By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
With a new staffer at the helm of the organization, several innovative and tried-and-true activities are on tap within the Downtown Whitewater Inc. organization as the year progresses.
Courtney Nelson assumed the role of Downtown Whitewater’s executive director in early March, succeeding Tamara Brodnicki. At a Common Council meeting April 7, Nelson spoke of her first month on the job and what she and board members have in store in the months ahead.
While many people have their sights set on spring’s arrival and summer, Nelson said planning for some of Downtown Whitewater’s autumnal events are underway, including the venerable Main Street festival in September.
Also in the works this fall is a new activity Nelson said is still in the fleshing out stages: a farm-to-table dinner outing that is designed to link residents up with local restaurateurs.
On the logistics side, Nelson said she and Downtown Whitewater board members are working with the city Plan and Architectural Review Commission to develop a new set of design-specific ordinances that eventually will channel their way through to the Common Council for action.
Nelson said Downtown Whitewater also is in preliminary talks with a company, TerraCycle. In her words, Nelson said TerraCycle specializes in “recycling the unrecyclable.”
Specifics still need to be fleshed out, but Nelson said Downtown Whitewater is considering a plan to collect cigarette butts and turn them in to TerraCycle. In exchange, the company will fund all or portions of new benches in the downtown district.
The working title for the effort is, “Butts to Benches.”
The council on April 7 also recognized longtime Downtown Whitewater board member Dave Saalsaa, who is stepping down from his role on the decision-making body. Saalsaa has been involved with Downtown Whitewater in a variety of capacities since 2005.
