Public Works Department 444 West Grand Avenue Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495 (715) 421-8205 wirapids.org May 2, 2018 Contact Joe Terry Phone 715-421-8255 Email: jterry@wirapids.org Phase 1 of East River Bank improvement project begins week of May 7 Wednesday, May 2 – The Wisconsin Rapids community vision to enhance and improve ways for residents, visitors and businesses to interact with the network of public spaces within the Downtown Riverfront District edges a step closer to reality: The extensively conceived and designed East River Bank improvement project gets under way on Monday, May 7. Contractor crews will begin south of the Riverview Expressway and work their way to the north to downtown through the construction season. Completion of this phase of the overall riverbank improvement project is expected by September 28. Work for the overall Riverbank Improvement Project primarily focuses on the East River Corridor, from Riverview Expressway to East Grand Avenue, and includes riverbank stabilization with rip rap, re-grading, installation of a new kayak/canoe launch and shade structure in Demitz Park. An under bridge trail connection is being added so pedestrians and bicyclists may safely get between the north and south sides of the Riverview Expressway safely as well as a trail along 2nd street from Mead Street north. Separately, a recreational trail will also get paved this summer along the 1st Street north corridor to Biron. The community regards creating a space that incorporates the iconic Wisconsin River for social, civic and business interaction as a key to economic development. It is estimated that other Wisconsin communities that have enhanced their waterfront areas have seen an average of a $7 return on investment for every dollar put into such projects. To help support this Phase 1 East River Bank improvement, Wisconsin Rapids in 2016 applied for and was awarded a grant of nearly $700,000 from the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. This program was created to preserve valuable natural areas and wildlife habitat, protect water quality and fisheries, and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation. “As a community, we are proud that the State of Wisconsin recognizes that our plans for growth, development and prosperity in the Downtown Waterfront District are viable and worthy of support,” said Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Zach Vruwink, “A vibrant central place not only benefits Wisconsin Rapids residents and visitors but the broader region as a whole.” Weekly updates for the East River Bank project will be posted on City website, www.wirapids.org, For more information, call 715-421-8205. News Release East River Bank City of Wisconsin Rapids Wastewater Department 2540 1st St. S. Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495 April 23, 2018 Contact: Ryan Giefer Phone: 715-421-8287 E-mail: rgiefer@wirapids.org City of Wisconsin Rapids to begin upgrade of West Side Lift Station/River Crossing April 23, 2018 – The Wisconsin Rapids Wastewater Department begins construction next month on the City’s new West Side Lift Station and the river crossing force main. The lift station, located at 1911 Gaynor Avenue, pumps sewage to processing sites and serves the wastewater needs of the entire west side of the City, processing more than 1.5 million gallons of wastewater per day.
Key lift station upgrades will include: four pumps to provide redundancy in the event of a pump failure, new backup power generation; and five times more wet-well storage capacity than previously available to prevent backups in the event of a failure. The wastewater lift station facility pumps wastewater to processing sites at higher elevation, but without the excessive excavation depths and high sewer construction costs required by a traditional gravity conveyance. The force main, which carries water, sewage and other materials, will be a deep-bed granite directional drilling project, placing the main under the riverbed without the need to dig trenches. This will avoid the need for costlier excavation equipment and trench shoring techniques. The lift station was originally constructed as the City’s first wastewater treatment facility in 1936 and converted into a lift station in 1971. The lift station has reached the end of its service life, with outdated and inefficient electrical equipment, pumps and backup power generation, as well as an aged building that lacks up-to-date safety and access features. The pipe crossing under the Wisconsin River is also at the end of its service life, and has shown signs of deterioration. The new overall infrastructure will result in life expectancies of 80-100 years for the river crossing force main, 50-80 years for the lift station structure and 20-40 years for lift station equipment; thus, providing reliable wastewater conveyance, while protecting the environment. The City received funding for this reconstruction project through a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Clean Water Fund Loan, which includes $700,000 in principal forgiveness. The lift station contract was awarded to Miron Construction of Neenah, Wisconsin, for $2,508,752. The force main river crossing work was awarded to A1 Excavating of Bloomer, Wisconsin, for $3,996,882. City officials anticipated and included this project and its costs in the City’s 2016 wastewater rate study, identifying and spreading out the impacts on wastewater user rates. Citizens seeking more information can call Wastewater Superintendent Ryan Giefer at 715-252-5123. CITY OF WISCONSIN RAPIDS TO BEGIN UPGRADE OF WEST SIDE LIFT STATION/RIVER CROSSING OFFICE OF THE MAYOR March 19, 2018 Contact: Jennifer Clark Phone: 715-421-8216 E-mail: jclark@wirapids.org Mayor Vruwink calls on Governor Walker to designate City investment zones
Monday, March 19 – Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Zachary Vruwink is calling on Governor Scott Walker and State of Wisconsin economic development officials to meet a deadline to benefit from a Federal tax code provision that promotes investment in qualifying low-income communities (LICs). Wisconsin Rapids has two such qualifying census tracts. Section 13823 of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 authorizes a process for state governors to spur investment in low-income communities, through the designation of “Opportunity Zones,” making it easier for mainstream private investors to support businesses and distressed communities. Opportunity Zone provisions include: ●Designation of criteria for Opportunity Zones in every state and territory; ●Establishment of a new class of private investment vehicles called “Opportunity Funds”; and ●Incentives for investors to re-invest their capital gains in Opportunity Funds to provide patient capital forlow-income communities. Governors currently have a deadline of March 21 to submit a list of designated census tracts through which Opportunity Funds can flow. Once approved, these designations will remain in place for 10 years. If necessary, governors can request a 30-day extension. “We have an immediate need for Governor Walker and State agencies to work with us to designate qualifying areas of Wisconsin Rapids for this opportunity,” said Mayor Vruwink. “As we continue to grow our economy and create jobs for our residents, we need every investment tool available to accomplish this- action must be taken now.” The Department of Treasury must complete certification of Opportunity Zones within 30 days of receipt of a nomination from a governor. Thus, implementation of the program could begin as early as the fourth quarter of 2018. Mayor Vruwink calls on Governor Walker to designate City investment zones Public Works Department 444 West Grand Avenue Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495 (715) 421-8205 wirapids.org April 26, 2018 Contact: Joe Terry Phone: 715-421-8255 E-mail: jterry@wirapids.org Yard waste/brush collection begins soon – residents can help
Thursday, April 26 – City of Wisconsin Rapids Street Department workers will help local residents prepare for spring yard maintenance, with a yard waste pickup beginning the week of May 14-18. To prepare for this pickup, residents should have yard waste bagged at the curb in front of their residence by May 13. To help City crews do their work as efficiently as possible, residents are requested to not have bags tied at the curb. The second brush pickup of the season will begin Monday, May 21. Residents are advised to pile brush in a neat and orderly fashion at the curb, limited to a maximum size of four feet high, six feet wide and ten feet long. Throughout the spring and running through the middle of autumn, the City will make regular runs to pick up brush and trees during the last full workweek of each month. Crews will make only one trip through City neighborhoods on designated collection days. So, waste and/or brush should be placed curbside and be ready for collection on the Sunday prior to the week of pickup. The full brush pickup schedule can be found at the City website, www.wirapids.org, under the Street Department. For more information, contact the City Garage at 715-421-8218. Brush Pickup |
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