Neighborhood Listening Session on YouTube

The October 29, 2019 Neighborhood Listening Session is now available for viewing. Please click the link below for more details:

Neighborhood Listening Session

For more information, please contact 608-850-8500 or via email at officialcorrespondence@waunakee.com.

New Village Board Agenda Available

To view the agenda for the November 4, 2019 Village Board meeting, please click the link below:

Agenda

Alternate Parking

The Village of Waunakee's alternate side parking Ordinance Sec. 94.83 (3) will be in effect from 12 midnight through 6:00 a.m. from November 1 to April 1. To ensure you are not in violation, please follow these steps: 

- Think of what the date will be between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
- If the date is even-numbered, park on the even house numbered side of the street.
- If the date is odd-numbered, park on the odd house numbered side of the street.

If possible, please keep parked vehicles off the streets when it snows.
*Does not apply to private streets.

Leaf Collection Reminders

The leaves are falling and fall yard work is in full swing everywhere around the Village. Here are some important reminders to keep in mind as you take your rake in hand.

• The Village will be picking up leaves on a weekly basis until November 27 
• Place leaves on the terrace for collection -- not in the street
• Keep brush separate from leaves -- different equipment is used to pick up each type of material
• Leaves in bags or containers will not be collected 
• The Village is unable to pick up other types of yard or garden waste -- most of these materials can be taken to the compost site on Highway Q

Click the link below for more details:

Fall Leaf Collection

What Happens to Our Recycling?

Have you ever wondered where our recyclable materials go after we've tossed them in our cart? Watch this short video from Pellitteri and find out.

What Happens to My Recycling?

For more information about trash and recycling in the Village of Waunakee, click the links below:

Recycling Information
Common Contaminants
Waunakee Waste Information

Village of Waunakee Agenda - Week of October 27, 2019

Utilities Commission
October 28, 2019 - 5:30 PM
Waunakee Utilities - 322 Moravian Valley Road

Fire District Board
October 28, 2019 - 6:30 PM

Fire Department - 401 West Second Street

Neighborhood Listening Session
October 29, 2019 - 7:30 PM
Public Library - 201 North Madison Street

Check out the prior post on this topic:
Village of Waunakee Agenda - Week of October 20, 2019

Agendas may change prior to the commencement of the meeting. Agendas for these meetings will be posted at a minimum of three of the following official posting places:

Access Meeting Materials Online: Agendas and most meeting packets (which include related memos and other supporting materials) will be posted on the Village of Waunakee website utilizing the following link: https://onbase.waunakee.com/onbaseagendaonline

Waunakee Village Hall (500 West Main Street)Waunakee Senior Center (333 South Madison Street)Waunakee Police Station (205 North Klein Drive)Waunakee Utilities (322 Moravian Valley Road)Waunakee Public Library (201 N. Madison Street)Waunakee Public Works (504 Moravian Valley Road) Waunakee Village Center (333 South Madison Street)

You are welcome to contact Village Hall with any questions about these meetings at (608) 850-8500 or email us at frontdesk@waunakee.com.

2020 Census Job Opportunities

The U.S. Census Bureau is already recruiting to fill important temporary field positions for the 2020 Census. Census results determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as how funds are spent on roads, schools and hospitals. See how you can help our community achieve a complete count - apply for one of thousands of temporary jobs online at 2020census.gov/jobs.

Don’t be scared…Be prepared! Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is a great opportunity for kids and adults to have a scary good time. ReadyWisconsin wants everyone to creep it real and have some spooktacular fun, while also making sure they stay safe and trick-free this October.

