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Waukesha commissioners urged to formalize ‘Friends of the Springs’ as springs flood and maintenance relies on volunteers
Summary
Residents and commissioners discussed long-standing maintenance shortfalls at four historic springs — Menisca, Acme, Silurian and Hobo — and debated forming an independent “Friends of the Springs” nonprofit to centralize fundraising, volunteer events and persistent maintenance needs.
Lisa Salb, a Waukesha resident who spoke during public comment, told the Landmarks Commission the city’s historic springs have gone without consistent maintenance and that relying on grants and volunteer labor is unsatisfactory. "Hobo is flooded up to the 2nd step. It's the worst that I've ever seen it," she said, urging the commission to find funding and revive a springs committee.
Charlie, a City staff member who presented later, described the city’s approach: routine maintenance of the four springs — Menisca, Acme, Silurian and Hobo — has historically depended on volunteer labor, donations and occasional one‑off grants or CIP (capital investment) projects. He said larger restoration work has been completed via grants and CIP allocations, but there is no standing city maintenance budget for the springs.
The commission discussed forming a Friends of the Springs organization to raise money, run volunteer events and hold funds. Members cited the existing Landmarks Commission donation fund — managed by the Waukesha County Community Foundation — as a model and possible depository for donations. Charlie said a foundation model could stretch dollars because foundation-held funds are not subject to some city procurement rules such as prevailing‑wage and formal bid requirements.
Commissioners and staff debated governance and practical questions: who would do nonprofit paperwork, who would hold and account for funds, whether the foundation or an independent nonprofit should hold donations, and how a friends group would coordinate with city staff. Jeff, representing the city’s Redevelopment Authority, outlined how foundation-held or private funds can be easier to deploy for small projects but noted hybrid approaches require clear bylaws and accounting arrangements.
The commission agreed to revisit the topic and explore options for volunteers, a spring site visit in the spring, and outreach to past ad hoc committee members. No formal vote or commitment of city funds was taken at the meeting. The next steps are for staff and interested commissioners to report back with options for structuring a friends organization and any necessary legal or accounting arrangements.
