Mayor’s Column July 18, 2026
Rohn Bishop, Mayor of Waupun
Hello Waupun,
Well, that was a hot week! But that’s a good segue for how hot Waupun is now; and with so much negativity on social media, I thought I’d go through some of the good things going on in Waupun.
This week the council approved a housing development agreement for new single-family homes to be built along the new Shaler Drive. Earlier this month we approved phase two of the Carver Flats apartments that will also be along Shaler Drive. Next, I’d like to pursue some more condos or town house style homes, likely single level, that would be perfect for older residents. One possible location would be on Libby Street across from the old Silgan plant.
Waupun needs more housing, of every kind, and as you see, we’re addressing those needs. More people want to live here than available spaces, and that’s because Waupun is a great place to live.
You’re also seeing a lot happening in our business community. With the addition of United Co-op, we’re using tax revenues from that project to help pay for the infrastructure improvements to complete Shaler Drive. Eagle Packaging has begun moving their Illinois operations to their new facility in the Waupun Business Park. The Chic Tique has moved into the old Senior Center; Madeline Clothing Company is moving to a larger space, and the city added new American flags, as the downtown continues to gain momentum.
Also downtown, progress continues on this summer’s back-alley project that will really clean up and make that space more aesthetic and safer. We’ve been adding to our sculpture collection while still celebrating the legacy of Clerance Shaler.
Earlier this year we launched a pilot program to do a better job enforcing code violations in Waupun. We’re starting to see success from this effort. You’ll see houses on N. Drummond now cleaned up and a fresh coat of paint. We got that bus that had been beached on N. State Street forever moved out of town. We issued a raze order to the fire damaged house on Watertown Street, because the owners seemed fine just letting it sit there and mold away.
My goal is to continue working our way through the city cleaning up run down properties.
Another recent accomplishment deals with the apartments just north of Farm and Home. The conditions of those apartments had gotten so bad that I was about to sign off to placard the building as uninhabitable. This was an uncomfortable decision because the net effect would have made 60 people homeless, but the living conditions were unacceptable, so it was the right thing to do. In part because of that pressure the building was sold and is being fixed up.
Our city has added a backup ambulance program, a wonderful new community center, better railroad crossings, and garbage services. We have a wonderful summer reading program, summer parks program, and the aquatic center. We offer many sporting opportunities and shopping opportunities while maintaining one of Wisconsin’s safest cities. Our electricity rates are lower than area utilities and as you all know we have remarkable drinking water.
There’s really a lot of positive things happening here. And while I’d love to take the credit, it’s really a team effort. The council that supports our initiatives, the administration and city staff who carry them out, and you, the citizens who hold us accountable to making Waupun a great place to live, work and play.
Thank you and have a great weekend.
Mayor Rohn
