It’s just October, and in Waunakee, 85 building permits for single-family homes have already been issued, just three shy of those issued in 2023. 

Waunakee continues to grow at a rapid pace, and at the Oct. 17 Waunakee Rotary Club meeting, Lauren Dietz, the village’s community development director, talked about some of the planning for new growth. 

Dietz joined the village’s municipal staff about nine months ago. Originally from Waterloo, Iowa, she initially moved to the area to attend UW-Madison, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in history, European studies and Italian. She went on to earn two master’s degrees, the first in public policy from the University or Northern Iowa and the second in public planning from Iowa State University. 

She has worked in municipal planning and zoning, transportation planning and with MSA Professionals as a community planner in Wisconsin. 

Lauren provided demographic information about Waunakee. Its population is at about 16,587, and has seen an 11% growth increase in the last five years, greater than Dane County and Wisconsin. 

The median household income is $132,000 and the average home price is about $480,000. 

Some of the large growth areas include Heritage Hills, with 200 new apartments, 75% of which are rented out. That subdivision also includes lots for 478 two-family and single-family homes.

Kilkenny West is a residential and commercial development on the west side of Hwy. Q across from the existing Kilkenny subdivision. It includes 300-single-family lots and a mixed-use area with some commercial spots. 

This year, the village rolled out its Housing Betterment Fund designed to help homeowners in aging homes. So far, the fund has awarded $69,000 in grants to help owners replace windows, roofs and make other repairs.

Coming up is a study on Hwy. Q that calls for creating a more pedestrian friendly commercial corridor south of Woodland Drive along Hwy. Q with trees planted along sidewalks, rather than a highway commercial area. 

The village will also begin a comprehensive plan update in January of 2025 and that process is expected to take about 18 months. 

A sustainability plan will also get underway in November and take about a year to complete. Focus groups and a survey will allow community members to get involved and help shape the future. 

Finally, the village is welcoming the opening of the new Heritage Elementary School and the groundbreaking for the new Waunakee Middle School.

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Other News: 

-Lori Derauf has been tasked with raising money for World Polio Day. Next week, she will raffle off two board games that her parents have created. She described Marbles as a combination of Chinese Checkers and Trouble. Raffle tickets are $5 or you can buy a game for $49 with proceeds going to the Polio Plus fund. 

-On Saturday, Oct. 19, the club will begin unloading trailers full of decorations for Rotary In Lights. Meet at Village Park at 9 a.m.

-Then at 2 p.m. Saturday, they’ll set up for the Halloween at the Farm event at Schumacher Farm Park. Volunteers are needed to sell hotdogs, popcorn and other concessions. 

-On Sunday, it’s Food for Kidz at Dane Manufacturing. Rotarians are needed to fill the morning shift. 

-Phil Willems reminded the club of Every Rotary Every Year. The club is required to receive an average of $100 in donations from each member to be eligible for grants. 

-Oct. 24 is World Polio Day and Oct. 31, the District Governor will visit.

-Efforts are underway to get a Rotary InterAct club launched at the high school.

Guests: Leah Abeyta, guest of Ellen Schaaf; Jim O’Brien, guest of the club.

Visiting Rotarians: None

Birthdays: Dr. Monica Kelsey Brown, Oct. 25; Lori Derauf, Oct. 29.

Anniversaries: Oct. 24, Max and Katie Ujdak; Oct. 29, Corey and Danielle Randl; Oct. 30, ryan and Julie Walsh.

Greeters: Oct. 24, Paul Carderella and Lori Derauf; Oct. 31, Nancy Thomas and Jean Elvekrog; Nov. 7, Tracey Graber and Shauna Hughey; Nov. 14, Corey Randl and Paul Knutson; Nov. 21, David Kennedy and John Reuter. 

To sign up to greet or to find out if you are greeting, visit: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054CAAAA2CA7F85-44320149-2023#/