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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.24.24 Newsletter TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager DATE: May 24, 2024 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. I-41 IMPROVEMENTS OVER LAKE BUTTE DES MORTS BEGIN TUESDAY: The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will begin a rehabilitation project Tuesday, May 28th on the I-41 Lake Butte des Morts causeway between WIS 21 and US 45 in Oshkosh. The $2.04 million project is expected to finish in October 2024. During construction, both directions of I-41 will be reduced from three to two lanes across Lake Butte des Morts. In addition. The US 45 ramp to southbound I-41 will be closed for the majority of the project; closure is scheduled to begin at 6:00 a.m. on May 28th. The detour route for this closure will follow US 45 to WIS 21 to I-41 (please see detour map in Attachment 1). Significant traffic impacts are anticipated throughout the project, and motorists are advised to use alternate routes whenever possible. (Note: during EAA AirVenture, the project will be suspended with all lanes and ramps open to traffic.) The existing approaches for the northbound and southbound I-41 bridges over the main channel of Lake Butte des Morts have experienced settlement. While the drop-off has been temporarily corrected, the removal and replacement of these approaches are needed to provide a long-term solution. The existing safety and weight enforcement facilities (SWEF) along I-41 near the northern shore of Lake Butte des Morts are also deteriorating and outdated. A new system will be installed with improved technology and reduced maintenance requirements. For more information on the project, please visit the 511 Wisconsin Construction webpage for this project. You can also get updates on this and other WisDOT projects in the northeast region at their webpage for weekly updates. 2. REMINDER: NO GARBAGE OR RECYCLING COLLECTION ON MEMORIAL DAY: Due to the City’s observance of the Memorial Day holiday, there will be no garbage or recycling collection on Monday, May 27, 2024. Collections for the remainder of the week will be one (1) day later. Garbage and recycling collection scheduled for Friday, May 31st, moves to Saturday, June 1st. Regular services resume on Monday, June 3rd. The City’s yard waste drop-off site located on West 3rd Avenue (between Idaho Street and Ohio Street) will be closed for the holiday on Monday, May 27th. The drop-off site will reopen on Tuesday, May 28th. Residential curbside brush collection for June will take place on the regularly-scheduled garbage collection day the week of June 3rd thru June 7th. If you have any questions, please contact Public Works Field Operations Manager, Ryan Lemke or Public Works Sanitation Manager, Eric Moran. 3. SITTING BY THE DOCK OF THE BAY: Summer is finally here, and it is time for the Oshkosh Parks Department to shine! There is certainly not a shortage of things to do in our parks. We are excited to kick off our Brews on the Bay series starting June 5th. This year, we will host this concert series at Rainbow Memorial Park. We invite you, our vibrant community, to join us at these beer gardens held from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. They include food trucks, craft beers, and live music. For a full schedule, please visit our Brews on the Bay webpage. To learn about all the exciting things happening in the Parks Department this summer, please check out the 2024 City of Oshkosh Parks Department Activity Guide. If you have any questions about upcoming events, please contact Jenny McCollian, Revenue Facilities Manager, at (920) 236-5080. 4. ROCK THE TREES: The Stevens Park Neighborhood Association is wrapping up the 2024 Rock the Block, a Habitat for Humanity International brand that brings people together to revitalize neighborhoods. Rock the Block is a collaborative effort presented by Habitat for Humanity Oshkosh, Oshkosh Healthy Neighborhoods, Inc. (GO-HNI), and the City of Oshkosh. This exciting neighborhood revitalization initiative, "Rock the Block Oshkosh,” relies on the active participation of neighborhood association members, volunteers, city loans, and local grant funding for exterior home improvement. It's all about neighbors and the greater community coming together to improve their city. This year, the Parks Department has secured funding from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry Grant. We will plant trees in the terraces and Stevens Park as part of our neighborhood revitalization efforts. But that's not all: the grant also pays for trees planted on private property within the neighborhood association's boundaries. Residents could apply for a random selection of trees for their property. Rock the Block took the efforts to the next level and “rocked the trees” by providing volunteers to plant the awarded trees. The species of trees were well-diversified and included Tricolor Beeches, Tuliptrees, Autumn Brilliance Serviceberries, and Eastern Redbuds, ensuring a variety of shapes, sizes, and spring and fall colors. The Landscape Operations Division is committed to secure funding to help diversify the City of Oshkosh tree canopy. If you have questions about forestry-related topics, please contact Travis Derks, Landscape Operations Manager, at (920) 236-5080. 5. BEING HEALTHY IS A FOCUS AT THE SENIORS CENTER: In early May, the Oshkosh Seniors Center began operating another day for nail care services with a new partner. This much-needed service will shorten the wait time for available appointments and help improve the quality of life for those who need this care. The additional days of service will be on two Fridays per month, in addition to maintaining our current days of service every week (Tuesday and Wednesday). The Seniors Center continues to prepare for National Senior Health & Fitness Day on Wednesday, May 29th with a healthy cooking option for the popular Eat & Greet program. Participants can look forward to good, healthy food and good camaraderie. Limited tickets to participate are still available. As a reminder, everyone over age 50 is welcome on Wednesday, May 29th, as admission to the Fox Fitness Center and drop-in classes from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. will be free. The event is an excellent opportunity to bring a friend or check out the facility. Looking ahead to fitness offerings for June, the Seniors Center will be implementing some exciting changes to its fitness offerings. Class times are set to consistent start times to serve participants better, reducing confusion for program offerings and allowing staff to find space to add programs as needs arise. The Seniors Center is excited to offer Water Fitness at Pollock Community Water Park. These will start on Monday, June 10th and will run until Monday, July 15th. The class will be from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. unless inclement weather exists. A small fee of $2.50 per class is required, and participants can register with the Parks Department by calling (920) 236-5080. Please find additional information about the Center, program details, and registration information on our webpage at https://www.oshkoshwi.gov/SeniorServices/. For more information, contact Dan Braun, Senior Services Manager, at (920) 232-5300. 6. ATTACHMENTS: • Detour map for US 45 ramp to southbound I-41 • Fox Valley Technical College’s Notice of Public Hearing for 2024-2025 Budget 7. GET INVOLVED IN A BOARD OR COMMISSION: If you are interested in serving your community, please consider becoming a member of one of the City’s citizen advisory boards, commissions, or committees. There are current openings on the following boards and commissions: Board of Review Board of Zoning Appeals Long Range Finance Committee Plan Commission Sustainability Advisory Board To learn more about the boards and commissions, or to complete an application to serve, follow this link: oshkoshwi.gov/BoardsAndCommissions/. If you have questions about current openings, please contact the City Manager’s Administrative Assistant, Kami Zuercher, at (920) 236-5002 or kzuercher@oshkoshwi.gov. 8. MINUTES FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: All meeting minutes are uploaded to the website upon approval. Please follow the link below for the most updated information & meeting minutes: onboard.oshkoshwi.gov/ 9. LOOKING AHEAD: As a reminder, City Hall is closed on Monday, May 27th for Memorial Day. The meetings I have scheduled for the remainder of the week include the following: On Tuesday at 9:00 a.m., I will meet with staff and external partners to prepare for the Downtown Visualization presentation to Council on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., I will attend a special meeting of the DEI Committee, where they will discuss the ARPA process and provide me with their input on equity issues. On Friday at 11:00 a.m., I will meet with a local small business owner. If you have any questions about my upcoming schedule, please do not hesitate to contact me.