Before you head out, please take a minute to read the following tips for Halloween:

1. Know when to go — Halloween falls on a Thursday this year and many communities may hold trick-or-treat times on the weekend before the holiday instead of on Oct. 31. In addition, many businesses offer special trick-or-treat events. Check local information sites or media outlets to find the official times for your area.
2. Never go alone — Children under the age of 12 should always have an adult with them. Children over the age of 12 should walk in groups or with a trusted adult. Trick-or-treaters should only go to well-lit homes and never accept rides from strangers.
3. Make yourself seen — If walking around after dark, everyone in your group should have a flashlight or light stick with them while walking. Add reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you while walking along darkened streets.
4. Check treats before eating — An adult should inspect all candy and other treats for tampering, choking hazards and potential allergens. Do not eat homemade treats made by strangers.
5. Avoid fire and safety hazards — Make sure costumes (including masks, beards and wigs) are flame resistant. Stay away from long trailing fabric to prevent falls, and wear well-fitting masks to avoid blocked vision. Use a flashlight or battery-operated candle to light jack-o-lanterns, instead of a candle.
6. Watch the roads — Drivers should be on the lookout for trick-or-treaters walking on roadways, medians, and curbs. Know when people will be out in your community and drive with caution when going through neighborhoods.

Woodland Drive - Pavement Repairs

The Village of Waunakee, in cooperation with the Town of Westport, will be closing sections of Woodland Drive near Mill Road for pavement repairs from November 4-7, 2019. The project will include repairing several of the asphalt pavement humps that occur on Woodland Drive in the winter months. As a test repair, the contractors will be repairing a few of the existing damaged areas of Woodland Drive on each side of Mill Road. The road closures will be as follows: 

1. Woodland Drive will be closed to all vehicular traffic from Mill Road to Manchester Crossing for approximately 2-days starting November 4, weather permitting.

2. Woodland Drive will be closed to all vehicular traffic from Mill Road to Tierney Drive for approximately 2-days beginning November 6, weather permitting.

The Town and the Village ask your cooperation in finding alternative travel routes during the project.

Raking Before the Rain Helps Keep Our Lakes Healthy

Anyone else put off raking to the last minute? Need a reminder? Sign up for rain alerts. For more information on fall leaf collection and how to keep streets leaf-free, click the links below:

Protect Our Lakes
Rain Alerts
Waunakee Leaf Collection

Winter Brush Collection

Winter brush will be collected bi-weekly beginning the week of October 28, 2019, weather permitting. Please have your brush out by 7:00 AM on Mondays. Please leave branches as long as possible as this will save you and our crew's time. Brush is considered as limbs and branches from trees and large shrubs. All other woody vegetation such as plant stalks, small bush trimmings, etc. will not be collected. This type of material can be taken to the compost site on County Trunk Highway Q south of the Village. Place brush on the terrace or in the alley with the cut ends towards the street or alley. If you have a contractor trim or prune your trees or bushes, they are responsible for the removal of the brush. If you have any questions about the collection, please call the Public Works/Parks garage at 608-849-5892

Village Board Meeting on YouTube

The Village of Waunakee has uploaded the most recent Village Board meeting (10/21/2019) to YouTube. The meeting can be found by clicking the link below:

Village Board Meeting

For more information, please contact Caitlin Stene, Deputy Administrator / Village Clerk at cstene@waunakee.com or 608-850-2827.

WNC Laundry Soap and Diaper Drive

Piggly Wiggly

205 N. Holiday Drive

Waunakee, WI  53597

Now through October 27, 2019

Please help the Waunakee Neighborhood Connection collect laundry soap and diapers; diaper sizes 4, 5, 6 and Pull-Ups are the most needed.  Members of the Neighborhood Connection's family volunteer team will be at Piggly Wiggly the weekends of October 19-20 and October 26-27 or items can be placed in the purple collection bins at any time.  You can also bring these items to the WNC or drop them off in the lobby of the Waunakee Police Department. The donations will be distributed to neighbors in need of these commodities. 

Fall Leaf Collection

Fall leaf collection is currently underway and will end on November 27. Please remember to keep the branches and leaves separate from each other. Both items must be on the terrace in front of your house, not in the road. There will be no leaf pick-up in the alleys and leaves in plastic bags must be removed from the bags before pick-up. Leaves may also be taken to the compost site on County Trunk Highway Q south of the Village.

Halloween at Schumacher Farm

Schumacher Farm Park
5682 Hwy 19
Saturday, October 26, 2019
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Spooky fun for the whole family: Interactive characters, s'mores at our campfire, story telling in the chicken coop, fortune telling in the hog house, old fashioned games and crafts, ghouls and spooks hayrides beginning at 6 PM (not too scary), live music in the historic barn, and face painting and tattoos! The concession stand will include simple food such as hot dogs and BBQs, along with baked goods. Admission is $10 with kids 3 and under free. Free parking. The event will be held rain or shine.

