The water at the Public Beach at Menominee Park hasn't been tested for e-coli or other contaminants for years, but after a well researched request from Justin Mitchell and encouragement from the Oshkosh Energy & Environment Advisory Board and former Mayor Frank Tower, City Manager Mark Rohloff has given the green light for the city Health Department to work with the University to establish a beach monitoring program for 2009.
The UW Oshkosh Biology Department is already involved with beach testing across the state from Great Lakes beaches to inland beaches. Normal costs for standard weekly water testing might range from $10 to $15 per week, but at the April Energy & Environment Advisory Board meeting University faculty stated that they would be willing to test for free through the 2009 beach season.
The Health Department and Dr. Kleinheinz at the University met and made arrangements last week.
- The University will start monitoring the beach May 25 and continue through August
- Samples will be taken twice a week, with additional testing as needed
- Test results will be posted at the DNR's beach website: http://www.wibeaches.us/
- If the City (Parks Division) puts up a 4x4 post the University will provide signage used at other public beaches to alert beach users of the most recent test results
6 comments:
I think this is a real tribute to Justin Mitchell. It shows that one person can and does make a difference.
Initially back in the summer of 08 (pre-Rohloff) when I made the first request, I received no response from the city.
Contrast that with the latest request a few months back, in which councilor Palemeri responded within a week, councilor Bain and Mayor Tower also responded, with Mayor Tower actively pursuing the issue with city administration.
This was then followed with a memo from city manager Rohloff directing Health Director Paul Spiegel to look into testing. Paul followed up with a phone call to me indicating the city was going to test, but he didn't know the details.
We then see that Paul and the UW Oshkosh microbiology dept were able to connect on a great, common sense partnership, coming to an agreement that fulfills most of my requests (including regular testing, posting of results online, and postage of signage if the water is determined to be unsafe).
My assessment is the real difference in this issue was the strong action of city Manager Rohloff. He responded to the issue within 30 days. He instructed the appropriate staff to take action. Based on the information he was provided with, he simply stated we are going to test.
We talk often about the inadequate customer service and responsiveness of the city. Back in the summer of 2008, the city's overall grade would be an F, with no response and genuine bucking of responsibility.
In 2009, I give an initial grade of A- to city manager Rohloff on this issue.
What we now need to be concerned with is the following:
1. If the water is determined to be contaminated / unsafe, what steps can be taken to help improve the water quality
2. That the water testing program continues as a permanent component of health dept responsibilities.
I'd like to also mention a thanks to Dan Rylance and Cheryl Hentz for inviting me onto Eye on Oshkosh, which was key in bringing my request together with Greg Kleinheinz as well as catching the attention of Mayor Tower.
Great job Justin, the city of Oshkosh is lucky to have you in its corner.
I am very interested to see what kind of results the city gets.
I am surprised the city is willing to do this. I watched the meeting where they laughed about it not being a beach anymore. You must be right that Rohloff is having some positive influence. We'll see what he does when they find out it is poop water. Don't be surprised if this is used as a tool to eliminate the beach.
I am also very interested in the results. Please keep us updated!
I am surprised they weren't testing. I know people complained about getting sick and wouldn't swim anymore. Don't drink the water.
Did they ever say why testing hasn't been happening?
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