MADISON, WI (WSAU) — Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza and Alderpersons David Shorr, Mary McComb, and Heidi Oberstadt, met with Representative Katrina Shankland and Senator Patrick Testin at the State Capitol Wednesday to advocate on behalf of the city of Stevens Point. They discussed various issues during their meeting.
Mayor Wiza says transportation funding was one of the big talking points during the meeting. He says things have been getting tough with all of the recent cuts to the transportation funds.
“It’s very difficult for the state and municipalities to keep up with their infrastructure maintenance,” said Wiza. “So, we just urged our legislators to find something. We don’t necessarily care if it’s a wheel tax or an increase in income tax or something, but just urged them to find a funding mechanism.”
Currently, public utility has the ability to replace main water lines but are forbidden to work on laterals that take water from the main line to a person’s home. Mayor Wiza says they’re working on coming up with legislation to fix that.
He said, “What the proposed legislation would do would be to allow the utility, in our case the Stevens Point Water and Wastewater Department, to create a fund to assist home owners with repairing and replacing those lead laterals.”
Legally the city of Stevens Point is required to post their minutes from meetings in a publication, currently, they have a contract with the Portage County Gazette. Mayor Mike Wiza is working with legislators to try and change the law so they can post their minutes online to make things easier for everyone.
“To help better reach the constituents, we want the ability to post (the minutes) online and have that legal requirement met. Most everyone either has a computer or has access to a computer now,” said the Mayor.
Mayor Wiza says he has another trip planned to the State Capitol coming in May.