Click the link below for more information:

Halloween at the Farm

Remember to Rake Before it Rains

Just by cleaning up your leaves at the right time, especially before a rain storm, you can help reduce phosphorus in urban stormwater by 80 percent compared to no leaf removal! How? Learn about a study done by the City of Madison here .

For more information on how to keep streets leaf-free and on fall leaf collection, click the links below:

Protect Our Lakes
Rain Alerts
Waunakee Leaf Collection

National Drug Take-Back Day

Waunakee Police Department

205 N. Klein Drive

Waunakee, WI 53597
Saturday, October 26, 2019
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM


Supported by the Wisconsin Department of Justice “Drug Take-Back Day” Campaign and in collaboration with the Waunakee Police Department, the Waunakee Community Cares Coalition will be having a Drug Take-Back Event on Saturday, October 26th. You may safely dispose of unused or expired prescriptions which include controlled and uncontrolled substances, over-the-counter medications, ointments, patches, creams, non-aerosol sprays, vials, inhalers, vitamins and pet medications by dumping all pills out of pill bottles into a Ziploc bag. NO Epi-pens, sharps and needles during this event – during our Spring Event; April 2020 we will be collaborating again with MERI to safely dispose of these. FREE Med-Lock Boxes will be available as well.

Village Board Agenda Supplement for October 21, 2019

The Village is preparing a "Supplement to Agenda" prior to every Village Board Meeting. Here is a link to the supplement for the October 21, 2019 meeting:

Supplement

This is an unofficial version of the agenda in which the Village Administrator adds some summary and straight forward commentary on the agenda items to be considered during the upcoming meeting. The purpose is to help citizens better understand the agenda items and action requests that are before the Board. You might consider it a succinct summary of the memos and attachments included in the full meeting packet. Please reach out to Village Administrator Todd Schmidt with your feedback. 608-850-2182 or administrator@waunakee.com.

Neighborhood Listening Session

Waunakee Public Library - Community Hall
201 N. Madison Street
Waunakee, WI 53597
Tuesday, October 29th, 2019

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Please join Village President Chris Zellner for a Neighborhood Listening Session at the Waunakee Public Library. Listening sessions are held several times throughout the year at different locations around the Village. Anyone is welcome to attend.

The purpose of the listening session is to give Village residents the opportunity to meet informally with Village President Chris Zellner and members of the Village’s management team to discuss issues and ask questions. Topics of discussion can cover a variety of issues including Waunakee’s growth, improvements and current projects, conditions of the neighborhood, traffic, public safety issues, or any other Village-related issues.

We are eager to hear from you and your neighbors in this comfortable and informal setting. If you are unable to attend but have something you would like to discuss with us, please contact Village Administrator Todd Schmidt at 608-850-5227 or administrator@waunakee.com.

Waunakee Ecumenical Board Blood Drive

First Presbyterian Church
Fellowship Hall
5763 County Road Q
Friday, October 25, 2019
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Live Life. Give Life. Give Blood! Appointments preferred; walk-ins welcome. To make an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org use sponsor code: Waunakee.

Village of Waunakee Agenda - Week of October 20, 2019

Finance Committee
October 21, 2019 - 5:00 PM
Village Hall - 500 West Main Street

Village Board
October 21, 2019 - 6:00 PM
Village Hall - 500 West Main Street

Public Works Committee
October 22, 2019 - 7:00 PM
Village Hall - 500 West Main Street

Check out the prior post on this topic:
Village of Waunakee Agenda - Week of October 13, 2019

Agendas may change prior to the commencement of the meeting. Agendas for these meetings will be posted at a minimum of three of the following official posting places:

Access Meeting Materials Online: Agendas and most meeting packets (which include related memos and other supporting materials) will be posted on the Village of Waunakee website utilizing the following link: https://onbase.waunakee.com/onbaseagendaonline

Waunakee Village Hall (500 West Main Street)Waunakee Senior Center (333 South Madison Street)Waunakee Police Station (205 North Klein Drive)Waunakee Utilities (322 Moravian Valley Road)Waunakee Public Library (201 N. Madison Street)Waunakee Public Works (504 Moravian Valley Road) Waunakee Village Center (333 South Madison Street)

You are welcome to contact Village Hall with any questions about these meetings at (608) 850-8500 or email us at frontdesk@waunakee.com.

