Hello City of Eau Claire employees, residents, and Council Members –

Here are some updates from around Eau Claire. Note that prior updates can be found here, and you can always send the City Manager’s Office or City Council feedback.

This week, we are sending the newsletter a bit early to make sure that you are aware of a meeting this evening (Thursday) related to the plan for Dewey Street Bridge.

City Manager Stephanie Hirsch

CITY UPDATES

Eau Claire River/Dewey Street Bridge: The Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the City of Eau Claire will collect input on the design and construction of the Dewey Street Bridge at a public meeting on Thursday, July 31st (this evening) from 4 to 6PM at the Riverview Room at the Library. A formal presentation will begin at 4:30PM. This project will entail removal and replacement of the existing structure.

City of Eau Claire staff, along with staff from our design consultant, Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH), will be available to discuss the project. Anyone interested, including adjacent property owners and users of the bridge (vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians), are encouraged to attend the meeting. This phase of the bridge planning public process has been underway since the start of 2025, with a public discussion and community engagement process related to replacement dating back to 2019.

At this juncture, the following decisions will be discussed:

Design of the Bridge: This includes decisions about the architectural elements of the arched fascia panel, the pier design, the design of the railing along the bridge, and the look of the lighting of the structure.

Design of Bridge’s Roadway: This includes decisions about lane widths, availability of parking on the bridge, and sidewalk widths.

Trail Connections: This includes decisions about how a trail connection on the north side of the river will be incorporated. From the first public information meeting, it was determined that an open trail connection under the Dewey Street Bridge was a preferred alternative. The two following options for the path of the trail have been explored and will be presented:

• The first option is to run the trail parallel to Dewey Street on the east side of the structure to the north, connecting into the Old Abe Trail near the Galloway Street intersection.

• The second option runs the trail along the riverfront further to the east, having a more gradual connection to the Old Abe Trail, further away from the Galloway Street intersection. Existing access on the west side of Dewey Street would then be maintained.

The two trail connection options are pictured below.

Additionally, the meeting will include discussion of traffic impacts, along with a review of the remaining project schedule and timeline. The design process is scheduled for completion by November 1st, 2026, with construction planned for 2027. All information, including the presentation slides and comment forms, will be available on the City’s website (https://www.eauclairewi.gov/government/our-departments/engineering/construction-major-projects/other-major-projects/dewey-street ). 

For more information, please contact:

Chris Blum, Project Manager for SEH at 608-620-6192 or email cblum@sehinc.com

Leah Ness, Engineering Director for the City of Eau Claire at 715-839-4934 or email leah.ness@eauclairewi.gov

Eddy Street Bridge: After working with Union Pacific Railroad, the City will again be opening travel for pedestrian and bicycle traffic on the Eddy Street Bridge. At this time, additional repairs have been identified and are being scheduled prior to opening the bridge to vehicular traffic. City staff will work to adjust signage for pedestrian and bicycle access this week.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour: Council Members toured the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) this week. The WWTP is where water goes after it is used by households. Staff shared this note about the visit: “On Monday July 28th, members of the City Council took a tour of Eau Claire’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. Cole Cloutier (Utilities Engineer) and Mark Nelson (Chemist) took Council Members on a tour from the beginning of treatment at the headworks building, through the biological treatment process, and finally through discharge to the Chippewa River.

Council Members got to learn about the history of wastewater treatment, the day-to-day operation of the WWTP, and how treatment of the waste is achieved. The group asked incredible questions and had discussions about the future of wastewater treatment. The Utilities Division always enjoys visitors, so tours of the WWTP and Water Treatment Plant (the plant that prepares water prior to delivery to households) are available to anyone who would like to learn more about these facilities.”

Council Member Charle Johnson shared this take-away from the tour: “Flushable wipes are NOT flushable! In all seriousness, I would like to highlight the amazing work of the entire team at the Wastewater Treatment facility. It was clear during the tour that they all take great pride in their work!"

