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HomeMy WebLinkAboutnewsletter TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager DATE: August 12, 2022 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. PRIVATE-SIDE LEAD WATER SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT LETTERS SENT TO PROPERTY OWNERS: Property owners adjacent to proposed water main replacement projects (including street reconstruction projects) were mailed letters this week regarding their private-side water service lines. The purpose of these letters is to inform the property owners of the City’s ordinance regarding replacement of lead water service lines, and the reimbursement program that may be available for the replacement of private-side lead water service lines. Property owners were informed they may have the Water Utility perform an inspection to determine the material type of their water service line at the water meter at no charge, or they may hire a plumber of their choosing to perform the inspection. Water Distribution staff will also begin contacting property owners shortly regarding performing this service, as well as performing an inspection for any cross-connections. If you have questions regarding the private-side lead water service lateral replacement program, please contact Management Analyst Jodi St. Charles or Assistant Director of Public Works / Utilities General Manager Steve Gohde. 2. THANKS A MILLION OSHKOSH: Summer readers were on fire this year, reading more than 1.4 million minutes (and counting) during the Oshkosh Public Library’s Summer Reading Challenge. What an accomplishment, Oshkosh! Let's celebrate on Sat., Aug. 20 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the library. Join us for light refreshments, enter to win a library swag bag, pick up an "I Read" to make the million sticker, snap a special photo, and visit the New Zoo and Adventure Park Zoomobile at 10:30 a.m. (registration required for the Zoomobile - please call (920) 236-5208). This event is free and open to all. We hope you'll plan to join us! 3. POLICY FORUM RELEASES REPORT ON MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL DATA: The Wisconsin Policy Forum (WPF) has released its “Municipal Data Tool,” a summary of expenditures and other financial metrics for all Wisconsin cities and villages. The link may be found here: https://wispolicyforum.org/research/municipal-datatool-examining- and-comparing-wisconsin-cities-and-villages/. The WPF annually provides this information on per capita comparisons for financial indicators such as expenditures (overall general fund type expenditures as well as police, fire, general government, and streets), fund balance, shared revenue, and debt. This data can be compared with other communities, and serves as a good financial benchmark. With that said, I ask that you examine the data closely, as reasons for differences in some of these statistics can vary. If you have any follow up questions after reviewing this data, please contact Finance Director Van Gompel. 4. COMFORT CABINET AT THE LIBRARY: OPL has installed a Comfort Cabinet on the first floor of the library to make basic hygiene items available to patrons in need. The library is partnering with the Day by Day Warming Shelter to offer shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine products, hand warmers, hats and other basic necessities on an ongoing basis. Day by Day will keep the cabinet stocked with items, which typically are not covered by government assistance programs. Anyone interested in donating items for the Comfort Cabinet can drop them off at the Day By Day Warming Shelter, 449 High Avenue. Details and a current Needs List is at https://daybydayshelter.org/. Day by Day staff also hold regular office hours at the library one afternoon each week to help people access resources for housing, employment, food, health, transportation and other needs. These activities developed through the OPL staff touring the warming shelter and building relationships with Day by Day staff to better understand and respond to community needs. 5. SAFETY AND ATTENDANCE TOP EAA: 2022 EAA AirVenture was a great success that hit record attendance with about 650,000 people participating. Despite the severe storms that rolled through on July 23rd that flipped a parked plane and damaged several tents there were no injuries and no major damage. More than 10,000 aircraft arrived safely at Wittman Regional Airport and other local airports in east-central Wisconsin. At Wittman alone, there were 16,807 aircraft operations in the 11-day period from July 19- 29, which is an average of approximately 127 takeoffs/landings per hour. The City of Oshkosh Fire Department was happy to serve you and we look forward to seeing you next year! 6. PARKS OPERATIONS OFFICE RELOCATION: The Parks Department offices have temporarily relocated to the Water Distribution building at 757 W. 3rd Ave. Parks Director Maurer and Administrative Assistant Stacy James will operate out of the Water Distribution building throughout the construction project that is anticipated to last 12-13 months. Assistant Parks Director Chad Dallman, Landscape Operations Manager Travis Derks, and field staff will relocate to the balcony area in the Public Works Field Operations Facility at 639 Witzel Ave. The main office phone number for the Parks Department will remain the same: (920) 236-5080. If you have any questions, please contact Ray Maurer, Parks Director. 7. COVID-19 RESOURCE LINKS AND INFORMATION: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:  https://www.cdc.gov/ Wisconsin Department of Health Services:  https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ Winnebago County Public Health Department:  https://www.co.winnebago.wi.us/health 8. LOOKING AHEAD: As a reminder, I will be out of the office the week of August 15, returning to the office on August 23. Assistant City Manager, John Fitzpatrick will be available in my absence. If you have any questions about my schedule, please contact me.