Mayor Scrima Issues Holiday Message

Happy families are all alike – they have meaningful work, responsible finances, reliable systems and clear goals. In the same way, since cities are in some way larger families, happy cities have meaningful work, responsible finances, reliable systems and clear goals. We get it. As Council and your priorities are our priorities.

Meaningful Work: We are reaching out to investment and business. With city incentives, Waukesha Electric and Weldall Manufacturing are currently expanding and adding 325 new family supporting jobs in our community. We have also just landed Woodman’s Food Market which will be adding over 200 jobs.  We are continually focusing on new opportunities, including a potential convention center downtown.

Responsible Finances: As your locally elected representatives, we understand your hopes and fears, and that you are paying the bill. That’s why we relentlessly pursue perfection. At the end of the budget process, we came within $61,000 out of a $51 million budget in meeting our 0% increase goal. We will never stop asking: how can we deliver a better value to our citizens tomorrow by creating new efficiencies today.

Reliable Systems: Our Application for a Great Lakes Diversion is currently under evaluation by the DNR. Whatever our clean drinking water source ends up being, we need to fully understand the cost to our community, now and 30 years from now. As Council and Mayor, we will remain actively involved and believe the process must be done with utmost transparency.

2011 Accomplishments: Waukesha was named in America’s top 100 Best Communities for Young People. Our Park and Recreation Department won the prestigious National “Gold Medal” Award. Our Library was named the Wisconsin Library of the Year, and hosted another successful book festival. Our Cemetery honored music icon Les Paul and his memorial. Our Public Works Department reconstructed the intersection of Sunset and West Avenue, rebuilt four streets, resurfaced eight streets, and built flood protection. Our Fire Department was awarded the Flight for Life “Scene Call of the Year” award, and completed construction of Fire Station No. 2. Our Information Technology Department won an award of Excellence for our city website. Our Police Department Bilingual Citizens Police Academy received state recognition. Our Mayor’s Office received the state “Arts in Community Award.”

2012 Clear Goals: Our Assessor, Clerk, and Finance Offices will implement new software systems. Our Public Works Department will reconstruct portions of West and Grand Avenues, resurface 12 blocks of streets, and improve pothole repair. Our Community Development Office will complete the new Downtown Master Plan. Our Fire and Police Departments will further collaborate with neighboring agencies. Our Park and Recreation Department will complete the New Bike-Pedestrian Plan. Our Downtown will continue Friday Night Live Music, Farmers Markets, and Art Crawls. Our Mayor’s Office will continue to focus on cultivating business and cultural vitality, and assist individual Citizens.

Since cities are in some way larger families, happy cities have meaningful work, responsible finances, reliable systems and clear goals. As Council and Mayor, your priorities are our priorities. We hope that you will join us in creating a better, more exciting and more enjoyable future for our children. We hope that you will join us in our goal for Waukesha to become the No. 1 rated Best Small City in America by 2018. We are all in this together. We welcome your feedback! This is not just a city, this is our home!

From our family to yours, may you have a heartwarming holiday!