Consider Volunteering with the Waunakee Food Pantry

Waunakee Area Chamber members and their guests were welcomed by Waunakee Food Pantry Director Natalie Dresen at the Womens Involved Network gathering on Tuesday. The group went on a tour of the Food Pantry and heard an overview of the Pantry's current programs, future plans, and ways to volunteer.

You can help! 

• Volunteer during our open client shopping time. Email Natalie at nataliedresen@gmail.com 
• Coordinate an effort to bring food or monetary donation to the Waunakee Food Pantry
• Businesses, consider sponsoring a particular need
• Businesses, get the word out to your employees or customer group to help with volunteering or food drives. Make a commitment to your community!

Do you have special skills that may be of help to the WFP in the area of website design, marketing or help with connecting us with food sources? We would love to hear from you.

Click the link below for more details:

Waunakee Food Pantry

New Village Board Agenda Available

To view the agenda for the October 21, 2019 Village Board meeting, please click the link below:

Agenda

BOO Bash 2019

Village Hall staff really enjoyed BOO Bash 2019.

Thanks everyone for joining in all the fun!

Waunakee Halloween Trick or Treating

Waunakee Halloween Trick or Treating
Thursday, October 31, 2019
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

It's a great occasion to be creative and enjoy the festivities with family and friends. Please keep everyone safe this year on Halloween. Drive extra cautious in the neighborhoods and watch out for pedestrians.

Community Education Programs at WNC

The Waunakee Neighborhood Connection is now offering community education programs in partnership with organizations and services that complement their mission of engaging neighbors in supporting one another. The programs will provide information to build awareness of issues and resources impacting the community and highlight ways in which citizens can get involved in volunteerism locally.

Click the link below for more details:

Community Education Programs

When Leaves Fall, So Can Water Quality

Leaves and yard waste contain phosphorus. When it rains, stormwater flows through leaf piles in streets creating a phosphorus rich “leaf tea” that travels through storm drains to our lakes. The excess phosphorus leads to toxic algae blooms, low oxygen levels and green murky water in our lakes.

For more information on how to keep streets leaf-free and on fall leaf collection, click the links below:

Protect Our Lakes
Rain Alerts
Waunakee Leaf Collection

Village of Waunakee Agenda - Week of October 13, 2019

Plan Commission
October 14, 2019 - 6:00 PM
Village Hall - 500 West Main Street

Joint Plan Commission
October 15, 2019 - 6:00 PM
Westport Town Hall - 5387 Mary Lake Road

Library Board
October 18, 2019 - 7:45 AM
Public Library - 201 North Madison Street

Check out the prior post on this topic:
Village of Waunakee Agenda - Week of October 6, 2019

Agendas may change prior to the commencement of the meeting. Agendas for these meetings will be posted at a minimum of three of the following official posting places:

Access Meeting Materials Online: Agendas and most meeting packets (which include related memos and other supporting materials) will be posted on the Village of Waunakee website utilizing the following link: https://onbase.waunakee.com/onbaseagendaonline

Waunakee Village Hall (500 West Main Street)Waunakee Senior Center (333 South Madison Street)Waunakee Police Station (205 North Klein Drive)Waunakee Utilities (322 Moravian Valley Road)Waunakee Public Library (201 N. Madison Street)Waunakee Public Works (504 Moravian Valley Road) Waunakee Village Center (333 South Madison Street)

You are welcome to contact Village Hall with any questions about these meetings at (608) 850-8500 or email us at frontdesk@waunakee.com.

