Mayor Aaron Richardson has presented long-time community member, Frances Huntley-Cooper, Fitchburg business KL Engineering Inc., and the city’s Planning & Zoning Department, with this year’s Mayoral awards.
Mayor Richardson is recognizing these recipients for their community leadership, inspiring service to the community, setting an example for others, and their commitment to and significant impact on Fitchburg.
Frances Huntley-Cooper is an active, long-time Fitchburg resident. She served on the common council and was elected and served as Fitchburg Mayor. Frances was the 1st woman Mayor of Fitchburg and the 1st African-American Mayor in Wisconsin, making history on April 2, 1991. She is active in the community with her service on the Board of Madison College and was a founding member and served four years as President of the Madison branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Congratulations to Frances.
KL Engineering, Inc. is owned and led by long-time Fitchburg resident, Kim Lobdell. KL Engineering, Inc. is an award-winning engineering company incorporated in 1991, here in Fitchburg. Currently, there are over 70 employees at four locations throughout Wisconsin. Kim has been active with the Fitchburg Chamber and has served on the Plan Commission. She is currently a member of the city’s Board of Public Works. Congratulations to Kim and KL Engineering, Inc.
The Planning and Zoning Department consists of Sonja Kruesel, Wade Thompson, Lisa McNabola and Phil Grupe, along with two part-time Neighborhood Navigators, Carmen Torres-Kinerk and Elizabeth Prado. This past year the Department completed the Comprehensive Development Plan update. This plan will help shape how the city will grow over the next 20 years and was a large undertaking with an aggressive timeline. The Department also continues to implement the Healthy Neighborhood Initiative (HNI), the HUB Initiative and worked extensively on the O’Brien Solar Farm project. Congratulations to the members of the Planning & Zoning Department.
The Mayoral awards were started in 2019 as an effort to recognize the residents, businesses, and staff that make Fitchburg a great place to live, work and recreate. The Mayoral awards are an opportunity to celebrate some of the many great people in Fitchburg. They are an opportunity to bring the community together every year. Previous award winners were Jeanie Sieling in the resident category, Promega in the business category and Michael Zimmerman in the staff category. While COVID-19 prevents us from gathering as a community this year to celebrate the 2020 winners, please join us in celebrating and thanking these 2020 award winners.