Petition with 2,000 signatures presented to council
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Citing a concern swaths of trees could potentially be lost to future development in Whitewater, a former city council member recently implored officials to consider enacting an ordinance outlining their removal on private property.
Jan Bilgren-Craggs, who presently oversees the Fire and Police Commission, returned to familiar territory Oct. 20 when she addressed her successors on the council about her concerns.
Bilgren-Craggs’ concern was not on the council agenda, so officials could not comment. She made her pitch during a “persons desiring to be heard” portion of the agenda.
With a 2,000-signature strong petition as her impetus, Bilgren-Craggs said there are residents in the community who are concerned about the potential of losing trees as developers come in and revamp parcels of land for residential and commercial development.
The core of Bilgren-Craggs’ concerns were rooted in old, yet still healthy, trees. While specifics would need to be hashed out, Bilgren-Craggs’ proposal would be aimed at safeguarding the vitality of the trees.
While there are appointed boards, commissions and committees within Whitewater who take a laser-focused review of issues pertaining to urban forestry and development, Bilgren-Craggs asserted the overarching city ordinance is not sufficient in giving the appointed bodies enough teeth in making policy decisions or recommendations to the full council.
“They don’t really have the tools they need,” she said. “It would be good to have an ordinance with guidance on how (older) trees should be treated.”
Bilgren-Craggs pointed to a smattering of nearby municipalities — including Lake Geneva, Mequon, Onalaska and Lake Forest, Ill. — that have such ordinances on their books.
The council could take the issue up on a future date.
