After a presentation and discussion at the Aug. 10 Common Council meeting, the council approved Resolution #2020-04, which renames the Bird Creek Park river trail “The Thomas W. (Doc) Poullette Trail.”
Trout Unlimited members Judge Jon Wilcox, Wautoma, Dan Harmon, Oshkosh, Tom Meyer, Wild Rose, and Dick Kraus, Poy Sippi, attended the meeting and presented a history of the Central Wisconsin Chapter of the Trout Unlimited organization, explaining that Dr. Thomas Poullette was one of the founders of the organization and was very dedicated and committed to the conservation, preservation, and restoration of cold water resources. Poullette, who was a dentist in Wautoma, was also a Rotarian, a Boy Scout leader, and was active in the community.
Judge Jon Wilcox told the council that the trail has been developed in three phases and that they are now working on phase three. He said that they usually get 35-40 volunteers to attend on their work days.
“We want everything out there on the trail to have a natural look; that’s why we are using wood chips on the trail,” said Tom Meyer, who also authored an historical book about Trout Unlimited. Alderman Bob Cayer commented that “everything that’s been done so far looks so much better.”
The plaque at the start of the trail will read: In Memory of Thomas W. (Doc) Poullette, 1932-2019, Founding Member, Central Wisconsin Chapter, Trout Unlimited, Dedicated to Cold Water Resources: Conservation, Preservation, Restoration.
The trail is bound by West River Street on the north and by State Highway 21 on the south.
MSA Project Engineer Chad Grundemann attended the meeting to give an update on the Green Meadow, Valley View, and Sandcrest project, stating the work is complete, with the exception of a punchlist that project contractor Kopplin & Kinas is finishing up. He said that the final measurements and pay application are being completed and are expected to be on the September meeting agenda for approval. Grundemann added that MSA will be obtaining the $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for the city.
The council approved a three-year contract (2020, 2021, 2022) with MSA Professional Services, Inc. for landfill environmental monitoring, data submittal, and reporting for the City of Wautoma closed landfill, in the estimated amount of $5,450 per year. Grundemann told the council that they will be testing five wells and if after five years, some of the test outcomes are low, those tests can be cancelled.
In his report to the council, City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer Tommy Bohler told the council that he has been working with two different groups (Herro Group and Gorman & Co.) regarding possible future housing developments in Wautoma.
Bohler also told the council that the Little Library has been installed at Bird Creek Park. Alderman Steve Ryerson added that his wife went to use the Little Library and found no books were put in it yet, so she donated books to fill it up.
Mayor John Nixon reported that the Open Air Market in downtown Wautoma is slowly growing; he said that he expects 20 vendors to participate on Saturday, Sept. 5, which is Labor Day weekend. Nixon added that there may possibly be live music at the market that day, but nothing is certain yet.
The Open Air Market takes place every first and third Saturday of the month and is located on South Ste. Marie Street in downtown Wautoma.
In other business, the council approved Carol Hovet as an election judge for the City of Wautoma.
The next Wautoma Common Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at city hall.
