WISCONSIN RAPIDS – On April 10, 2022, at approximately 8:00 a.m., a sanitary sewer force main cracked and overflowed onto the street and into the storm sewer at the intersection of 1st Street South and Pepper Avenue in Wisconsin Rapids.
Wastewater Treatment Plant staff immediately undertook efforts to redirect the force main flow and the overflow was stopped at 8:30 a.m. Approximately 1,500 gallons of sanitary sewer flowed into the storm sewer. The storm sewer runs to One Mile Creek. On April 11, 2022, the intersection was excavated, the pipe was repaired, and normal operations resumed at approximately 10:00 a.m. For additional information regarding this matter, please contact: Derek Budsberg Superintendent Wisconsin Rapids Wastewater Treatment Plant 2540 1st Street South Wisconsin Rapids, WI. 54494 Office: 715.421.8237 [email protected] Presidential Proclamation 6667, National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW), was signed into law by President William J. Clinton on April 12, 1994. He declared every second week of April as NPSTW.
Residents can use this week to celebrate and honor telecommunications personnel across the Nation who serve our communities, citizens, and public safety personnel 24 hours a day, seven days a week. City adopts resolution designating No Mow May
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The City of Wisconsin Rapids has adopted a resolution designating the month of May 2022 as No Mow May, which allows homeowners to obtain temporary relief from lawn maintenance standards in Chapter 36, Sections 302.4 of City Ordinance. Property owners that register their property in the program can voluntarily delay lawn care practices until June and are provided a City of Wisconsin Rapids No Mow May yard sign. Participation in No Mow May is voluntary and free of charge. Residents interested in participating in No Mow May must register by May 6th, agree to the terms of the program, pick up a yard sign from City Hall and post the yard sign in their front yard during the month of May. Each registered property will receive one free yard sign. Please keep your yard sign for future No Mow May programs. Properties that haven’t registered for the City’s No Mow May program will be subject to regular penalties for long grasses or weeds. To register for No Mow May and pick up your yard sign, please visit the Mayor’s Office on the 3rd floor of City Hall, 444 West Grand Ave., between 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Yard signs will be available starting April 12. To expedite the process, you may register in advance at: www.wirapids.org/no-mow-may The City has also designated some spots on city property to leave un-mowed: • 20th Street, from Two Mile Avenue to Griffith Avenue • 16th Street, from Two Mile Avenue to Kuhn Avenue • Whitrock Avenue, between 16th Street and 20th Street • Around the storm water pond on 16th Street and Two Mile Avenue • Robinson Park (ball fields and spectator areas will be mowed) • Sand Lot Park (ball fields and spectator areas will be mowed) The goal of No Mow May is to provide early season forage for native pollinators by reducing our mowing intensity during a month when foraging resources are limited. Allowing lawns to grow longer, without treating them with chemical pesticides or herbicides, leads to an increase in the number and types of native plants, which are a great source of food for pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. Additionally, it provides important insect habitats for those that are still in diapause (a type of hibernation) in early spring. Weed growth in May is particularly important, because many other spring blooms have not yet emerged. “Given that one of every three bites we take is dependent on a pollinator, the threat to pollinator habitats and their food resources is vital to humanity. And small changes can make a big impact,” said Mayor Shane Blaser. “If forgoing all lawn care for a month isn’t right for you, maybe you could stop using chemicals on your lawn for a few weeks (or even the whole summer), or maybe there is smaller section of your yard you might skip mowing for a month, or you could grow a pollinator garden as an attractive option for those with a green thumb.” Local resources and programs are available to learn more about pollinators: • The McMillan Library is hosting Family Fun - Bee-U-tiful Bees (and other pollinators) on May 3 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. Children will make a simple bee bath and learn about pollinators. Available while supplies last. For more information, call the library at 715-422-5136 or visit: www.mcmillanlibrary.org • Clean Green Action (CGA) and Bird City Wisconsin Rapids are hosting an informational booth on No Mow May and pollinator-friendly practices at McMillan Library on May 3 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. Learn more about CGA online at: www.cleangreenaction.org • Find a list of resources and download a coloring page by visiting: www.wirapids.org/no-mow-may “CGA supports the City of Wisconsin Rapids’ adoption of a No Mow May Resolution. Some of our projects that support pollinator habitats include Bird City Wisconsin Rapids, the Monarch Encouragement Project and a recently adopted Pollinator Protection project,” said Elizabeth Whelan, with CGA of Wisconsin Rapids. “CGA and Bee City USA agree that we ‘Do More by Doing Less’ – less mowing, less pesticide use, less watering of lawns and less pollution from gas powered lawn mowers. In the process we gain insects that are needed to pollinate plants and provide food for birds.” Learn more about the No Mow May initiative and register online here: www.wirapids.org/no-mow-may Questions about the program can be directed to the Mayor's Office at 715-421-8216 or [email protected]. Questions about lawn care ordinances can be directed to the Community Development Office at 715-421-8228 or [email protected]. Mayor Shane Blaser has made a proclamation recognizing the Lowell Center's 40th Anniversary.
The Lowell Center empowers older adults to enhance their own physical and mental health. They have served the senior community for four decades now. For immediate release: March 30, 2022
Over the summer of 2022, Wisconsin Rapids will begin a construction project in the area of the Wisconsin Rapids City Hall. The affected streets will be West Grand Avenue, West Jackson Street, 4th Avenue North and 6th Avenue North. Part of this project will be a new roundabout near the current intersection of West Jackson Street and 4th Avenue North. Recognizing the opportunity, The City of Wisconsin Rapids and the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce 2022 Leadership Group are seeking qualified artists to be considered for this public project. The guidelines for this project are intentionally general as we are eager to see how imaginative our local artists are in making use of this space. We are looking for a project that captures the energy and identity of our community touching on our historical roots, that welcomes visitors, and that contributes to the revitalization of our wonderful community. The provided map (see attached) indicates potential areas for the installation of the art pieces. The proposals may include all or part of these areas but should give special consideration to the areas of higher priority which is the center of the roundabout. This area has a diameter of approximately 33 feet. Applications are due at or before 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 22, 2022 and should be emailed to [email protected]. These applications should include…
A selection committee will judge the proposals on the following criteria:
Note that budgets should include artist fees and costs while also speaking to the quality of materials and the prep work and execution to ensure a lasting, high-quality public art piece for years to come. The completion of this project is dependent on funding and other in-kind support, such as Street Department assistance to permanently place the artwork. Artists must be available to complete this project over the summer of 2022 and will agree to work with the City of Wisconsin Rapids and the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce 2022 Leadership Group on events that celebrate this process. The selected artwork and its likeness will become the property of the City of Wisconsin Rapids and its partner organizations, which reserve the right to use the image for promotional and retail purposes. Thank you in advance for your submissions and we are excited to see what our local artists have to offer. Application for Public Art: 5._application_for_public_art.pdf More information about the project and the application can be obtained at https://www.wisconsinrapidschamber.com/. If you have any questions about the project, please contact the City’s Community Development Department at 715-421-8228. |
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