hear from ALL of our members and get to know you
better! Please learn how your membership and volunteer work in our organization has
influenced our democracy! Materials for the Annual Meeting can be found on our
website.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages
informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of
major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
Visit our website at https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/whitewater-area, like us on Facebook
and follow us on Instagram @lwvwhitewater.

Notice of Affordable Housing Public Input Session

City of Whitewater staff has drafted an Affordable Housing Fund Policy for the Community Development Authority to assist home buyers and developers by addressing the lack of housing available in the City of Whitewater, especially for low-income residents. With this policy, the city seeks to support home buyers in acquiring homes and incentivizing contractors/developers with construction of new housing units.

The goal of the Affordable Housing Fund is to aid homebuyers and provide gap financing for projects in the City of Whitewater that seek to increase the supply of safe, quality, affordable housing and facilitate long‐term affordability and sustainability. In addition, the funds seek to achieve a wider dispersion of affordable housing units throughout the city and discourage development of more affordable housing in areas with existing high concentrations.

Approximately $1.9 million will be allocated to fund single‐family housing projects that promote housing affordability and down payment assistance to purchasers of single‐family homes who qualify based on income in comparison to the median for the County in which the dwelling resides. This policy also proposes to allocate a small amount ($200,000) toward single‐family home rehabilitation in an existing program run by the CDA (view the affordable housing fund policy draft).

John Weidl, Whitewater city manager, shares, “Anyone interested in developing, financing, purchasing, or promoting affordable housing in the City of Whitewater, please attend our public input session and provide input and feedback on how to best allocate $1.9 million toward single-family homes that are affordable for current and future residents. We are grateful for your participation and please know that we value your input.”

The City of Whitewater will host an Affordable Housing Public Input Session “open house” on April 27, 2023, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building Community Room, 312 W. Whitewater Street, Whitewater, WI. This two‐hour open house will allow any person interested in discussing, reviewing, or commenting on the policy to do so.

Editor’s note: In response to our inquiry, Weidl told the Banner that approximately the first 20 minutes “will be a presentation of how the fund was developed, an explanation of the draft policy, and a recap of some of the major feedback we’ve received to this point. That will be followed by an open house style event. We also intend to livestream and record the event.”

Please feel free to contact City Manager John Weidl at jweidl@whitewater‐wi.gov or 262‐473‐0104 with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Advertisement for Bids
Road Repair Projects 2023

Town of Whitewater, Walworth County, Wisconsin

The Town Board of the Town of Whitewater will receive sealed bids for the following road projects:

Chip & Seal:
Parker Road
Cox road
R&W Townline Rd: two different sections

Asphalt:
Shereda Rd
Krahn Dr
W. Lakeshore Dr
Clover Valley from Anderson Rd to Millis Rd

Patches and wedging:
Clover Valley between Willis Ray Rd and Anderson Rd intersection
Woodward Rd at boundary of Cold Spring Township

For specifics on proposed projects, please contact Carl Ahrens, Public Works Superintendent: 920-723-0458.

All sealed bids, clearly marked “ROAD BID”, must be received by the Town Clerk before NOON, May 1, 2023. Bids will be opened on May 2, 2023 at a Special Meeting for the Board, starting at 8:30 a.m.

Weight slips required for all road materials used. Proof of Worker’s Comp Insurance and a W-9 must be furnished prior to any work being done. All bids and materials must be according to State of Wisconsin, DOT road standards.

The Town of Whitewater reserves the right to core and test asphalt content at the expense of the awarded contractor. The Town Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids or parts of bids.

Jorja Boiley
Clerk/Treasurer