New Joint Plan Commission Agenda Available

To view the agenda for the October 15, 2019 Joint Plan Commission meeting, please click the link below:

JPC Agenda

New Plan Commission Agenda Available

To view the agenda for the October 14, 2019 Plan Commission meeting, please click the link below:

PC Agenda

Joint Review Board Meeting on YouTube

The Village of Waunakee has uploaded the most recent Joint Review Board meeting (10/7/19) to YouTube. Click the link below for more details:

Joint Review Board

For more information, please contact Caitlin Stene, Deputy Administrator / Village Clerk at cstene@waunakee.com or 608-850-2827.

Village Board Meeting on YouTube

The Village of Waunakee has uploaded the most recent Village Board meeting (10/7/2019) to YouTube. The meeting can be found by clicking the link below:

Village Board Meeting

For more information, please contact Caitlin Stene, Deputy Administrator / Village Clerk at cstene@waunakee.com or 608-850-2827.

Chamber Seeking Office Manager

The Waunakee Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for a ROCKSTAR OFFICE MANAGER! This exciting position is salaried, full time, flexible, and FUN! If you love the Waunakee/Westport area and are passionate about our community and all the exciting growth and development that is happening, this just might be the perfect job for you! For a detailed position description you can watch their recruitment video on YouTube and view the full written job description here. 

For application instructions please visit www.waunakeechamber.com. If you have any questions, please contact their Executive Director, Ellen Schaaf, at (608) 849-5977 or ellen@waunakeechamber.com.

Boo Bash Block Party

South Century Ave
Waunakee, WI 53597
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Come celebrate fall in Waunakee in the South Century Avenue Business District! Trick or Treat at participating businesses. Enjoy games, activities, and drawings.  

Visit the Chamber of Commerce Tent in the Village Mall parking lot.  The first 250 kids in costume will receive a FREE trick or treat bag.  Spin the Wheel for a chance to win a prize.  Every spin is a winner!  Family-friendly Halloween music will be broadcast down the block.  Look for the "Candy for Cans' barrel collecting donations for the Waunakee Food Pantry. 

Shop locally grown produce and products at the Waunakee Area Farmers' Market in the Rocky Rococo parking lot! Pumpkins, gourds, vegetables, flowers, honey, salsa, pastries, baked goods and more!

This is a free event!

Boo Bash

Souper Bowl

Waunakee Public Library
201 North Madison Street
Sunday, October 13, 2019
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

The Friends of the Library will host their first SOUPER Bowl in the Library's Community Room. Your $15 ticket entitles you to soup, salad, bread, beverages and dessert donated by area restaurants and businesses. PLUS, you can keep the handmade bowl crafted by WHS art students! Special pricing for families.

Let's Talk About It: Mental Health Stigma

Waunakee Public Library
201 North Madison Street
November 7, 2019
7:00 PM

Please join us at the library for a talk that will encourage people to examine the origins of their beliefs and assumptions about mental health, and consider the negative impacts. Angela Willits, MSW, LCSW is a clinical assistant professor, director of the Part-Time MSW Program and co-chair of the mental health focus area in the School of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She teaches practice courses in mental health, as well as provides supervision and consultation to MSW students and community partners. She has more than seven years of clinical experience with the Department of Veterans Affairs with a specialty in treating post-traumatic stress disorder. 

This program is provided by a grant from Beyond the Page.

For more information and to register for this program, click the links below:

Flyer

Registration

Village of Waunakee Agenda - Week of October 6, 2019

Joint Review Board
October 7, 2019 - 5:00 PM
Village Hall - 500 West Main Street

Village Board
October 7, 2019 - 6:00 PM
Village Hall - 500 West Main Street

WWDDVS EMS Commission
October 10, 2019 - 7:00 PM
Waunakee Area EMS - 201 North Klein Drive

Check out the prior post on this topic:
Village of Waunakee Agenda - Week of September 29, 2019

Agendas may change prior to the commencement of the meeting. Agendas for these meetings will be posted at a minimum of three of the following official posting places:

Access Meeting Materials Online: Agendas and most meeting packets (which include related memos and other supporting materials) will be posted on the Village of Waunakee website utilizing the following link: https://onbase.waunakee.com/onbaseagendaonline

Waunakee Village Hall (500 West Main Street)Waunakee Senior Center (333 South Madison Street)Waunakee Police Station (205 North Klein Drive)Waunakee Utilities (322 Moravian Valley Road)Waunakee Public Library (201 N. Madison Street)Waunakee Public Works (504 Moravian Valley Road) Waunakee Village Center (333 South Madison Street)

You are welcome to contact Village Hall with any questions about these meetings at (608) 850-8500 or email us at frontdesk@waunakee.com.

