Mauston, Wisconsin – Juneau County

October 31, 2024

Mauston, Wisconsin

Meeting the Future

Where Growth and Opportunity are all Part of the Plan

Originally known as “Maughs Town” after its founder Milton Maugh, Mauston has evolved from its beginnings in Wisconsin’s early lumber industry into a thriving, growing community. Ideally located along the I-90/94 corridor, the city offers much more than just a stop between Minneapolis and Chicago. Outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to the community for its kayaking, fishing, and ATV trails, while a unique blend of natural beauty and small-town charm drive a flourishing tourism sector. Welcoming growth, Mauston is actively working to attract development, business and amenities, striving to create an ideal place to live, work, and play.

Mauston’s Historic Downtown

Daron Haugh, City Administrator

Downtown Mauston is an area steeped in history, with many of its buildings dating back to the early 20th century. These historic gems give the district its distinctive character, while acting as a backdrop to revitalization efforts. With only one remaining infill spot in the downtown district available for potential new construction, the focus is on breathing new life into the existing architecture, and the city’s Tax Incremental District (TID) program is a major factor in the improvements. Daron Haugh, City Administrator, elaborates, “We are trying to incentivize business owners to repurpose buildings and make them more attractive, whether it’s simple facade, awning, paint, brickwork, or interior development, such as reconstructing.” The goal is to enhance the downtown’s aesthetic appeal while also encouraging mixed-use development in TID 5.

Housing Growth and Incentives

Housing is a key focus in Mauston, guided by a recently conducted housing study. “It came back saying, we need homes, we need apartments,” Haugh reports. “We knew it, but the study solidified that. We’re trying to push for that.” In an effort to address this demand, the city has developed a comprehensive plan which includes initiatives to promote residential growth.

“One of the things that’s in the master plan is an affordable housing fund, which we do have. We closed TIDs 2 and 3 a couple of years ago, and we directed those funds over to that,” he relays. This fund has already incentivized the construction of new apartments and the introduction of a new home build grant, encouraging residents to build primary homes in the community.

Mayor, Darryl Teske

Mayor, Darryl Teske, notes that the term “affordable housing” is not limited to subsidized residences, but also includes homes for those earning 40 to 60% of the median income, ensuring that there are available units for workforce residents, such as first responders and those commuting to nearby manufacturing hubs. “We have infill development incentives, which are for people that maybe have a double lot and there is space for a second home there that they may be interested in building, we can offer incentives that way. Then there’s also the general new building incentives as well,” he explains.

The housing study also identified that Mauston’s rental capacity was at zero, meaning available properties were being snapped up immediately. Along with the apartment complexes that have already been completed, the mayor says additional developments are being explored through potential rezoning initiatives.

Business Attraction and Development

A prime position along the I-90/94 corridor and proximity to key attractions has helped Mauston attract both tourism and new businesses. One of the city’s major initiatives is the TID program, with several districts spread throughout the community. As for existing enterprises, Haugh conveys, “We don’t have any commercial downtown, it’s all small business related. Most of our commercial business is in TID 5, out by the interstate, which is mostly retail, gas stations, fast food restaurants and hotels.”

The city is also home to an industrial park, with several factories, and Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center, a mental health facility and a major economic driver in the region. Mayor Teske reports, “Our industrial park has space that is still available, and we actively reach out to businesses and make sure our manufacturers understand that we can certainly support more out there.”

A Haven for Residents and Visitors

On the subject of tourism, Mayor Teske remarks, “We are continuing to build on the successes we have, and also looking at other opportunities as they come available.” This growing sector is built on Mauston’s picturesque scenery, rich recreational opportunities, and unique local businesses, attracting visitors from across the region. A prime example is Gravity Box Brewery, located in the downtown, and drawing craft beer enthusiasts from near and far.

“That brings in someone who may not have come here for the ATVing, but then they see that there’s the ATV trails, or a person on an ATV stops at the brewery,” Teske depicts. Castle Rock Lake serves as another key attraction, bringing boating, fishing, and watersports enthusiasts to the area. Additionally, Jays Power Sports, a new business specializing in boating, UTVing, and ATVing, has set up shop in the city by revitalizing an old Kmart building providing valuable local jobs and supporting tourism.

“So, it’s building on our successes currently, and then continuing to look at opportunities,” he continues. “We had somebody restart our farmers market this year and again, it is all intertwined. People are in town already, so they stop for lunch, or at different businesses that are here.” He highlights the Greater Mauston Tourism Association as instrumental in actively promoting the city and ensuring it’s featured in various regional publications.

Beyond tourism, Mauston offers a wide range of amenities and recreational opportunities for residents. The city’s parks and green spaces are well-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 residents. “We won’t have to take out any more loans for this project, and the overall amount of loans that we’re taking out is going to be substantially less than what we projected when we started,” he maintains.

Looking Ahead

As for what is on the horizon, Mauston’s focus on growth and development remains a priority. As the county seat, partnerships with Juneau County are vital in this future vision, and the city values its regional partnerships, which include law enforcement, the Public Works department, and the Mauston School District. Haugh emphasizes, “There is just a lot of back and forth, and mutual partnerships that benefit everybody as a community.”

Going forward, a zoning code rewrite tops the list for Haugh, creating a more inviting environment for developers who want to build homes in the city. “Another priority I have is the overall growth of our community and that involves three things. One is business growth, two is jobs, and three is census. I’d like to grow our population for the city. Some cities aren’t meant to grow. They’re never going to grow. But we are centrally located to where we have the ability and the needs to grow.”

Mayor Teske concludes, “People are really our biggest asset. We have a large group of people who care very deeply about our community. We want to make it better for residents, but we also want to invite people in.”