What's Going On In Platteville - A LOT!

City Manager Clint Langreck and Optimist President Bob Hundhausen

City Manager Clint Langreck shared a lot of information on what's going on in Platteville in a short time at the weekly Optimist Club meeting. To summarize:

• New pool - the City has contracted with JEO Consulting as the Project Engineer. It is in the design phase and will be constructed at the same location and will be about the same size as the former pool. Epic Construction out of Kieler will serve as the Construction Manager. Many of the volunteers from the Sub Committee have transferred to the Splash Committee and are working as an advocacy group currently fundraising, working with Inspiring Community Inc.

• Improvements have been made at Legion Field and new dugouts were added at Abing Field.

• The City is working with Platteville Community Arboretum (PCA) on a trail expansion / land acquisition project which will add land from behind NAPA to East Side Road. They have been awarded a grant to aide with the financing.

• Inspections of conditions and maintenance, with the focus on maintenance, are ongoing. Full walk throughs are taking place before 2026 budget work begins.

  • Tours next week will include streets, waste water plant, library, City Hall, museums, mine, airport, and the existing fire facility where discussions about what to do with that building once the new facility is complete.

• Road infrastructure - Clint explained that our current road infrastructure is ~130 year life cycle where a 40 year life cycle is optimal. It'll be tough to get there but they're working to take steps in the right direction and solve the problem on a local level. He did state that we're not alone on this. All cities and counties struggle with it.

• Economic Development - Southwest Health is expanding and increasing their footprint. They are currently the largest employer in the City.

• The City has purchased 30 acres by Lincoln and Mitchell Hollow Rd. They are doing some lobbying to legislatures and hoping to bring in affordable housing, possibly for seniors looking to downsize.

• Parks & Rec - has applied for two different grants:

  • 1) for a water retention pond by the high school along Water Street to aid with water flow after heavy rains

  • 2) DNR grant for a base parking lot by Prairie Park, north of the high school near the soccer fields, to ease congestion in that area. This could also be utilized as a trailhead for the north side of the trail and for snowmobilers.

• Beginning June 30th, there will be a detour in Platteville affecting Pine Street that is expected to be in place until Labor Day.

• Community input is always welcome. Check the City of Platteville website for a list of committees and consider joining one of them.  The City wants to meet the needs of our community.