Mayor’s Column September 16th, 2023
Rohn Bishop, Mayor of Waupun
Waupun! We’ve got it going on!!
This week the council agreed to close out the remaining ARPA funds. Doing this we agreed to invest $100,000 into Waupun Hockey/Figure Skating towards the new refrigerated floor, $100,000 to Waupun Baseball for replacement turf at the fields, and to create a grant fund that can be used by youth sports for needs going forward. This investment into our youth sports is good for several reasons. First, youth sports are good for a community. They give our kids something positive to do, learn good sportsmanship, get good exercise, and it helps keep them out of trouble. From an economic viewpoint, the youth sports hold tournaments several weekends a year. These tournaments fill up our hotel rooms, restaurants, bars, etc. and that helps the local economy. This decision will help keep our youth sports vibrant for years to come, and to keep Waupun a destination for many sporting tournaments.
This comes at the same time downtown Waupun is doing so well! With a new railroad crossing, and several businesses investing into our community, downtown Waupun is becoming a shopping destination! With unique shops, fun restaurants and bars, and many cool events, downtown Waupun is a place to be! You don’t have to look far to see scaffolding and improvements being made. For this reason, I feel it’s important that our city invests in our historic downtown buildings, too. For that reason, I have proposed in this budget that we make the necessary repairs to the Carnegie Library (historical society building) and the city hall roof. I’m also doubling down on holding absentee owners of dilapidated buildings accountable for their inaction. Waupun will no longer tolerate building owners who knowingly let their buildings fall into disrepair, becoming fly infested eyesores that bring down the neighboring property values. Waupun is better than that. Waupun deserves better than that, and I will demand better than that. It’s time for us to get serious and not tolerate slum lords!
As I continue to push for my budget priorities, I want it known that taking care of our city employees is high on my priority list! With the increase we received in shared revenue, now is the time to reward our dedicated personnel, who do so much for Waupun. I know it feels like every time you turn around, we’re cutting something from you, and I’m sorry for that. I am hopeful that in this budget we can get you a pay increase. Doing so may mean I can’t fill all the positions I want to, but it is time to take care of the folks who currently work for us. Your efforts are greatly appreciated, and don’t go unnoticed by me.
The Recording Angel Rededication weekend is quickly approaching. To celebrate our oldest sculptures 100th anniversary, not only will there be a rededication ceremony, but Waupun will also have a beer walk, a play titled, ” A Poison Pen Letter to an Angel” and WTMJ radio will be broadcasting live from Real Sportscards. It’s shaping up to be an awesome weekend celebrating Waupun’s first sculpture!
This week the mill and overlay project for Wilcox street took place and sidewalk replacements in that part of Waupun are complete. This will make the sidewalk approaches compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Finally, happy anniversary to my wife, and Waupun’s First Lady, Jenny! Being married to the mayor has its challenges. We live in a fishbowl, random calls and messages at all hours, people wandering through the backyard to find me, interrupted when we go out to eat, and the occasional creepy unsigned piece of mail, but she handles it all, and me, very well! Happy Anniversary!
I’m sure I’ll see you out at Volksfest!
Thank you and God bless,
Mayor Rohn