Council President Emily Berge shared this observation: "Tours like these remind me how amazing cities are -- the huge operation it takes to make sure we keep our residents healthy and our environment clean. It was quite remarkable to see what the 'influent' (the water coming into the plant) looked like compared to the 'effluent' (the water leaving the plant). When water is released back in into the environment, it is cleaner than the river itself."

Pictured below are Council Members Reed, Johnson, Berge, Anderson, and Schoen. Also pictured is the sample of water... what gets returned to the river is better able to sustain animal life than the river water, as determined by tests the WWTP carries out. 

Storm Damage: The storm this week caused outages and some damage in the region. City staff reported that there was a bit of damage at the baseball stadium, “mostly superficial damage to some equipment and seating, not the actual deck/structure itself.” 

The Forestry Division shared that they had about a dozen calls for downed trees and limbs in the street, and Utilities had three lift stations lose power. Lift stations move wastewater from lower-level land towards the treatment plant, so it’s essential that they keep running.

City Hall campus buildings were affected by the power outage. City buildings have back-up generator power, and the outage caused City Hall’s power to shift over to generator emergency power. During that switch-over, an internal mechanical failure within the campus electrical system prevented the generator from being able to switch back to utility power. City Hall will remain operating on generator power until repairs can be made. Maintaining power at City Hall is essential, as it houses technology infrastructure that supports critical public safety services. The City Hall generator is pictured below.

Thanks to everyone who is helping to problem solve after the storm.

Structure Fire: The Fire Department shared this notice: “On Sunday July 27th, the ECFD responded to the 600 block of Franklin Street for a reported structure fire. The first arriving unit found a working fire around a generator in the backyard of a residential home. Flames from the fire were close to igniting an exterior wall, but quick action by additional arriving units extinguished the fire before it spread inside. One occupant and pet dog were able to evacuate prior to ECFD's arrival. ECFD was assisted by the Eau Claire Communication Center, ECPD, and Xcel Energy.” Deputy Chief Bob Haller shared that, in the month of July, the Fire Department has responded to 957 EMS calls and 13 fires. Of the 13 fires, four involved structures. 

Recovery of Truck: A second notable Fire Department incident occurred this week. Staff shared: “On Monday, the Fire Department was notified of a possible vehicle in the river by the Riverview Landing. Crews were dispatched and we used our sonar equipment to confirm the location of the truck. Our ECFD divers deployed and confirmed that the vehicle was empty. ECFD divers assisted A to Z Towing in the salvage and recovery operations. ECPD is currently working to identify the owner of the vehicle. Thank you to the angler for finding the vehicle, and nice work by our dive team in confirming and assisting in removal!” The FD recovery effort is pictured below.

Junior Police Academy: The Police Department shared an update on their summer’s Junior Police Academy camp, which recently wrapped up: “Another year of Junior Police Academy is in the books! In the second half of this week, our cadets got to learn about the Crime Scene Unit, traffic stops, SWAT, and much more. This program is an exciting opportunity to connect with area youth. Stay tuned! JPA will be back in 2026. Our program is funded through community donations. You can learn more about supporting JPA here: https://eccfwi.org/fund/ecpd-junior-police-academy-fund/” A JPA exercise is pictured below.

Remembrance of Chief Elmer Sundby: The Police Department also shared this message: “This week, we remember fallen ECPD Chief Elmer Sundby, who died on July 26th, 1921, as a result of injuries sustained in the in the line of duty.

Chief Sundby was 48 years old and was a 13-year veteran of the Department. On July 25th, 1921, at 10:30AM, employees of the Wisconsin-Minnesota Power and Light Company were robbed at gunpoint of trolley car receipts. The robber fled toward the nearby Chippewa River, where a search was taken up by officers and citizens. Chief Sundby confronted the robber. Gunshots were exchanged, and Chief Sundby was struck twice. The robber escaped by swimming across the river. Chief Sundby succumbed to his wounds the following day. We will never forget your ultimate sacrifice for our community, Chief Sundby.” The Lakeview Cemetery gravesite of Chief Sundby is pictured below, where flowers were placed in remembrance.

