D. Presentations
Dr. Petersen gave a history of the veterinary services provided at Henry Vilas Zoo. He
started as the primary vet in 1989. Animal care was done out of the administration
building before the Animal Health Center (AHC) was built. There was no designated
surgery room prior to the AHC.When Ronda became the director she prioritized the AHC.
Many zoos provided input for that space, and that helped us design quarantine areas, an
x-ray room, a viewing window for guests, and a classroom for education programs. The
AHC started a transformation for the zoo and showed the public we could build.
Ronda Schwetz talked about how after Dr. Petersen retired in 2019, with a
recommendation from AZA, we began a 5-year contract with UW for veterinary services.
That contract ends this year and with several people retiring from the UW they no longer
have the same capacity. We are moving forward with hiring a full time vet instead of
continuing contract services. We are fortunate to have hired on the of the UW vets who
was already working at the zoo and she will start the day after the contract ends so we
will have seamless veterinary coverage.
E. Reports to Committee
Ronda Schwetz - we have filled several of the open positions we had including a zoo
manager and janitor. We also just hired a LTE education outreach position that will help
with some of our off site programs. We are working with the employee group to create a
permanent .6 zoo keeper position to help people entering the field get AZA experience.
The Zoo already has a county board member working on a resolution for that position.
Ronda gave an animal update and talked about new signs being installed in the North
American prairie exhibit this summer.
Joseph Darcangelo went over the number of visitors the zoo has welcomed this year, how
sales in the grille and gift shop are doing, and gave an update about upcoming corporate
rentals.
Discussion ensued.
F. Future Meeting Items and Dates
The next commission meeting will be held in person at the Zoo on Tuesday, June 6th at
7:30am.
G. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda
None
H. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law
None
I. Adjourn
A motion was made by CASTILLO, seconded by ROSS, that the Zoo Commission
be adjourned at 9:05am. The motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted by Kristin Moala, pending approval from the Zoo Commission.
