By Dave Fidlin
CORRESPONDENT
An app-based electric scooter company’s years-long agreement with the City of Whitewater is poised for another six-month renewal as part of a recurring agreement between the company and municipality.
But with another term about to begin, several members on the Common Council have expressed interest in gathering more information on Bird Scooters and its presence within Whitewater.
Public Works Director Brad Marquardt, who serves as the city’s official liaison with Bird Scooters, briefly discussed the arrangement in play between the two parties at a Common Council meeting April 3.
“There is an automatic renewal that is coming up on May 1st, according to the amendment that was signed previously,” Marquardt said.
If neither party takes action and terminates the agreement, Bird Scooters’ agreement with the city auto-renews in six-month increments. This provision was part of a long-term memorandum of understanding between the two parties that was signed two years ago.
While no formal council action is required since the contract is expected to continue, Marquardt and the elected body did delve into some of the big-picture aspects of the service and how it has played into day-to-day life within Whitewater – particularly in warmer weathered months.
Council President Patrick Singer had inquired about various statistical pieces of data pertaining to Bird Scooters.
“Clearly, there’s still a market here; otherwise, they wouldn’t want to put their scooters out,” Singer said. “But in terms of volume, did they give any ballpark, or is that something that is available, just to understand what the use is like?”
For the full story, please see the print edition of the Whitewater Register.