New Village Board Agenda Available

To view the agenda for the October 7, 2019 Village Board meeting, please click the link below:

Agenda

Recycling - Contamination Concerns

Please take a minute to read this important message about recycling from Pellitteri:

As your local service provider and the recycling sorting facility operator, it is our job to help keep the trash out of the recycling stream and thus keep our local recycling systems strong.

Contamination rates at the Material Recovery Facility (MRF), where your recyclables are sorted, are increasing.

How do we keep the trash and non-recyclables out of the recycling stream? Together let's tackle the problem head-on and get back to the basics of recycling. Place only approved recyclables in your recycling cart. For a current recycling list, please click here.

If you are unsure if something is recyclable, please review the recycling list prior to placing it in your recycling cart or toss it in the trash. While we don't want to encourage sending potentially recyclable items to the landfill, we do want to make sure we're sending the right things to the MRF. If you have specific questions please call us at (608) 257-4285 or email info@pellitteri.com.

If your recycling cart has any visible trash or non-recyclables in it, it will be tagged with a notice of non-pickup due to contamination and not serviced.

If you would like to learn more about the current state of the recycling industry, please view this article from the President of one of the mills where your sorted paper is taken.

Common Contaminants (click here for more):

• Brush & yard waste
• Styrofoam®, packing peanuts, and other foam plastics, even if there is a recycling symbol on it
• Non-recyclable plastics:
• Plastic plates, plastic silverware, toys, random small plastic pieces, plastic lids that are not attached to a container, etc.
• If there is not a recycling symbol on it, it should not go in the single-stream
• Single-serve coffee pods (ex: Keurig K-Cups®)
• Full or only partially emptied containers, including: aerosol cans, tin/steel cans with food still in them, plastic containers with food still in them, cardboard boxes with things still in them
• Extension cords, garden hoses, and other “stringy” items
• Rubber
• ANY Syringes, with or without needles attached
• Large metal items/metal items heavier than 10 pounds
• Diapers
• Flammable containers (even if there is a recycling symbol)
• Certain household cleaners, etc., that are plastic may be recycled, but they must be rinsed out well first

Please only put approved recyclable items in your recycling cart. When non-recyclable items such as clothes, yard waste and Styrofoam® are placed in the recycling cart, the MRF's contamination rate increases and the MRF's ability to recycle correct items decreases. In fact, if your recyclables are encased in black bags or mixed with trash, the good recycling will be caught up with the trash and will go to the landfill. Keeping the recycling clean allows for the maximum amount of recycled material to be recovered. Contaminants often result in malfunctions and breakdowns to the equipment at the MRF.

We enjoy serving your home with recycling collection service; please help us keep recycling a viable option by keeping non-recyclables and trash out of your recycling cart.

Check out our expanded recycling list, a recycling video to see how your materials are sorted, and stay up-to-date with happenings through our Facebook page!

Free Parent Night with Collin Kartchner

Waunakee Community High School-Performing Arts Center
301 Community Drive
Thursday, October 10, 2019
6:00 PM

Join TEDx speaker Collin Kartchner as he talks about ways to help our kids rise above the pressures and negativity of social media.

Click the link below for more information:

Collin Kartchner

Take Action at Home: Rake for Our Lakes!

The leaves are beginning to change color which means it's time for you to get outside and rake for our lakes! Raking leaves from the street before it rains is one of the best ways homeowners can help our waters. 

When left in the street, leaves make a phosphorus-rich "tea" that washes down storm drains and directly into our lakes. Over the course of one year, more than 50% of the phosphorus in urban stormwater can come from leaves in the street. It only takes one pound of phosphorus to produce 500 pounds of algae in our lakes!

Want to do more? There are several actions you can take at home to help our lakes. Click the link below for more details:

Lake-O-Gram