By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Spring construction season might still be several months away, but Whitewater officials are already working behind the scenes and planning the logistics of several projects on this year’s capital improvement list.
One of those items went under the microscope Jan. 19 when the Common Council approved of the specifications surrounding a road reconstruction project on all or portions of Boone, Center and Summit streets. As part of its motion, the council has given city staffers the go-ahead to solicit bids for the actual work.
Based on a timeline backed by the council, city staffers will open bids Feb. 9 and provide a recommendation on a contractor to the council at its Feb. 16 meeting.
“We anticipate having a public information meeting once the contractor’s schedule is known,” Assistant City Manager Chris McDonell said. “Based on the preliminary schedule, we hope the contractor would begin construction in April.”
In other recent business, the Common Council:
- Issued a Class B beer license and a Class C wine license to Jimmy’s Italian Beef, 535 E. Milwaukee St. James Migliorisi will serve as the agent of the alcohol license.
- Named Daniel Richardson to the city’s Landmarks Commission. Richardson will serve as a citizen representative on the appointed body, which meets periodically to discuss issues of historical significance.
- Backed a request to rezone a residential property at 377 S. Janesville St. to the technical classification of residential occupancy overlay district. The change has been made so the property owner can house up to four unrelated persons within the house.
- Approved a change to the Board of Zoning Appeals’ operating procedures. A provision has been put in place, calling for a majority of all members to approve a variance. Previously, the threshold for approval was set at four members.
- Issued new contracts to supervisors, including lieutenants and sergeants, who are represented by the Whitewater Police Association. A reorganization of some supervisory duties prompted the need to draw up new contracts. No changes to the impacted employees’ wages or benefits are included in the revised contracts.
