By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Fresh rounds of statistical data reveal residents within the City of Whitewater continue to test positive for COVID-19.
As the summer gives way to fall, officials are turning their attention toward the forthcoming influx of University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students.
As they have frequently in recent months, the Common Council at its Aug. 18 meeting continued to discuss Whitewater’s response to the pandemic and what precautions should be taken as positive cases are reported.
While much of this week’s discussion focused on the university students, who will be moving into their dorms and off-campus housing in the weeks ahead, Council President Lynn Binnie implored all residents to take precautions in a measured fashion.
“It’s a time to be cautious, certainly, but I don’t think we need to be over-the-top alarmed,” Binnie said, referring to the freshest set of statistical data available within Whitewater.
UW-Whitewater Chancellor Dwight Watson said campus staffers are taking precautions aimed at ensuring education occurs with precautions in place. All of this year’s enrollees will be signing a covenant, he said, which calls for social distancing, facemasks and other precautions.
Watson’s announcement came on the heels of several isolated universities closing across the U.S. as some institutions have kicked off fall instruction this month.
As was widely reported, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill early this week abruptly pivoted to a strictly virtual method when more than 100 students tested positive for the virus.
From his vantage point, Watson said he believes UW-Whitewater will not face the same challenges because the institutions shutting down in-person learning lacked robust social distancing and other precautionary measures.
“We want to keep it as safe as possible,” Watson said. “I can assure you the university is prepared.”
Watson, City Manager Cameron Clapper and other officials plan to meet with representatives of the local tavern association in the days ahead to discuss how local bars and restaurants, which receive an uptick in business during the traditional school year, can take a proactive response.
Council member Patrick Singer said he was hopeful all of the collaborative efforts would lead to a positive outcome this fall.
“It’s a reality we just have to be careful,” Singer said. “I’m hoping everybody’s on the same page. Hopefully everybody’s responsive.”
Amphitheatre update
In other business, the council received a report from Clapper on the Cravath Lakefront Amphitheatre, which is set to be unveiled in a grand opening celebration, set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17.
Plans are in the works for a small-scale celebratory event, Clapper said, with such COVID-19 precautions as social distancing in place.
“More will be coming in the future, but I was pleased to make that announcement tonight,” Clapper said.
Budget review
Additionally, officials discussed the timeline of crafting Whitewater’s 2021 municipal budget, which is due for action in November.
The early stages of the formation process are underway, Clapper said, and draft versions of the document will be coming down the pike this fall.
“We’re making sure all of our I’s are dotted, and our T’s are crossed,” Clapper said of the preliminary reviews in motion.
