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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.25.24 Newsletter TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager DATE: October 25, 2024 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. PRIVATE-SIDE LEAD WATER SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE INFORMATION AVAILABLE: The City has applied for and received funding from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program to help reduce the cost to private property owners for lead water service line replacement work. Notices have been sent to property owners adjacent to 2023 and 2024 water main replacement projects (including street reconstruction projects) and property owners who have requested information on this funding. Notices will be going out shortly to property owners adjacent to 2025 water main replacement projects. The purpose of these notices is to inform the property owners of the City’s ordinance regarding replacement of lead water service lines and to explain the new financial assistance program available to property owners. Information on the new financial assistance program and all of the required forms are available on the City website. Property owners with lead or galvanized iron that is considered lead are encouraged to apply for financial assistance and replace their service lines. If you have questions regarding the private-side lead water service lateral replacement program, please contact Assistant Director of Public Works / Utilities General Manager, Steve Gohde. 2. NEW INTERACTIVE WATER SERVICE INVENTORY MAP: The Water Utility is happy to announce the availability of an interactive map for residents to look up the materials comprising their water service line. Residents may zoom to their individual property and see the materials of the public-side and private-side water service line. If the private-side material is “unknown,” residents are encouraged to schedule a free inspection to determine the material. Visit the Water Utility website and click on “Sign Up for a Free Water Service Line Inspection.” The map is available on the City’s Public Works webpage. If you have questions regarding the new lead service line inventory map, please contact Assistant Director of Public Works / Utilities General Manager, Steve Gohde. 3. LIBRARY UNVEILS NEW WEBSITE AND BRAND IDENTITY: On Thursday, October 24th, the Oshkosh Public Library launched their new website and refreshed brand identity. The significant update underscores the library’s renewed commitment to serving the community. With the tagline, “Spark Your Story,” the dual initiatives reflect the library’s dedication to empowering community members in their lifelong journeys of learning and personal growth. The new website, the first major update since 2013, features easy navigation to help visitors discover new books, explore local history and access resources for learning and entertainment. An innovative events calendar streamlines program registration and room reservations, enhancing the user experience. The library’s new logo features a lion’s head and vibrant sparks, symbolizing its 124-year history and core values of strength and leadership. Patrons will notice vibrant new visuals on library cards, throughout the building, in all communications, and at outreach events in the coming months. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the launch video, “Spark Your Story at Oshkosh Public Library!” on the library’s YouTube channel. 4. NEIGHBORHOOD PARK’S PLAYGROUND GETS FACE LIFT: Neighborhood parks are essential to building community, promoting social connections, and encouraging healthy play. The 44th Parallel Park playground replacement is nearing completion. The equipment and surfacing are complete, and all that remains is site restoration. The plan is to have the playground ready for the neighborhood by the end of October. The nearly five-acre 44th Parallel Park is located at 2230 Allerton Avenue. The park has playground equipment, two tennis courts, a baseball/softball field, and an open-air shelter. We encourage you to explore all the City of Oshkosh park locations. 5. CITY PARKING LOT PROJECT UPDATES: Spanbauer Field’s parking lot is under reconstruction and nearly finished. This popular site for youth softball and, in the past, adult softball will be ready for play in spring, sporting a new parking lot. Another parking lot construction project is a new lot located at 9th Avenue and Pioneer Drive. Once completed, this lot will provide access to the Oshkosh Riverwalk and the Fox River. If you have any questions regarding park projects, please contact Chad Dallman, Assistant Parks Director, at 920-236-5080. 6. PERFECT WEATHER BRINGS OUT RECORD CROWDS TO ZOOLOWEEN BOO: Last weekend we hosted our 22nd annual Zooloween Boo down at the Menominee Park Zoo. The event is our largest fundraiser of the year for the Zoo. It was a beautiful weekend, and we welcomed over 3,500 people into the Zoo – the most people that we have ever welcomed at Zooloween Boo! We also were able to raise some great funds for future Zoo events. Families could come down to the Zoo, and children could trick or treat from booth to booth, enjoy the bounce houses, crafts, contests, entertainment, and much more. Thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers who made this event possible. Remember to take advantage of the extended hours at the Zoo. From now until December 31, 2024, the Zoo is open Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Admission remains free. If you have any questions about these events, please contact Jenny McCollian, Revenue Facilities Manager, at 920-236-5080. 7. COMMUNITY PARTNERS BRING NEW PEOPLE TO THE SENIORS CENTER: The Seniors Center welcomed over 400 people during the October 22nd Open House. We partnered with Network Health, which held a new member experience for 300 people during sessions throughout the day. Network Health customers were encouraged to take a tour, but not just any tour! We had groups from the Center engaging in their favorite classes and programs. It allowed the tour guests to chat directly with seniors who participate in programs they, themselves, might want to explore. The introductions helped to ease the anxiety of exploring something new. It was a great success. The Winnebago Senior Tours signed up over a dozen travelers, the ukulele program has two new beginners signing up for sessions, and the knitters circle met several people who plan on joining them. Please note Oshkosh Seniors Center’s holiday hours in November: the Center will be closed on November 28th for Thanksgiving; on Friday, November 29th, the north building will be open from 8:00 a.m. to noon, and there will be no exercise classes. The Center’s south building will be closed for the day. Fast-forward to 2025, and the Oshkosh Seniors Center will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. Stay tuned for special events and programs celebrating 50 years of enriching the lives of our community’s older adults. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Braun, Seniors Center Manager, at 920-232- 5300. Seniors Center Program details and registration information may be found on our webpage. 8. FIRE DEPARTMENT WELCOMES NEW FIREFIGHTER: The Oshkosh Fire Department welcomes their newest firefighter, Jeremy Pethke, who started with the Department on Monday, October 21st. He will be staring his Fire Academy training soon. 9. 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: BID Board Board of Review Board of Zoning Appeals Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee Landmarks Commission Long Range Finance Committee Plan Commission Sustainability Advisory Board To learn more about the boards and commissions, or to complete an application to serve, visit our boards and commissions webpage. If you have questions about current openings, please contact the City Manager’s Executive Assistant, Kami Zuercher, at 920-236-5002 or kzuercher@oshkoshwi.gov. 10. AGENDAS AND MINUTES FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: Upcoming board and commission meeting agendas can be found on our Meeting Notices web page. All meeting minutes are uploaded to the City’s page for boards and commissions upon approval. 11. LOOKING AHEAD: The meetings I have scheduled for the week of October 28th include the following: on Monday and Tuesday, we will hold all-day workshops with staff and Council to discuss the 2025 budget. On Tuesday at 6:00 p.m., I will attend a preview event at the Oshkosh Arena. On Wednesday at 8:30 a.m., I will meet with staff regarding improvements on a vacated right of way on the UW-Oshkosh campus, and at 2:00 p.m., staff and I will meet with a consultant regarding the Sawyer Street and Oshkosh Avenue intersection. On Friday at 11:00 a.m., I will attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Mill on Main development. If you have any questions about my upcoming schedule, please do not hesitate to contact me.