“Build It” – A Community Report From The City Manger’s Desk – March 2024

“The training wheels are off,” “The honeymoon is over,” and “Drinking from the firehose” are some of the many idioms associated with both entering a new leadership position and trying to compose a witty hook line for an article.  My name is Clinton Langreck, and I am honored to serve as your Platteville City Manager.  As many of you know, I have been in the position since May of 2023, and I thought it was time to report on my adventures and observations.  

The first nine months on the job have been exhilarating and educational.  The orientation into the city manager position, as led by Interim City Manager Nicola Maurer, was aggressive and thorough.  I was introduced to many people, many challenges, and many resources.  In the first few days of my transition, I was blessed with the opportunity to participate in the grand opening of the Inclusive Playground.  The following week, discussions began on creating a new overlay Tax Increment Finance District in the industrial/commercial park.  Not long after, planning began with the City’s Capital Improvement Program and the 2024 Operational Budget.  And, of course, the City has embarked on our journey of building a new and improved fire facility. 

These significant projects, combined with the day-to-day operational challenges, have led to moments of feeling overwhelmed.  Thankfully, these moments are fleeting because help and support are always near.  The City has a fantastic lineup of experienced leadership, committed staff, and devoted community partners.  When I arrived at Platteville, I was told repeatedly that our success is found in our collaboration, which has proven true on so many occasions. 

I discovered that the City of Platteville collaborates with our UW University on various projects. The City and UW are working together on many projects including street maintenance, internship opportunities, coordinating public transportation through our bus system, providing contracted IT support, and supporting city engineering efforts.  This year, the UW-Platteville Senior Civil Engineering Design projects will include four city initiatives: East Main Street culvert, trail extension on Mound View, TID 6 development, and class A wastewater plant biosolids (exercise). 

I have also learned about our collaborative partnership with Southwest Health, which includes our Emergency Medical Service.  Where other communities in the state struggle to maintain their ambulance services, Platteville is blessed with a community-oriented healthcare provider that has taken on this challenge.  With public support, Southwest Health continues to offer paramedic-level responses to the community.  Southwest Health provides sports medicine solutions to both the UW and the District.  It also continues to lead the community in conversations to further help address the shortage in local daycare options. 

I have also learned about our collaborative efforts with our Platteville School District, including repurposing the O.E. Gray schoolhouse site.  As the new fire facility project takes shape on that site, it is hard to think where the city would have found a more suitable option.  Another example of our partnership with the school district includes the Platteville Community Area Network (PCAN).  This fiber optic cable network connects the internet to the city, school district, university, business incubator, Southwest Health, and several other nonprofit organizations.  This network allows for greater access to multiple internet providers. 

It doesn’t end with these three partners. The City collaborates with Grant County on various services, including public safety initiatives such as the improved emergency radio tower system, backup dispatching capabilities, and shared “Code Red” emergency notification software.  In efforts to align economic development, I have the privilege of monthly meetings with our “Platteville Economic Partners” group, which includes the Chamber of Commerce, Mainstreet Program, Grant County Economic Development, Platteville Area Industrial Corporation, The Platteville Business Incubator, and UW-Platteville EDA Coordinator.  Collaboration is extended to the many nonprofits, groups of volunteers, and financial contributors that make so many projects and service programs available.

From your firefighters to our volunteers on the Platteville Community Arboretum to the members of the many committees, boards, and commissions, the credit for our successes belongs to many.  When you hear the word “collaboration” used in Platteville, I’ve learned that it is not just an expression but a way of doing business. 

This culture of team and community resonates within the walls of the city.  The City has done well by investing in capable public servants and building an organizational model for control and flexibility.  You have a fine team of Common Council members who balance oversight and accountability with empowerment and trust.  You have department directors who champion their initiatives and support organizational goals.  You have staff members who provide quality services and professionally represent the community.  The expectations are high in Platteville, and the pace is fast.  I’ve seen so many of our employees embracing this culture and so many completed projects that would fall into the “other tasks as assigned” bullet on a position description. 

Indeed, there remain many challenges for the community to undertake.  With this community’s collaborative spirit, I am confident that those challenges will be met and improvements will continue.  As a community, Platteville has many reasons to be proud and grateful.  For our part here in the city, we hope to continue delivering quality services, with a balance of appreciation to our partners and special interest groups, and an understanding that we serve the masses with fairness and accountability.  While the City and the many community partners have slightly different visions and missions for their individual organizations, rest assured that deliberate and constant efforts are being made to move forward in a common direction to meet the community’s needs.

The lesson I’ve learned thus far from Platteville is that the secret to a fantastic community is this - Build It!

Clinton Langreck
City Manager