maintained, providing outdoor sporting amenities and play areas for families. Opportunities like the summer recreation program ensure that children have access to organized outdoor activities. Community events, such as the Fourth of July event and Christmas parades, help build local spirit and bring people together. “The city staff is working on making sure that our wastewater is going to the correct place, that we have curb and gutter and all these things, and our streets are plowed, our parks are green and mowed and cared for and the stuff is in the proper working order. We are also trying to build that community of things for residents to do. That is really important,” says Teske. ADVANCING THE CITY BY INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE Mauston has been actively working to modernize its infrastructure, ensuring the city is well-prepared to support both its growing population and business community. One ongoing project is the implementation of a city-wide fiber optic network through Lynnx Networks. This project, nearing completion, will make high-speed internet accessible to all homes in Mauston, positioning the city as a leader in connectivity. Teske recounts, “The ability to have available high-speed internet in any house puts us a step ahead of a lot of communities. People will be able to work from home and have reliable high-speed internet whether they’re commuting or not. It has been a very big process, but that project has been great.” In addition to advancements in digital infrastructure, Mauston has made significant investments in its sewer treatment facilities. The city initiated an evaluation of its wastewater system in 2022, leading to a $10.5 million upgrade project that will modernize the aging system. “When we did the sewer rate study, at that time we were slated to get $1.7 million in principal forgiveness,” details Haugh.“The good news is, after we did that, it actually came back at $2.1 million in principal forgiveness towards this project.” Thanks to a $1 million Community Development Block Grant, the city has been able to reduce the overall cost burden even further, passing the savings on to 125 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 10 MAUSTON, WI
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