The District 3 Dispatch | Bike ride observations; Water Tower D construction progressing
On a 10-mile bike ride through parts of District 3 on Friday night, I couldn't help but reflect on the impact we have as local elected officials.
I biked past intersections that I worked with neighbors and staff to make safer.
I biked past crosswalks that I worked with neighbors and staff to get painted.
I biked past a block of homes that I worked with residents and staff to get re-addressed to avoid confusion with package delivery.
I biked past uneven sidewalks that I worked with a resident and staff to get temporarily patched until they can be permanently fixed later this year.
I biked past multiple infrastructure projects that we are investing in to serve our city for decades to come.
I biked past multiple businesses and a non-profit organization that are starting or expanding to serve our growing city and region.
And I biked past single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments under construction that will soon house our new neighbors.
Collectively, these observations reminded me of how much we can achieve when we're working together -- residents, elected officials, and city staff -- to be the change we want to see in our community. I hope you will continue to bring up ways we can make Fitchburg an even better place to call home, and I look forward to working with you to make them a reality.
Yours in service,
-Logan
What’s “Growing” On
Here’s what’s being built in Fitchburg.
Agrace’s proposed dementia village is moving forward. On January 27, we approved a rezoning request for Agrace’s campus on East Cheryl Parkway. I had the opportunity to talk about this innovative project on WMTV 15 a few days ago — and it’s now getting national attention!
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Water Tower D, as of February 13.
Look up! Water Tower D will soon rise proudly into the air at the corner of Lacy Road and U.S. Highway 14. The structure has been welded together and is expected to go up in the near future. Painting is currently scheduled for the summer, and the tower will be operational this fall.
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Progress on the rehab hospital (foreground) and the Lido Apartments (background) in Uptown as of early February.
Have you been through Uptown lately? Things are looking a bit different! The metal structure for the UW Health/UnityPoint Health - Meriter/Lifepoint rehab hospital has emerged, and construction is moving along at the Lido Apartments next door. Both buildings are expected to open in 2027.
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Working For You
Here’s how city staff and elected officials are working on your behalf to make Fitchburg a better place.
Work continues on plans for a new business coming to District 3. Melissa, the owner of The Hive: Culinary Collective & Event Space, hosted a well-attended neighborhood meeting at the library on February 7., which I was happy to be able to attend. This wasn't your standard Q&A by design; Melissa wanted to give folks a feel for The Hive experience. Recently, I’ve had the honor of connecting Melissa with multiple small business owners from District 3 (directly and indirectly), namely Just a Bite Bakery and Wild Rue Events, who will be great collaborators once the doors open this fall.
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In light of the disturbing events happening in parts of the country, the city has created a “Know Your Rights” webpage to connect you with immigration-related resources.
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Maintenance work on the Techlands Infiltration Basin off Nobel Drive is nearing completion.
Council Recap
On February 10, we:
Accepted an agreement with the USGS to continue operating the Swan Creek Monitoring Station.
Approved a budget amendment to replace picnic tables and benches at three city parks (including Southdale Park in District 3).
On January 27, we:
Approved a new name for the park formerly known as the Hub. It is now called Hosto Hoci, which in the Ho-Chunk language means “a place to gather.”
Approved a preliminary plat and rezoning for a 25-lot single-family housing development along Notre Dame Drive. Some details are still being worked out, and we will need to review a final plat in the future before the project can move forward.
Approved the updated Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, which will guide our decision-making on bike and pedestrian-related topics for the next few years.
Approved a proposal to begin designing an interactive feature for the children’s library.
Approved an advanced scheduling software upgrade – meaning our police officers will no longer need to submit paper time sheets.
Looking Ahead
At our March 10 Common Council meeting, we will be discussing a three-year, $261,000 contract to manage vegetation in stormwater ponds in the city. In addition to the stormwater facilities, this contract would cover vegetation maintenance (2-3 visits/year) throughout the Terravessa neighborhood, including medians.
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As we continue to explore new ways to best serve our city while minimizing costs, we have begun to evaluate whether a fire and EMS district model shared among our neighboring communities could make sense financially. The Common Council and our counterparts on Oregon’s village board have approved resolutions to explore a possible consolidation. Other communities, including Verona, Stoughton, and McFarland, are interested as well.
To be clear, this is only in the exploration phase, and doing our due diligence does not mean we have to move forward with this idea.
Read more about the proposal in Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta’s guest column in the Fitchburg Star.
Get Involved
Our updated housing plan is available for public comment. If you have thoughts you’d like to provide, email them to loreen.gage@fitchburgwi.gov by February 20. You can also attend the following meetings to learn more and provide feedback:
Housing Advisory Committee (HAC) meeting: March 2, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.;
Community and Economic Development Authority (CEDA) meeting: March 26, 2026, at 7:00 a.m.;
Common Council meeting (vote on approval/rejection expected): April 14, 6:30 p.m.
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You still have time to share input on the city’s Strategic Urban Forestry Management Plan. Email comments to anna.healy@fitchburgwi.gov by February 24.
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Want to help green up our city? Consider donating plants to one of several Fitchburg projects during the Plant Dane Native Plant Sale. Between now and March 17, you can purchase plants and donate them to a project of your choice. In District 3, that includes Agrace Hospice Care and Swan Creek Park.
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A new year means it’s time to renew your state trail pass. Consider buying yours through our city’s recreation department – it’s the same price as the kiosks or online, but a portion of the sale benefits our rec programming.
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Mark your calendars! The spring electronics recycling and paper shredding event has been scheduled:
Saturday, April 11
8-11 a.m.
City Hall Campus (5520 Lacy Rd.)
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Make sure you get out and vote in the spring primary on February 17! Visit myvote.wi.gov for more election information.
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Fitchburg Chamber Events Calendar
ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for Fitchburg Connect, the city’s new monthly e-newsletter.
One Last Thing…
With the weather warming up (at least temporarily), here’s a quick reminder to keep your dogs leashed while outdoors and pick up after them.
