Tajikistan visitors, Stiebs to retire, city deer hunt
By James Card
A delegation from Tajikistan visited Waupaca for a 10-day visit.
They arrived in Wisconsin on Dec. 2. Tajikistan is a mountainous country slightly smaller than Wisconsin that is tucked between China, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
This visit was part of the Congress-sponsored Open World Initiative that brings professionals from post-Soviet countries to experience life in the United States and to learn from American counterparts.
The purpose their visit was to learn more about educational technology.
Working with Rotary International, the Rotary Club of Waupaca hosted the delegates in their homes.
The occupations of the five delegates ranged from an English teacher, a U.S. embassy liaison, a university department head, a journalism instructor and the director of a youth achievement group. They were also accompanied by a translator from Omaha, Nebraska.
They visited Gusmer Enterprises, Union Star Cheese Factory, the Brooks Dairy farm and some historical sites. At the Waupaca Foundry they met the high school robotics team,
Beyond Waupaca, they stopped at the Experimental Aviation Association in Oshkosh and the Epic Systems campus in Verona.
The delegation attended the Waupaca Common Council meeting on Dec. 6.
Stiebs to retire
City Clerk Sandy Stiebs is retiring. Her last day is Dec. 16.
It was a surprise announcement at the end of the Dec. 6 city council meeting.
City administrator Aaron Jenson presented her with a card and a ornamental plant that he kept hidden under the desk and tried not to kick over during the entire meeting.
“Sandy has been awesome to work with for me and my time here,” said Jensen.
Mayor Brian Smith thanked her for being at his right-hand side during many years of service (the city clerk sits right of the mayor during council meetings). “Sandy, we’re going to miss you. Good luck in your retirement,” said Smith.
Stiebs was appointed as city clerk in July 2019 after serving as serving as deputy clerk for 18 years. Deputy city clerk Barb Nowak will take over present city clerk duties.
Mayor Smith asked if anyone had anything else to say at the end of the meeting. Stiebs grabbed the microphone and said: “Let’s adjourn?”
Kudos for downtown
Community Development Director Jarod Rachu put together a memo for the Waupaca Common Council about feedback he has gathered about Waupaca’s efforts to develop the downtown area.
“People come into the store all the time and say ‘your town looks just like a Hallmark movie,’” said Kent Pegorsch, owner of Main Street Market Place. Tim Drake, owner of the Lucky Tree family of stores, said, “I hear from people that have been coming here for years how awesome the city looks.”
Bob Telfer, owner of the building that is home to Firefly Floral and Gifts, had a nostalgic view.
“This reminds me of old-town Waupaca when I was a kid. Fourth of July. the whole main street was just crazy with all of the parades [and people]. This is just awesome. Waupaca is back to the original excitement that we had before. Even better,” he said.
Rhodes recognized
At the Dec. 6 city council meeting, library director Eric Bailey read a proclamation naming Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 as Jack Rhodes Day. The library will have a day-long celebration showing classic films to the public.
The council unanimously approved the resolution to a round of applause.
Jack Rhodes, an passed on October 10, 2022 and was a co-founder of the Waupaca Area Community Foundation, an advocate for the Waupaca Campus of Fox Valley Technical College and an active member of numerous community groups. He taught film seminars for Lawrence University and introduced classic movies for WegaArts International Film Festival. Rhodes provided 14 years of film programming at the Waupaca Area Public Library.
Taxi fare increase
A 25-cent increase for taxi fares will go into effect Jan. 1, 2023.
The increase was to make sure the Transit Fund and the taxi service of Brown Cab/Running Inc. will remain financially sound.
Adult fares will be $4.50. Senior: $3.25. Student: $3.25. Disabled: $3.25. Out-of-town miles: $2.50. Special fares: $2.00.
Reif takes finance lead
Stephanie Reif is the city’s finance director/city treasurer after the common council confirmed Mayor Smith’s appointment.
Reif’s previous title was assistant finance director and she worked with Kathy Kasza, the former finance director who officially retired in December 2021 but continued to work as a part-time employee with the title of interim finance director/city treasurer.
Keeping Kasza on staff gave the city time to recruit her replacement.
Reif started her job in May 2022 and will finish out her 12-month probationary period. By appointing her as the city’s finance chief, she will be authorized as the city representative for bank accounts, Department of Revenue communication and other financial transactions.
Kasza is not completely retired: the city entered an on-call professional services agreement with her through April 1, 2023.
City archery deer hunt
The city council approved a managed deer hunt to reduce the antlerless deer population within city limits, prevent auto accidents and limit the over-browsing of city vegetation.
This would be the sixth season the hunt has been administered.
City employee Roger Hansen oversees the operation and makes sure it adheres to Wisconsin DNR regulations.
The hunt is archery only and hunters can only hunt in designated areas.
The hunt will be from Jan. 9, 2023 to March 31, 2023.
Interested hunters can register on the city website and review the special rules for this urban hunt.
Rental rise at Swan Park
Parks and Recreation Director Laura Colbert proposed increasing rental fees of Swan Park’s ball fields to keep in line with rising costs and to stay comparable to fees charged by other ball fields in the region.
The city council approved her plan.
Previously, Swan Park ballpark facilities could be rented for $250 for a weekend tournament. This includes all four ball diamonds, the fields’ lights, concessions, and bathrooms.
Colbert concluded the current fee doesn’t cover the preparation work and field maintenance done by park staffers before a tournament. She proposed a two-tier rental option: a la carte and renting out the entire park.
For a la carte, concessions would be $100 per event; lights would be $25 per field, rental of one field would be $50 per day (including scoreboards). Renting all of the four fields of Swan Park would cost $500 per weekend and would include concession, scoreboards, and field prep.
Colbert also came up with a policy for cancellations, inclement weather and refunds.
Adopt-a-Hydrant
This program is like a group adopting a stretch of highway to keep clean but in this case it is keeping fire hydrants clear.
During the winter months, the Waupaca Water Utility and Waupaca Area Fire District asks residents to “adopt” a fire hydrant near their property and shovel a three-foot area around the hydrant. Shoveling snow away from the hydrant makes it easier for firefighters to find the hydrants during an emergency.