By Dave Fidlin
With the goal of improving Internet access at the Whitewater Business Park and the Whitewater University Technology Park, a panel is in the midst of reviewing a fiber optics project that could potentially benefit other areas of the city as well.
Members of the Community Development Authority on May 28 briefly discussed the proposal, which has been in the exploratory stage in recent months. No action was taken, and further discussion is planned at the appointed body’s meeting in late June.
CDA officials have expressed a desire to improve technology-related resources within the community.
“It still bothers me that Bulgaria has faster Internet service than we have,” said council member Jim Winship, who serves on the CDA.
One proposal on the table has been the creation of a separate utility to handle a fiber optics network within the city. CDA members have been reviewing communities with such a system in place, including the City of Reedsburg in Sauk County.
In other business at their May 28 meeting, the CDA:
• Established a 10-percent commission rate for land sales within the business and technology parks. As part of the proposal, real estate agents would receive 10 cents for each $1 of land sold within both developments. City staff will soon draft a policy;
• Continued discussion of a community-branding program that is in the works. A committee will soon be convened to hash over some of the specific details.
Plans call for the branding effort to draw on some of Whitewater’s strengths and unique attributes. Once launched, the campaign will be aimed at growing the city’s local economy.
