WAUPUN — The Waupun City Council approved three items in a record twelve minute meeting last Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
The Council first voted to amend Ordinance 25-11A with some changes to the section for Health and Sanitation-Collection of Recyclable Material. The most notable change was for the section on violation fines. The motion to waive the first reading passed with no discussion—motion made by Alderman Mike Matoushek, seconded by Alderwoman Bobbi Jo Kunz, passed unanimously on roll call.
Second was approving the Fire and Emergency Services Agreement between the City of Waupun and the Townships of Chester, Trenton, and Waupun. Motion made by Alderman Dan Siebers, seconded by Alderman Pete Kaczmarski. Kaczmarski asked where the townships were at in their consideration of the proposal.
City Administrator Kathy Schlieve said that the townships either already discussed it or are planning to discuss it, and that each of the townships will likely vote on the proposal in November. The proposal will only be adopted contingent on the townships’ unanimous approval, and if any vote to decline the proposal it will have to go back to negotiations.
The proposal for the Shared Service Agreement was first presented to the City Council at the September 30, 2025 Special Common Council meeting. If the townships all vote to approve the proposal, it will go into effect on January 1, 2026.
The motion passed unanimously on roll call.
The City of Waupun 2026 Business Improvement District Operating Plan was also approved. Motion by Alderman Siebers, seconded by Alderman Kaczmarski, motion carried unanimously on roll call with no further discussion.
All items can be found in the meeting agenda packet for more details.
The Council also heard brief reports from the City Departments.
Police Chief Rasch said that the Police Department was working on policy development, of which was about 30% complete. Lieutenant Williams recently graduated from the Department of Justice Death Investigation School. The Police Department also received a drug trafficking investigation grant from the DOJ.
Fire Chief BJ DeMaa said that the Waupun Fire Department was hosting two events this weekend, the 17th Annual Fill Our Tanks Food Drive and the 15th Annual Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries Pizza Delivery Night with Tony’s Pizza. Both events are to be held November 1, with the food drive from 9AM to 1PM, and the Tony’s Pizza partnership from 4:30PM to 8PM.
Library Director Bret Jaeger spoke about how the Waupun Public Library staff recently heard from Detective Konkel and Deputy Chief Sullivan as they discussed security procedures and emergency evacuation plans for the library in the case of a live-attack incident. Jaeger said that the library tries to invite the Police Department to discuss it every two to three years.
Public Works Director Jeff Daane reminded the Council of the Downtown Alley Project meeting which is planned for 5:30PM on November 5, at the Waupun Community Center (520 McKinley St). The Back Alley Improvement Project deals with the north blocks of 300 & 400 E Main—behind Wind and Unwined (300 block) and Jud-sons (400 block). Mayor Bishop added that he spoke to downtown business owners recently and they seemed very excited about the project.
Utilities Director Steve Brooks said the department was working on staffing, with new operator roles opening up at the Wastewater Treatment Facility.
City Administrator Kathy Schlieve brought a few changes from the State to the Council’s attention regarding some recent bills that were passed in the Legislature.
Mayor Rohn Bishop gave a brief update on the Department of Corrections. The State Legislature held a press conference earlier that day outlining the plans for the future of the DOC, in particular the continued direction of closing Green Bay Correctional. Mayor Bishop noted that in their discussions there were no plans to close Waupun Correctional Institution, and that discussions primarily focused on either keeping it a maximum security prison or turning it into a “vocational village” for developing job skills in inmates for post-prison life.
Mayor Bishop also gave a short story about the strong response from Waupun Emergency First Responders and Police during a medical emergency that he had witnessed and called in himself. Emergency personnel arrived within minutes and were able to talk Mayor Bishop through temporary measures until professionals could arrive and bring the individual to the hospital for treatment.