National Night Out Reminder: One more plug for National Night out, which is just one week away! Watch this video about the upcoming tug-of-war that will occur between Fire Fighters and Police Officers. They shared: “ECPD and Eau Claire Fire Rescue are gearing up for the Police Chief vs. Fire Chief tug-of-war contest. Who are you pulling for? Come out to Carson Park on Tuesday, August 5th from 5:30 to 8PM. We hope to see you there!” More information can be found here: National Night Out | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

WAYS TO SERVE: Take a look at our open positions here: Job Openings | Sorted by Posting Date descending | JOB OPENINGS (governmentjobs.com) Here are a few roles that we hope to fill with great contributors.

Recreation Part-Time Positions (Recreation): The City of Eau Claire Recreation Division is now hiring for part-time Recreation positions. For a full list of positions, visit our website. Deadline to apply: Applications will be accepted until positions are filled. Please apply early. Application review for some positions listed in the job description.

Bus Operator (Eau Claire Transit): Where customer service skills, service to your community, and a fulfilling job intersect – Eau Claire Transit. We are currently hiring for a full-time Bus Operator. This position includes driving city-wide bus routes while maintaining the schedule and obeying traffic laws, providing information to customers regarding the Transit System, tracking passenger count data, and more! Deadline to apply: August 3rd at 11:59PM.

Executive Coordinator (Police Department): Join our team as the Executive Coordinator for the Police Department, and play a vital role in supporting public safety leadership. This dynamic position offers the opportunity to manage high-level administrative functions, coordinate recruitment efforts, and handle sensitive personnel matters with professionalism and discretion. We're seeking a detail-oriented and organized individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment. If you’re a strong communicator with administrative experience, we’d love to hear from you! Deadline to apply: August 3rd at 11:59PM.

Marketing Intern (Transit): Looking to build your marketing skills while making a real impact on the community? Join our transit team as a Marketing Intern, and help promote public transportation through outreach campaigns, events, and creative content. You'll gain hands-on experience in marketing, public relations, and community engagement, plus exposure to real-world transit planning and operations. Deadline to apply: August 10th at 11:59PM

CLOSURES/DETOURS, OPENINGS, DEADLINES, ALERTS, & REMINDERS

Street Updates: Take a look at an updated Street Closure Report. You can also view the work underway via this interactive map: Active Map of Street Construction. Some of these are "reconstruction" projects, and others are "micro-surfacing" projects, which you can learn about here: https://www.eauclairewi.gov/government/our-divisions/street-fleet. 

Closures/Work Underway:

• Otter Road (East Clairemont Avenue Frontage Road North to Vernon Street)

• Pleasant Street (South Hastings Way to Vernon Street)

• Vernon Street (Otter Road to Pleasant Street

• Alley South of Clairemont (Patton Street to East Lexington Boulevard)

• Birch Street Phase 1 (Centre Street to Bergen Avenue)

• Charles Street (Platt Street to Maxon Street)

• Eddy Lane (Wellington Drive East to Venus Avenue)

• First Street (Platt Street to Third Street)

• Keystone Crossing (Golf Road to Commonwealth Avenue)

• Mars Avenue (Eddy Lane to Virginia Lane)

• Maxon Street (Charles Street to Whipple Street)

• Seventh Street (Walnut Street to Marshall Street)

• Vine Street (Third Street to First Street)

• Whipple Street (Maxon Street to Platt Street)

Upcoming Construction Closures: Tentatively scheduled to start early to mid-August

• Alley West of Ninth Avenue (Lakeside Avenue to 250 feet north)

• South Dewey Street (Emery Street to Lake Street)

• Emery Street (South Farwell Street to South Dewey Street)

• East Polk Avenue (Nimitz Street to East Lexington Boulevard)

• West Tyler Avenue (Ellis Street to South Lexington Boulevard)

Beach Closings: The Health Department’s Water Monitoring site shared that all beaches are now open! More information can be found here: https://www.eauclairewi.gov/government/our-divisions/health-department/beach-closings

Additional Reminders:

• Closure of WIS 312 ramps to/from US 53: The WI DOT shared this information. “The ramp from WIS 312 (North Crossing) to northbound US 53 and ramp from southbound US 53 to WIS 312 in Eau Claire County will be closed from 8PM Friday, August 1st to 6AM, Monday August 4th. More information can be found here: projects.511wi.gov/us53freeway/

• Bicycle Thefts: ECPD has seen a recent spike in bicycle thefts. You can help stop them. Use a sturdy lock every time you park — even for quick stops. And remember, you can register your bike online.

