We’re not alone among communities recently allowing urban chickens. A good and smart friend sent along news of Beloit’s urban chicken ordinance, now in effect in that city. She noted in her message that backyard chickens are a positive trend, and she’s right. (For a prior post on this topic, see Common Council Session of…
City
City, Politics
Predictions for 2013
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s my amateur version of the late William Safire’s long-standing tradition of offering annual predictions. The list for 2013: 1. In 2013, UW-Whitewater will win the following number of national sports championships: A. None B. One C. Two D. More than two 2. The Innovation Express Generac Bus will prove to be A. A great…
City, Local Government, Politics
So, Three Municipal Managers Walk Into a Room…
by JOHN ADAMS •
Let’s say the recently-hired municipal manager of a small city, with a population of just under fifteen-thousand, walks into a party. It’s a busy affair, with others standing and talking throughout the room. Someone walks up to him, and says, “Hey, City Manager, did you know that your two immediate predecessors are here, too?” This…
City, Politics
Review: Predictions for 2012
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here is my amateur version of the late William Safire’s long-standing tradition of offering annual predictions. Let’s see how I did on predictions for 2012. The list for last year appears below, with my guesses in blue, and the correct answer in red. The guesses weren’t about what I (necessarily) wanted to happen, but what…
City, Local Government
Common Council Session of 12.18.12: A New Councilmember
by JOHN ADAMS •
Whitewater had a Council vacancy to fill, and for that vacancy she received four initial applicants to an at-large seat. (For a prior post about those applicants, please see It’s Not Who, But What.) There are only two such seats, representing all the residents of the city. At last night’s session, three applicants were able…
Animals, Beautiful Whitewater, City, Good Ideas, Hip & Prosperous, Laws/Regulations, Liberty, Local Government, New Whitewater
Common Council Session of 12.18.12: Backyard Chickens
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s my fourth post on last night’s meeting. Approved unanimously, and waived from a second reading, Whitewater now has a backyard chicken ordinance. Not just an ordinance, but a fine, model one of which we should be proud. This is a good idea, that’s come to Whitewater through the hard work of a thoughtful resident.…
City, Law, Local Government, Police
Common Council Session of 12.18.12: On the Police and Fire Commission
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s my third post on the 12.18.12 session. Seeing a need to harmonize Whitewater’s municipal code with state statutes, Council restored the title of Police and Fire Commission to a citizen’s commission previously known as the Police Commission. Years ago, I remarked how odd it was that Whitewater’s PFC never addressed fire department matters, name…
City, Freedom of Speech, Local Government
Common Council Session of 12.18.12: Citizen Comments
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s the second of my posts on Tuesday’s session. Move to Amend. James Hartwick, a resident and leader of the Starin Park Neighborhood Association, introduced a petition (in support of the Move to Amend campaign) for our 4.2.2013 ballot calling to amend the U.S. Constitution, under this question: Shall the City of Whitewater adopt the…
City, Local Government
Common Council Session of 12.18.12: Staff Reports
by JOHN ADAMS •
Last night’s 12.18.12 Common Council meeting was a busy one, with staff reports, reading of ordinances, and appointment of a new alder to Council. This was the last meeting of 2012, and the session covered much ground in under three hours. All in all, a good night, I’d say, for the city. I’ll post on…
City, Local Government
The New City Managers
by JOHN ADAMS •
Whitewater chose a new city manager earlier this year, and now Fort Atkinson has picked a new manager. Evelyn Johnson, the city administrator of Prairie City, Iowa, will replace John Wilmet. Wilmet has been city manager of nearby Fort since ’98. Johnson and Whitewater’s new city manager, Cameron Clapper, have at least two things in…
Agriculture, Animals, Beautiful Whitewater, City, Farming, Food, Good Ideas, Hip & Prosperous, Laws/Regulations, Liberty, Local Government, New Whitewater, Planning
A Model Ordinance
by JOHN ADAMS •
These last few months, beginning in September, Whitewater’s Planning Commission has heard, and subsequently considered, a proposal for an urban (backyard) chicken ordinance. The proposal is not mine; I have been a mere observer of this effort. One may write about a topic, but only after months of careful observation, as in this case. I…
City, Politics
It’s Not Who, But What
by JOHN ADAMS •
Our Common Council has before it, at the next scheduled meeting of 12.18.12, applications to fill a vacancy on that body. Four residents have applied; the appointment will run until April. Council will appoint as they see fit; they have broad discretion for an appointment like this. They and we, however, would do well by…
Beautiful Whitewater, City, Holiday
Whitewater’s Happy Holly Days Parade
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s a video of the Downtown Whitewater-sponsored Christmas parade. The route stretched from Whiton down Main and then back along Whitewater to the Cravath lakefront. I was among the many onlookers that night, but if you’ve not had the chance to see it, this embeddable video from Whitewater Community TV makes enjoying the parade still…
City, New Media, New Whitewater, Press Release
City Announcements
by JOHN ADAMS •
Let’s assume, as with Whitewater’s 12.4.12 Common Council meeting, the city adopts sensible guidelines for filling vacancies by appointment. The vacancy process adopted at the meeting was the work of Councilmember Binnie and City Attorney McDonell, and one can find the draft of their work online in the 12.4.12 council packet. As with a school…