Following a presentation by Augustfest Chairperson Mary Kunasch, the Wautoma Common Council approved a $1,000 donation for the 2021 Augustfest, which is scheduled to be held in downtown Wautoma on Saturday, August 14. Augustfest, which has been held for the past 25 years, was not held in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The council normally donates $500 toward the event, but because Augustfest was not held last year, decided to donate $1,000, which will help fund the event. Kunasch had told the council that the fund balance was lower than usual because insurance still had to be paid last year and there was no vendor money received.
Kunasch said that she has met with the Waushara County Health Department to discuss holding the event with safety precautions in place, including hand sanitizing stations, and obtained their approval.
Events will be the same as in other years, including live music, craft/vendor fair, food and refreshments, duck races, donut sale, quilt show, book and bake sale at the library, corn roast, Evergreen Chippy shuttle, pony rides, Dizzy the Clown doing balloon-twisting, facepainting, etc.
In his report, City Administrator Tommy Bohler told Council members that he and his staff are reviewing the American Rescue Act, hoping to secure a grant of $211,000 for the city. The funds are to be used for water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure and do not have to be tied to the pandemic or only used for COVID-related items. Funds will be distributed in two installments: the first will be 90 days after the law is signed, which was March 11, 2021, and the second will be one year later.
Mayor Nixon told the council that he met with vendors and other interested parties to discuss the 2021 Open Air Market. He said the first market is planned for the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend (May 29) and will then be held the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. He added that the committee is looking for local talent to provide musical entertainment on market days.
Wautoma Librarian Hannah Klusmeyer presented an annual report to council members, stating that COVID-19 changed the way they were able to serve the community, “but it brought with it some pretty awesome changes for our community.” The changes/enhancements included curbside service, virtual programming, digital library (Hoopla), take & make, story walk, beanstack reading program, and going fine-free.
Klusmeyer also discussed the Summer Reading Program, with sign-up near the end of May and weekly programming beginning on June 10, with a live animal presentation by Zoozort. She added that programs will take place every Thursday at 1:30 p.m. through July, which will include live animals, arts and crafts, stories, live music, magic and more.
Klusmeyer said in addition to weekly programming, children will receive prizes and badges when they sign up, read books, and complete other activities throughout the summer. In addition, kids will have an opportunity to earn tickets for raffle baskets, based on how much time they spend reading.
She encouraged people in the community to donate by putting together a raffle basket, making a monetary donation toward a basket, or by co-sponsoring one of the weekly programs. She said that the program “endeavors to prevent ‘summer slide’ by providing enrichment activities and incentives designed to promote literacy through interactive and imaginative programs” for kids.
She told the council that kids who don’t read during the summer months “lose some of the academic gain they made during the previous school year.”
The next regular Common Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. at city hall.