• Food Truck Fridays: During Food Truck Fridays, one lane of Riverfront Terrace is closed to accommodate the Food Trucks, which will occur on Aug 8th and Sept 5th.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: We have the best employees! Get to know one of them this week. (And submit your suggestion for an employee to spotlight here…)

Today we wanted to squeeze in an update of a wonderful employee before she heads out on maternity leave. Today we spotlight Claire Ystebo.

Here is how co-workers describe Claire:

“Claire has been so helpful to the team and community in so many different ways since joining the Recreation Team! Her dedication to her activities, especially the specialized recreation series with Par-Te-Rec and Camp Summertime, shows through in the smiling faces of all the participants every time they meet. Claire is also passionate about helping volunteers throughout the community have great experiences as they help keep our parks and green spaces looking great throughout the year, and she is also doing a great job mentoring her staff and co-workers so that they are able to learn and grow with us as they do their part in what we do for the community. We can’t thank Claire enough for everything she does, and we wish her and Dalton all the best as they await a new addition to their family. We can’t wait to meet Baby Ystebo very soon 😊!”

“Whether it’s staying ahead of deadlines or anticipating what’s needed before anyone even asks, Claire is always two steps ahead. Her incredible organizational skills keep everything running smoothly, and her friendly energy makes her a joy to work with. She brings positivity, reliability, and a whole lot of heart to our team and the community every single day.”

And here’s a bit more information about Claire…

Life Philosophy: “Live life to your fullest. Always try and go out of your comfort zone to try new things! You’d be surprised what you may like if you branch out there.”

Activities Outside of Work: “Staying active outside or at the gym, seeing live music, hanging with friends and family, gardening."

What People May Not Know: “My husband and I are expecting our first child to arrive any day now!”

Favorite Place in Eau Claire: “Amber Inn!”

Hometown: “I’m proud to call Hayward, Wisconsin my hometown. Nearly everyone I meet either has a cabin in the area or knows someone who does! I began working for the City in 2018 as a Part-Time Administrative Associate. After graduating from college in 2019, I briefly stepped away for about a year and a half, but returned full-time -- and I’ve been here ever since. “

Best Part about Working for the City: “The difference we make in people’s lives -- especially in the world of Parks and Recreation -- is truly impactful. It's incredibly rewarding to offer a variety of programs and welcoming spaces for our community to enjoy, and to witness families building connections through these experiences. As the volunteer coordinator, I’ve had the privilege of forming meaningful relationships and seeing firsthand the amazing contributions our volunteers make to beautify and uplift our community.”

Hardest Part about Working for the City: “One of the most rewarding/hardest parts of my role is building relationships with our team members -- many of whom are high school or college students. Watching them grow in confidence, develop new skills, and mature both professionally and personally is incredibly fulfilling. While it's always a little bittersweet to see them leave the Department when they graduate, it's also a proud moment. It means we've been part of their journey, helping prepare them for what's next. That kind of impact is what makes the work truly meaningful.”

What You’ve Found Surprising Being in your Job: “How many different departments the City has and all of the different things that we service to the City of Eau Claire Residents.”

COUNCIL CALENDAR (Tentative – Please see: City Calendar | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin (eauclairewi.gov) for most complete and up-to-date list of public meetings)

• Monday, August 11th, Public Hearing, Council Chambers, 6PM

• Tuesday, August 12th, Council Meeting, Council Chambers, 4PM

• Monday, August 25th, Public Hearing, Council Chambers, 6PM

• Tuesday, August 26th, Council Meeting, Council Chambers, 4PM