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Clergy describe church housing vouchers; resident criticizes Union Park gaga pit at Watertown council meeting
Summary
During public comment, Reverend Dr. Christopher Ross described local congregations' use of housing vouchers and assistance numbers through mid-September 2025. Resident Eric Schmidt praised park maintenance but criticized a recently installed gaga pit in Union Park and urged the council to revisit park decisions.
During public comment at the Watertown Common Council meeting, Reverend Dr. Christopher Ross described several congregations’ use of emergency housing vouchers and other assistance and provided counts for the 2025 calendar year through mid-September.
Reverend Ross, who identified himself as pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ and said he lives at 432 West Clover Lane in Cottage Grove, told the council that “many area congregations have long been utilizing a voucher program with local lodging establishments to help those in need on an emergency basis.” He said hometown missions had covered overnight hotel stays for 32 individuals and families and provided rental assistance to help people stay in their homes 29 times through mid-September 2025. He said Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church had provided overnight housing vouchers for nine individuals and families and financially assisted seven households to avoid evictions during the same period. He said First Congregational United Church of Christ had provided 10 housing vouchers and helped keep people in their homes on 20 occasions through mid-September 2025. Ross said, “Any claim that there is not a need in Watertown … is simply not based in reality.”
Resident Eric Schmidt, of 605 Lafayette Street, praised apparent improvements in park maintenance but criticized the Park and Recreation Department and board for installing a gaga pit at Union Park where a tee-ball infield once existed. Schmidt said the location had been the second-base area of a tee-ball course that was previously active and that the removal of bleachers and a backstop had “killed that section of the park.” He urged the council to revisit how park projects are handled, noting concrete footings for the new installation would be difficult to move.
Both public-comment speakers spoke during the public-comment portion of the agenda; neither item led to a council action at this meeting.
