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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.19.25 Newsletter : TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Rebecca Grill, City Manager DATE: December 19, 2025 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. USPS POLICY CHANGE; TAXPAYERS ENCOURAGED TO SEND PAYMENTS EARLY: Changes at the United States Postal Service are a good reason for Oshkosh taxpayers to mail their 2025 real estate tax payments earlier than usual. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue says that USPS is moving its postmark process from local offices to regional ones, effective December 24, 2025. This means taxpayers should allow for more time for their mailed payments to arrive at their regional USPS location, get postmarked and arrive on time. City staff is encouraging those mailing in payments not to wait until right before the deadline, or to pay online. Payments are also accepted over the phone by calling (888) 412-1013. For more information, call the Finance Department at (920) 236-5025. 2. CANNIZZO SELECTED AS DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL AND ENRICHMENT SERVICES: The City of Oshkosh has selected Anna Cannizzo as the community’s new Director of Cultural and Enrichment Services. In this role, Cannizzo will collaborate with the Library and oversee the Museum, Parks Services & Events, Senior Services, and Fund Development services under the Cultural & Enrichment Services umbrella, which was created as part of the City’s structural changes. Cannizzo has served in various roles at the Oshkosh Public Museum for the last 11 years, initially serving as the Curator of Collections for 6 years, Assistant Director for 4 years with two appointments as Interim Director, and Museum Director since June, 2024. Prior to coming to Oshkosh, she served as Curator of Collections and Interim Director at the Denison Museum at Denison University in Granville, Ohio for 7 years. “I am honored to continue to serve the Oshkosh community and lead this newly created department in this expanded role. Oshkosh has exceptional quality of life assets that contribute to its strong cultural legacy. I look forward to building on those strengths and developing new exciting opportunities to enrich lives in our community,” said Cannizzo. For more information about employment opportunities with the City of Oshkosh, visit the City's employment website. 3. PROPERTY OWNERS WILL SOON RECEIVE LETTERS REGARDING WATER SERVICE LINE MATERIALS: As part of the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the City of Oshkosh Water Utility is required to send letters to property owners in the City of Oshkosh regarding the material of the water service line serving their property by December 31st. The content of these letters is dictated very specifically by the EPA. These letters will be going to property owners where either the public side or the private side of their water service line is either confirmed lead or galvanized iron considered lead, or is of unknown material. Information is also being provided to property owners on how they can confirm which side of their water service line is lead, galvanized iron or brass considered lead, or unknown. The City has applied for and received financial assistance from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to help reduce the cost to property owners for work in 2026. These letters also include information about the current financial assistance programs available to property owners from the City. This year, there are two programs available: • The first program is the same program as last year, where the City provides 50% financial assistance up to $2,700 for the water service line replacement and $650 for hard surface restoration. • New this year, property owners located within Census Tracts 4, 7, or 12 can be provided with 100% financial assistance up to $5,400 for the water service line replacement and $1,300 for hard surface restoration. The City will be mailing information to all eligible properties in the 100% financial assistance Census Tracts shortly after the new year. For low-income property owners, assistance may be available through a Community Development Block Grant. If qualified, this program can pay for the entire cost to replace a lead service line. 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. 4. HOLIDAY GARBAGE AND RECYCLING COLLECTION: Due to the City’s observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, there will be no garbage or recycling collection on Thursday, December 25, 2025 and on Thursday, January 1, 2026. Collections for the remainder of the week will be one day later. Garbage and recycling collection scheduled for Friday, December 26, 2025 will move to Saturday, December 27, 2025. Garbage and recycling scheduled for Friday, January 2, 2026 will move to Saturday, January 3, 2026. Regular services will resume on Monday, January 5, 2026. Additionally, the City’s yard waste drop-off center located on West 3rd Avenue (between Idaho Street and Ohio Street) will be closed for the holidays on Wednesday, December 24, 2025; Thursday, December 25, 2025; and Thursday, January 1, 2026. The drop-off center will re-open on Friday, December 26, 2025 and Friday, January 2, 2026. The winter hours are 6:30am to 2:30pm, Monday through Friday. The drop-off center is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays during the winter schedule. Residential curbside Christmas tree collection will take place on the regularly-scheduled garbage collection day the weeks of January 5th through January 9th and January 19th through January 23rd. If you have any questions, please contact Public Works Field Operations Manager Ryan Lemke or Public Works Sanitation Manager Larry Wilkins. 5. HEROES AND HELPERS: The Oshkosh Police Department participated in this year’s Heroes and Helpers event on Monday, December 8, 2025, sponsored by Target. Target seeks to build connections and bring the joy of the season to under-resourced children through partnerships with charity organizations and local first responders. More than 450 Heroes and Helpers grants were awarded nationwide in 2025. Lieutenant Matt Ziegler, Detective Chee Vang, Crime Prevention Officer Kate Mann, Officer Garrett Dahms, and Oshkosh Auxiliary Police members Ron O’Bright and Gerald Kargus shopped with children who bought gifts for their family members and themselves. Five children were chosen to receive $200 in gifts per family! Target staff assisted officers in making this event extra special for the children. