Oshkosh disproves “You Can’t Fight City Hall”

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WISS) – There’s an old quote coined by the Brooklyn Daily News in 1930 that says, “You can’t fight City Hall.” But Oshkosh is proving to be a city where that just is not true. The outcome of two measures addressed by the Common Council on Tuesday night resulted from citizen input.

Traffic Signal Light at Traeger Elementary

The Oshkosh Common Council voted against installing a traffic signal light at the intersection of the east driveway to Traeger Elementary and West 20th Avenue on Tuesday night.

The Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) requested the light to address traffic concerns at Traeger Elementary that are expected to increase in the future. 

However, at least one resident took issue with that plan. Lisa Hable lives at the intersection and believes a traffic light would harm her property value and increase pollution in the area. 

“Vision Realty stated that idling cars, visual eyesores of a traffic light nearby, can impact values of a home,” Hable said. 

While the OASD would pay for installing a signal light at the intersection, some council members, such as Jacob Floam, didn’t see the need for it either.  

“ Personally, I think this is more of a solution looking for a problem. And with the business across the street and the home, I think there are better options for this,” Floam said. 

Speed Limit on Witzel Avenue

While the traffic light was defeated, thanks in part to input from nearby residents and businesses, the Common Council later approved an item brought forward by residents. 

There is a section of Witzel Avenue, just west of Westbrook Drive and extending to the city limits, with a 35-mile-per-hour speed limit. The remainder of the street has a 30-mile-per-hour speed limit. At previous council meetings, citizens have asked the speed limit be reduced to 30 miles per hour. Information in the Common Council Agenda mentioned that the property manager of Havenwood Lake Apartments also made that request.

Floam thanked the residents who brought the issue forward.

“ A lot of the time it takes citizens to bring up issues to us, so that we can digest that information and recommend the policy change,” Floam said. “That is how the process works. And that is how that has worked here today.”

Oshkosh Mayor Matt Mugerauer echoed the sentiment.

“Had citizens not come to us on a Tuesday night and spoke to us, this wouldn’t have changed,” Mugerauer said. “Because of the action, because of them coming to us and speaking to us, something did change.”

The Winnebago County Board of Supervisors approved the change for its portion of the street in September.

“ Your government does listen to your concerns and, in this case, agreed,” Mugerauer said. “And we’re making a change.”