HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.04.25 Newsletter
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TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: Rebecca Grill, City Manager
DATE: April 4, 2025
RE: Weekly Newsletter
1. TEMPORARY DRINKING WATER CHANGE, INCREASED CHLORINE SMELL OR
TASTE: Chlorine is used as a primary treatment in most municipal drinking water systems
to kill harmful bacteria and viruses. The City of Oshkosh uses a combination of ozone and
chlorine to disinfect its drinking water. In 2025, the City of Oshkosh is replacing the ozone
system equipment at the Water Filtration Plant. During this project, there will be periods of
time that the ozone system will be offline, and chlorine will be utilized as the primary water
treatment method to meet disinfection regulations. Throughout this project, the level of
residual chlorine in the water will be safe to drink, but some residents may notice an
increased smell or taste of chlorine in the water.
The first ozone system shutdown is planned to start on Monday, April 7th. This shutdown
is expected to last a few weeks. As construction progresses, the ozone system may go
offline multiple times. The City of Oshkosh will share information with residents on social
media, the City of Oshkosh Water Utility webpage, and other channels as necessary.
To reduce the scent and taste of chlorine, the following actions can be helpful:
• Utilize a filter such as an activated carbon filter to remove residual chlorine.
• Pour water into a glass or pitcher and wait 15 - 20 minutes to evaporate chlorine.
• Boil water for 15 minutes to evaporate chlorine.
If you have questions regarding this project and the temporary shutdown of the ozone
system, please contact Utilities Operations Manager Jason Ellis, Assistant Director of Public
Works / Utilities General Manager Steve Gohde, or Director of Public Works James Rabe.
For general questions regarding drinking water quality, contact the Water Filtration Plant at
(920) 236-5165.
2. CITY LAUNCHES NEW PUBLIC MEETING CALENDAR: A new “Public Meeting
Calendar” has been launched on our website. This enhancement to the website displays all
public meetings on a single calendar, and is able to be viewed in a monthly or weekly
viewing format. The calendar is also formatted for viewing on mobile devices.
The meetings listed in the
calendar include Common
Council meetings, a range
of boards, committees and
commissions, as well as
workshop meetings, bid
openings and public
information meetings.
Meeting minutes will be
linked when published,
and a Zoom link will be
posted if virtual
participation is available.
The calendar also offers an option to subscribe to public meeting notices, sent directly to a
subscriber’s email inbox. Find the calendar link at the top of the City’s website.
3. 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
Landmarks Commission
Long Range Finance Committee
Plan Commission
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, by email or call 920-
236-5002.