City approves weed harvesting plan through 2020

By Dave Fidlin

Correspondent

As a precursor to future weed harvesting efforts, City of Whitewater officials have approved a plan to re-up with a company specializing in aquatic plant surveys.

The Common Council on Aug. 1 backed a new three-year contract with Elkhorn-based Lake and Pond Solutions. The agreement spans from 2018 to 2020.

“An aquatic plant survey is required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as part of the application process for weed harvesting,” Eric Boettcher, parks and recreation director, wrote in a memo.

“The permit, which allows harvesting of plants on both Cravath and Trippe lakes, has a three-year term,” Boettcher added. “Our current permit expires at the end of 2017.”

As part of the council’s motion, the new aquatic surveys will be covered in two municipal budgets. The city will draw $13,500 out of this year’s budget and $11,000 out of the 2018 budget.

In other recent business, the Common Council heard a quarterly report from Courtney Nelson, director of Downtown Whitewater Inc.

Nelson provided information on the City Market, which has withstood the challenges of Mother Nature. Despite abundant rainfall, Nelson said only one market has been completely rained out thus far this year.

Additionally, Nelson reported 75 vendors have submitted applications to partake in this year’s market, and the number of participants continues to climb.

Council members discussed, but did not take action on, a possible five-year intergovernmental agreement with the Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium.

The city already has an agreement with the consortium, though it sunsets at the end of the year.

Dave Carlson, executive director of the Whitewater Community Development Authority, said he sees value in linking arms with the consortium.

In a memo, Carlson said the consortium and its director, Victoria Pratt, “are valuable partners in our economic development efforts here in the City of Whitewater.”