Chain to Main Local News - Thursday, August 6, 2026

The City of Waupaca received a clean audit opinion for its 2025 financial statements, according to a presentation to the Common Council Tuesday night. Auditors from Johnson Block reported the city's overall governmental fund balance increased by more than 419-thousand dollars, with the General Fund growing nearly 302-thousand dollars. Waupaca's unassigned General Fund balance reached about 3.27 million dollars, equal to 38 percent of annual expenditures, well above the city's 20 to 25 percent target. The audit also showed positive results for utility operations, with the water, sewer, and telecommunications utilities all reporting increases in net position during 2025.   Waupaca’s Business Center held its ribbon cutting and open house yesterday, officially opening to the public.  The Business Center is located within the expansion project at the city’s recreation center, which also added an additional gym.  Funded by the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Flexible Facilities Program, the business center features a co-working space, individual office suites, telehealth rooms, meeting rooms and an A/V studio designed as a community hub to support small businesses, remote workers, and startup entrepreneurs.  Local officials and Governor Tony Evers were on-site to deliver remarks as the space officially opened.  Learn more about the space by visiting the Business Center webpage at City of Waupaca dot org; spaces may be reserved online at Waupaca Rec dot Com.    Waupaca city leaders heard the first reading Tuesday night of a proposed ordinance creating sex offender residency restrictions and child safety zones within the city. The measure would prohibit certain registered sex offenders from living within one-thousand feet of schools, daycare centers, parks, trails, playgrounds, specialty schools, and places of worship. It would also bar loitering within 500 feet of those locations and establish a citizen appeals board to review special cases. Police Chief Pete Kraeger says the ordinance is intended to enhance child safety while including exemptions and appeal provisions designed to comply with state law.   Lastly, the City of Waupaca Parks and Recreation Board meets this afternoon at 5:15pm in the City Council Chambers lower level of Waupaca City Hall.  The meeting which is open to the public will review department reports, a recreation program update and discussion on the youth program fund.  The agenda may be found at City of Waupaca dot org.