By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
On the heels of a recent lawsuit against the City of Whitewater, officials have agreed to hire an outside firm to audit amenities on municipal property to determine whether disability access is adequate.
The Common Council voted unanimously in favor of awarding an $18,915 contract to Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Recreation Accessibility Consultants LLC at their Dec. 2 meeting.
City Attorney Wallace McDonnell recognized the pending lawsuit as he presented the Recreation Accessibility Consultants contract to the council.
“Regardless of the lawsuit, though, it makes sense for the city to do this sort of thing,” McDonnell said.
Amy Bleile, who was named Ms. Wheelchair Wisconsin last year, is suing the city in federal court under allegations downtown curb ramps and facilities within Starin Park do not meet specifications under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In other business at the Dec. 2 meeting, the council:
• Heard a report from City Manager Cameron Clapper on short- and long-term goals that are under investigation. Short-term goals include an analysis of the city’s housing stock, infrastructure, business improvement activities and relations with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Long-term goals include efforts to recruit health service providers into the city.
• Approved an ordinance increasing court fees from $28 to $38.
• Voted to award a beverage operator’s license to applicant Bryant S. Plank. Despite past citations of underage drinking offenses, Plank was issued the license after a thorough review of his recent character. He has not had any recent run-ins with the law.
• Awarded a ride-share taxi service contract to Fort Atkinson-based Brown Cab Service for a period beginning Jan. 1, 2014 and ending Dec. 31, 2015.
• Appointed Sarah Hansberry as a citizen member of the Park and Recreation Board. Hansberry has been a resident of the community for five years.
• Approved a $34,900 contract with Baxter and Woodman to devise a plan for upcoming sanitary sewer maintenance work.
