“It’s a terrible thing we have to talk about,” Fennimore Director of Public Works Anthony Downing stated to the city council during their monthly meeting held Monday, June 15, when referring to the latest string of vandalism to the city’s public bathrooms.
“Some people find it exciting to destroy bathroom and fill toilets,” Downing further stated. “It’s a mess and it’s disgusting. Last year it was a problem, and they’ve picked right back up.”
The primary issues have been at the dog park bathrooms by Oakwood Park, but there have also been instances with the ones at the ball diamonds where someone has vandalized at night or over the weekend, as well as a few instances where it has happened at Arborvitae Park by the nursing home.
Downing said the ones by the dog park have been hit more frequently due to it being more “isolated.”
The park board of Marsden Park has also reported having acts of vandalism done to their bathrooms as well the past few summers.
Alderperson Sarah Kretschman asked Downing if the police checked on them at night, and Downing informed her and the council that the police do drive by during the evening hours.
Downing brought up the possibility of nightly lockdowns of the bathrooms and/or cameras to monitor the area.
It was agreed upon that cameras would be the first step into hopefully rectifying the situation.
Downing also reported to the council that there was a fair amount of tree related damage from the storm on June 10, “so the guys had quite a bit to clean up from that.”
Other business
The council approved the results of the recent Compliance Maintenance Annual Report (CMAR) at the Fennimore Wastewater Treatment Facility.
“We did well,” Fennimore City Clerk Ashley Edge stated. “Our overall GPA (3.43) is where it needs to be.”
Alderperson Pete Adam agreed stating, “It’s far better than what it used to be.”
The council also approved two new members to the Dwight T. Parker Public Library Board. Current board members Karen Jeardeau and Stephanie Knapp’s terms will expire at the end of this month, and the council approved the board’s recommendations of Kristy Wiest and Lisa Evans to fill their positions, with their terms ending June 30, 2029.
City officer reports
In her report, City Clerk Edge stated that the city office has switched to a 10 hour work week during the summer. The office hours will remain the same, with office staff just rotating days off.
The sixth payment request has been completed and disbursed for the library grant, and Edge reported that the library remodel/expansion is still anticipated being finished within the perimeters of the grant.
The pool opened on June 5, and Edge stated in her report that “things are running well, and the new guards are trained and have started working.”
Fennimore Police Chief Walt Dresen stated in his report to the council that on May 20, the department completed their first aide, CPR, and bloodborne pathogens training.
He also reported that the Fennimore Police Department is participating in a high visibility traffic grant with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. All wages are reimbursed by the department of transportation.
Lastly, Dresen’s report stated that Officer McCoy resumed his field training with the department and has “been a welcomed addition.” He is on pace to complete the training by the end of the month, and will then begin to cover shifts.
The next meeting of the Fennimore City Council is scheduled for Monday, July 20, at 5:30 p.m., in the council chambers of the Memorial Building.
