By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
In an effort to curtail future incidents akin to the Spring Splash event in April, Whitewater officials are mulling a policy that could place parameters around private parties held within the community.
City Manager Cameron Clapper discussed the issue at a Common Council meeting Sept. 6. No formal action was taken, though officials hinted that an ad-hoc group or a task force might be the most effective way of coming up with recommendations.
Clapper, Police Chief Lisa Otterbacher and other city officials said Spring Splash, geared toward college-aged students, was taxing on municipal resources. Police, in particular, devoted a large amount of resources toward answering calls.
While there has been support within the council of putting greater parameters around special events, several officials have expressed concerns it could have unintended consequences.
Council members Stephanie Goettl and James Langnes III, in particular, having taken aim at such a policy, claiming it could unfairly target all University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students.
In other recent business, the council:
- Began the process of hammering out a new agreement between the City of Whitewater and the Whitewater Fire Department Inc. The council met behind closed doors, though no formal action was taken. Further discussion is anticipated in the months ahead.
- Issued Bonnie Prince a Class A beer license. Prince is opening a business, Simply Convenient, at 176 W. Main St. Simply Convenient is replacing Annie’s Pantry, which Prince purchased recently.
- Adopted a resolution that requested exemption from the Jefferson County library tax. The resolution is a formality and is taken up annually.
Municipalities without their own libraries pay into county library taxes. Since Whitewater operates the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library as a public facility, it does not have to pay a tax to Jefferson County.
