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ed’ water stream that they’re trying to clean up.
So, they’re really cracking down on any of the
communities and municipalities that discharge
into the Rock River – to make sure that we have
our total suspended solids and our phospho-
rous limits in check. So, we know that we’ve got
to think smarter and try to get as many low-cost
and no-cost ways to reduce our total suspended
solids and our phosphorous emissions. So, we’re
working with all of our detention pond owners
in our community to clean up and restore their
detention ponds, so that we can maximize the
removal limits in our existing ponds.”
Another city initiative aims to implement
sustainable practices in the city’s parking lots.
“Whether that’s putting some kind of permeable
pavers around their perimeters; or putting in a
rain garden with underground storage before
water releases into the storm sewer system;
we’re working with a couple of developers that
are going to be reworking some of their parking
lots,” Holloway reports.“And we’ve said to them,
while it’s not mandatory right now,we certainly
would invite them to come forth in their plans
with some type of green technology for those lots
and we’ve not met any resistance.They’ve all been
very gracious to say that they would look into it.
So,we’ve got some initiatives that are happening;
we don’t have the ordinance rewritten yet, but we
are looking to initiate green practices.”
Watertown, Wisconsin
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Redevelopment Resources
www.redevelopment-resources.com“Our erosion control and post construction
stormwater ordinances were revised in 2016, and
this includes all redevelopments or new devel-
opments of land 3,000 square feet or more,” adds
Beyer.“So,we’ve been working with developers to
put through erosion control plans and stormwater
management plans for these smaller sites where
it’s not required by state statute.We’re a little bit
more stringent in the city.”
As city projects continue to upgrade Water-
town’s infrastructure and physiognomy, Mayor
David stresses the city’s many virtues: “I would
say that we have a fantastic quality of life, here,”
he avers. “The cost of living is quite low.We’re
strategically located halfway between Milwau-
kee and Madison.We’ve got wonderful ameni-
ties here with the river, and our park system is
second to none.We have a very low crime rate.
We are a full service city–we have solid waste
collection, recycling collection, a full-time fire
department - all paramedic-trained, and a full-
time police department. There is not a service
that a municipality can offer that we don’t offer.”
Holloway focuses on Watertown’s new brand
–Opportunity Runs Through It–and the offer
implicit within it.“That says a lot about our com-
munity,” she says, confidently.“If you were to come
toWatertown and live and work in this communi-
ty, there are many opportunities. And it’s a warm
and accepting city,” she adds, summing up.