Appleton District 14 - Chris W. Croatt, Alderman

10/08/2026

It's that time of the year. Let's hope that first snowfall isn't for a long time.

10/08/2026

Information/a recommendation from very far away but also very relevant for Appleton now that the leaves are falling. We can all do a part to keep the storm sewer system operating at its full potential.

The phone number for Appleton Public Works is 920-832-5580

Leaves that are blocking storm drains can cause flooding. If you see a blocked drain that can be safely cleared, use your rake to remove the leaves and dispose of them properly. You can also call 360-778-6400 to report blocked drains. Go to whatcomcounty.us/yardwaste to learn more.

10/08/2026

Appleton 2027 Budget Update - Council did not receive the budget at the council meeting last night. The Mayor gave a lengthy explanation as to why. It’s coming but there’s work to do before he’ll be sending it to us.

10/08/2026

I voted AYE with 12 of my colleagues for this resolution and did so because it wasn’t a vote on the merits of the voucher program. Regardless of how you feel about that State of Wisconsin program, this was a vote on providing taxpayer information to taxpayers. This may be more important to some than others but is still important tax-related information. Additionally, our Mayor said this was going to happen regardless of the resolution. IMO, transparency on taxation and government matters is a priority.

If you’d like to talk more about this, please let me know.

Most Common Council members voted to include a line on property tax bills about how much money goes to Appleton school choice programs. See link below ⬇️

📸 Rebecca Loroff/Appleton Post-Crescent

10/07/2026

Tonight's Common Council agenda includes the delivery of the Mayor's 2027 Executive Budget and Service Plan. While I'm not expecting any huge surprises, I am expecting contribution increases for the taxpayers of Appleton. This along with any county increases, the school district referendum and their budget impacts, technical college increases, and other things impacting property taxes may be a surprise for some when tax bills get distributed later this year. I'll work to minimize the overall impact but retain services and amenities citizens expect.

If you are interested in following the budget process, the city does things in a bit of a unique way. That includes some discussions at the committee level in October but the main event is Budget Saturday. This year, Budget Saturday will be on October 31st (Halloween). We start at 8am and go until we are finished (usually mid-afternoon) reviewing and voting on each departmental budget. Budget Saturday is a meeting of the Finance Committee but all members of Council usually attend. After the Finance Committee review and recommendations, the budget comes before the full City Council. All along the way, there are opportunities for Appletonians to get involved and provide input/comments. A good way to share your thoughts on the budget is to contact your Alderperson. I welcome your input, questions, suggestions, concerns, ideas, and comments.

Below is a link to an AI (ChatGPT) generated summary of the Common Council agenda for tonight (10/7). You may find several of the items interesting. It's not too late to get involved.
Important: Please note, this summary is good but it is AI generated so it can/may contain errors or inaccuracies.

10/07/2026

Let me know if you have thoughts on the park naming. The nine options are listed in the link. Personally, I like the following in no particular order.

Memorial Bridge Park or Bridgeview Park
Riverside or Riverview Park
Eagle Ridge or Eagle Landing Park
Fox River Park or Fox River Bluff Park

📣 Veterans Park Renaming Update!

The park renaming process is moving forward, and we’re one step closer to a new name! We received an incredible 171 name suggestions from the community. After removing duplicates and submissions that did not meet the renaming criteria, 68 names moved forward for review.

A team with representatives from the Mayor’s Office, Parks & Recreation, and Community Development carefully reviewed the list and narrowed it down to nine names.

➡️ What’s next?
The Parks and Recreation Committee will discuss the nine remaining options at its October 12 meeting at 6:00 p.m., beginning the next step toward selecting a new name.

🔎 To see the top nine names and follow the renaming process: Visit the Park Projects page on our website for the full list and additional information.

Thank you to everyone who submitted an idea and helped us get to this point. Stay tuned for the next step!

10/06/2026

A great opportunity…

Come share your ideas with Mayor Woodford about the proposed 2027 city budget. Each event is open to the public - just show up, no registration necessary.

10/06/2026

Nice and very cool recognition for Dennis. He’s been generously delivering donuts and baked goods to APD twice a week for the past 6 (yes, 6!) years. Amazing.

We recently had the pleasure of recognizing Dennis “The Donut Man” Davey in appreciation of six years of generosity and support of the Appleton Police Department.

Twice a week, for the past six years, Dennis has brought baked goods to the department, brightening the days of our officers and staff and becoming a much-loved part of our routine. While circumstances have brought his regular deliveries to an end, we're grateful for the years of kindness and generosity he's shared with us.

Thank you, Dennis, for six years of making our days a little sweeter. You'll always have a place at APD!

10/01/2026

09/30/2026

FYI

September utility bills will be a bit delayed. We’ll post updates on Facebook and Instagram.