Mayor’s Column July 22nd, 2023
Rohn Bishop, Mayor of Waupun
Hello Waupun,
On Monday, I had the privilege of observing the Waupun Fire Department during their annual fire truck training at Tanner Park. After about an hour of watching the fire fighters maneuver through the course, I was able to ride along with Firefighter Andy Steslsel and saw it first-hand. After riding though the course a few times, Chief DeMaa had me drive a firetruck as he coached me from the passenger seat. I’m proud to say, that even though I drove slow, I did maneuver through the course without hitting any cones! Thank you to Chief DeMaa for allowing me to participate! I enjoy spending time with each city department and experiencing firsthand what our city employees do.
In hopes of bringing a break from the winter blues in Waupun, Jodi Mallas and Jeni Maly have teamed up to bring a fun, new event for February – Ice Fest! Ice Fest will include ice sculpturing and having those ice sculptures in front of businesses in Waupun. This is a fun way to build on our “City of Sculpture” branding, while at the same time increasing foot traffic, commence, and fun at an otherwise bleak time of year.
Speaking of the “City of Sculpture,” planning for the Centennial Rededication of the Recording Angel has really ramped up. As you know, former Mayor Kyle Clark, and Waupun Fine Arts’ Sue Hafemeyer are leading the rededication effort scheduled for Saturday morning October 7 at Forest Mound Cemetery. But what’s really exciting is how the community is rallying around the event. The Discover Downtown Waupun group is hosting a Friday night sculpture themed “beer walk,’ and on Saturday the Waupun Community Players are performing a play that reenactment of the attempted extortion and threats associated with the Schaler/Harnish families in Waupun, and the destruction of the Recording Angel. It should be a very fun weekend in celebration of Waupun history and Mr. Shaler’s legacy.
You may have seen in the news that some ARPA funding and a CDA reinvestment grant went towards supporting the expansion of a current child care facility. While these funds, and this project will help with the childcare crunch, it won’t fix it. Having more sustainable, high quality child care options in Waupun remains a top priority of mine. Without quality childcare, you don’t have a quality workforce. We need to help working moms return to work, as both mom and the workforce need it!
I’ve been asked, “What’s the construction by the prison power plant?” The answer: it’s probably the new water treatment plant the prison is building. Unfortunately, many years ago, the Department of Corrections decided they’d rather build their own water plant instead of using city water. I’ve also been asked why I didn’t write about this project. The answer to that is the state never told us. In fact, the state skipped the normal channels of getting approval to build in the city. The state feels they can do whatever they want, and the truth is they likely can.
Finally, this weekend is a typical busy summer weekend here in Waupun. Including a golf outing in support of the Waupun Football Team, JV Legion Baseball National Tournament at the Gus, the Midtown Market, and live music downtown Saturday Night to celebrate the 12th anniversary of The Other Bar in Waupun. I hope to see you around!
Thank you and God Bless,
Mayor Rohn