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to Target and staff for providing an opportunity for officers to build positive connections with the community and to help make Christmas a whole lot merrier for families in need during the holiday season. Heroes and Helpers warms the hearts of the officers and lights the faces of the children! 6. SHOP WITH A COP: The Oshkosh Police Department participated in this year’s “Shop with a Cop” event at Walmart on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Generous donations from local organizations such as Oshkosh Walmart, TelecomPioneers Wisconsin Chapter #4, South Side Ice Yacht Club, Pepsi Beverages, and individual citizens made this year’s “Shop with a Cop” possible! Several members of the department shopped with children who bought gifts for their family members and themselves. This year, 24 children, ranging from elementary to high school, were all referrals who received $200 in gifts per family! We want to sincerely thank the generosity of the donors and volunteers who not only make this program such a success, but also provide an opportunity for the police department and the community to come together to provide a heartwarming holiday season for Oshkosh families. 7. OPD HAPPENINGS: The Oshkosh Police Department welcomed 3 new Police Officers during a Police and Fire Commission meeting on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Police Cadet Noah Alford, Police Cadet Andrew McCoy, along with new hire Brenton Eliason, who all completed their Wisconsin Law Enforcement Certification through Fox Valley Technical College on December 12, 2025, were hired as Police Officers. Welcome to the OPD Team! • Noah Alford is originally from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he graduated in 2020 from Oshkosh West High School. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 2024. Noah was previously employed as a landscaping laborer with Grounds Guys Landscaping. • Andrew McCoy is originally from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he graduated from Oshkosh West High School in 2021. He attended the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in May 2025. Andrew was previously employed as a Claims intern with Secura Insurance Company. • Brenton Eliason is originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he graduated from Bay Port High School in 2007. Brenton went on to earn an Associate degree in Mechanical Design from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Brenton was previously employed with The Home Depot. • Sergeant Chee Vang has been with the Oshkosh Police Department for over 18 years, beginning on June 25, 2007. During his tenure with the Oshkosh Police Department, he has performed the duties of a Patrol Officer exceptionally well. Chee was selected as a MEG Unit Investigator before being promoted to Detective on January 14, 2013. From 2013 - 2015, Sergeant Vang served as a Drug Task Force Investigator. In 2020, he served as a School Resource Officer until his transition back to Detective in 2022. Throughout his career, Sergeant Vang received a Letter of Commendation in 2011, 2014 and 2015, a Commendation Medal in 2011, Team Policing Officer of the Year Award in 2016, a Lifesaving Award in 2017, Noteworthy Performance of Duty Awards in 2018, 2022, and 2025, Officer of the 4th Quarter Award in 2023, a Community Service Award in 2023, and a Department Commendation Award in 2025, along with several letters and Supervisor's Logs recognizing him for his commendable actions in the line of duty. Sergeant Vang is a member of the Crisis Negotiator Team and a former D.A.R.E. instructor. • Sergeant Jason Konitzer has been with the Oshkosh Police Department for 5 years, beginning on June 10, 2020. Mr. Konitzer served in the United States Air Force from May 2012 – May 2018 as a Security Force Specialist, completing one Tour of Duty (Afghanistan in 2014). During his tenure with the Oshkosh Police Department, he has performed the duties of a Patrol Officer exceptionally well. Sergeant Konitzer actively serves as a Field Training Officer and is a member of the Bike Patrol Unit, Honor Guard Team, and Recruitment Team. • Sergeant Cody Rukamp has been with the Oshkosh Police Department for 9 years, beginning on October 24, 2016. In 2012, Mr. Rukamp enlisted in the Army National Guard right out of high school where he continues to actively serve. During his tenure with the Oshkosh Police Department, he has performed the duties of a Patrol Officer exceptionally well, earning Lifesaving Awards in 2020 and 2024, Department Commendation Awards in 2021 and 2024, Police Officer of the 3rd Quarter in 2021, and a Noteworthy Performance of Duty Award in 2024 for his commendable actions in the line of duty. Sergeant Rukamp actively serves as a Field Training Officer, a member of the K9 Unit, as well as a member of the Bike Patrol Unit and Mobile Field Force. He is a former member of the Recruitment Team and served as a Police Explorer Advisor. • Detective Zachary Wilkens has been with the Oshkosh Police Department for nearly 9 years, beginning on January 3, 2017. During his tenure with the Oshkosh Police Department, he has performed the duties of a Patrol Officer exceptionally well. In November 2023, Zachary was assigned to the Vice and Narcotics Unit as an Investigator. Throughout his career, he earned Department Commendation Awards in 2019, two in 2024, and 2025, Police Officer of the First Quarter Award in 2021, Noteworthy Performance of Duty Awards in 2018, 2021, and 2025, Police Officer of the Year Award in 2024, as well as letters of recognition for his commendable actions in the line of duty. Detective Wilkens is a Field Training Officer and actively serves as a member of the SWAT Team and Mobile Field Force Team. Zachary also served as a former Police Explorer Advisor. 8. GET INVOLVED IN A BOARD OR COMMISSION: If you are interested in serving your community, 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 Landmarks Commission 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, the process of appointment, or need more information about a particular board, please contact the City Manager’s Executive Assistant, Kami Zuercher, by email (kzuercher@oshkoshwi.gov) or call (920) 236-5002.