Wautoma Common Council hires new police chief

   At the Aug. 9 Wautoma Common Council meeting, City Administrator Tommy Bohler told the council that the city has successfully hired Paul Mott to fill the vacant police chief position.  Following interviews that were done at a special council meeting on July 19, Mott signed a City of Wautoma Police Chief Employment Agreement on July 23 and will begin his employment late this month.  He currently resides in DeKalb, IL.

The council passed Resolution #2021-03, honoring the service of Chelsie Bohler as the Executive Director of the Waushara Area Chamber of Commerce.  The council thanked Bohler for her “many years of public service to the community and her efforts above and beyond her obligations, making the Wautoma area a better place to live.”  Bohler was employed in the position for eight years and despite having a new job, continued helping out the chamber until a new director was hired.  Her replacement is Denise Baumann, who began her employment the week of July 5.

Wautoma Historical Society President Tom Goetz spoke at the council meeting, telling council members that organization/volunteers have been in the process of “cleaning up” the Historical Society Property (approx. 1 ½ acres), located on Valley View and Sandcrest Streets in Wautoma.    

He also updated the council on the museum in downtown Wautoma, stating volunteers have made a big difference in removing boxes and have made several rooms more spacious and historically-inviting to the public.

He told the council that the group needs to put a removable, temporary storage building “in the woods” on their property for approximately three years, but “hopefully less than that.”  He said there are boxes of items that have been donated to the Historical Society that need to be stored until they can be sorted through and anything that is not historically meaningful to the Wautoma area will be disposed of.    

   In his monthly report to the council, Bohler told the council that an attractive new sign has been installed at Bird Creek Park entrance.  He said the sign was purchased by an anonymous donor.

The council approved an Operator’s License for Kaitlyn Boehn (StoneRidge Piggly Wiggly) and Picnic Licenses for Dave Johnson on behalf of the Jailbreak Marathon, which takes place on Sept. 25.

The next Wautoma City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at city hall.