(Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) -- A new process for curbside yard waste pickup begins this fall.
 
Residents will be required to use large paper yard waste bags (plastic bags will not be accepted). Bags will be taken and composted, and not emptied at the curb and left to reuse.  In addition, residents must also call the City Garage at (715) 421-8218 to place their address on the list for collection by 2:00 pm the Friday before the week of pickup. Paper yard waste bags are available at local retail/hardware stores.
 
The first yard waste collection is tentatively scheduled for the week of Oct. 14, 2019. To prepare for this pickup, residents should have paper yard waste bags at the curb in front of their residence by Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. (The scheduled week may be later, depending upon how the season progresses. Please check the website at www.wirapids.org/streets for possible changes.)
 
The final brush collection of the season begins Monday, Oct. 21. Residents may have one brush pile, no larger than 4 feet high, 6 feet wide and 10 feet long. Stumps and root balls are not accepted. Piles should be placed at the curb by Sunday, Oct. 20.  
 
Residents may also take their brush and/or yard waste to the city’s two compost sites. The East Side site is located at Highway 54 and County Road W and is open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. The West Side site is on 17th Avenue North, just north of Engel Road. It is open Monday through Saturday.
 
Please visit the website at www.wirapids.org/streets for specific hours of operation. Please call the City Garage at (715) 421-8218 with any questions, or for additional information.

CEREMONY SET FOR OCTOBER 1ST

Wisconsin Rapids, WI- Earlier this year, another bright spot in our economy emerged when Matalco, Inc. announced its selection of Wisconsin Rapids with plans to invest over $80 million to construct a manufacturing facility in the Rapids East Commerce Center. At that time, the project was pending City approvals on real estate sales and development agreements.

“I am pleased to announce the Matalco project has reached another milestone,” Mayor Zach Vruwink said. “All approvals from state and local agencies have been secured and the necessary permits have been issued to begin construction,'' he added.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the plant has been slated for October 1, 12:00 pm at the construction site, 4800 Commerce Drive, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494.

This new 110,000 square foot manufacturing plant will be equipped with the latest advanced technology and will employ 80 permanent, full-time personnel with an annual production in excess of 230 million pounds of high-quality aluminum billet. The plans for this facility will ensure service to both existing customers and prospective clients and expand their market share.

About Matalco Inc. (www.matalco.com) Matalco Inc. is a leading producer of state-of-the-art aluminum extrusion and forging grade billet and rolling ingot slab manufactured primarily from scrap aluminum. Matalco Inc. has four plants strategically located in Brampton, Ontario; Canton, Ohio; Lordstown, Ohio and Bluffton, Indiana to serve our North American customers, with a combined annual production capacity of over 1 billion pounds of high-quality billet and slab ingot. Our facilities are designed with maximum efficiency and sustainability in mind, from minimizing carbon emissions with a highly efficient natural gas system, to utilizing technologically advanced homogenizing ovens, high efficiency furnaces and packing lines. The company provides LEED® qualified material and is both ISO 9001 and 14001 certified. Matalco prides itself as being North America’s largest independent operator of remelt facilities and an affiliate of Triple M Metal LP, Canada’s largest processor of recycled metal and top 10 in North America in terms of volume processed and shipped. This strategic relationship ensures that Matalco is provided with a stable and ready supply of scrap.

About The Giampaolo Group The Giampaolo Group is a fully integrated metal management group company featuring Triple M Metal LP, one of North America’s largest ferrous and non-ferrous metals recycling and processing operations; Venture Steel Inc., a steel processor and distributor of metal with a distinct focus on flat rolled steel products; Matalco Inc., a leading producer of extrusion grade aluminum billet, forging stock and rolling ingot slab manufactured primarily from scrap aluminum and Global Electric Electronic Processing (GEEP), a global leader in electronic asset management, data erasure for secure reuse and safe, compliant end-of-life electronics recycling for maximum resource recovery and diversion from landfill.

For more information on the groundbreaking event, contact Jennifer Clark at 715-421-8216 or jclark@wirapids.org

(Sept. 16. 2019 - Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) The reconstruction of the Centralia Parking lot is anticipated to start on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

The lot will be reconstructed in 3 phases in effort to keep the parking lot open as much as possible. The dates indicated will be dependent on weather and contractor availability.

Phase 1, September 18:
The project will start with curb and gutter work on the islands and running electrical conduit for the replacement parking lot lighting. During phase 1 the parking lot will remain open and the majority of the asphalt will remain in place. We are expecting the City’s contractor will pour the curb and gutter the week of Sept. 23. Patrons will be able to park just about everywhere they can presently.

Phase 2, October 8:
In this phase, City staff will be working on the west ½ of the lot and the new entrance. Work will include removing asphalt, grading, and some curb and gutter work. Patrons will be able to park on the remaining asphalt during phase 2.

Phase 3, October 22:
In phase 3, City staff will be working on the east ½ of the lot. Work will include removing asphalt, grading, and potentially some curb and gutter work. Patrons will be parking on the base material prepared in phase 2 during phase 3 activities.

Asphalt Paving:
Finish grading and asphalt paving will take place on or about Oct. 28. That date is yet to be confirmed and we are going to try to schedule that work for a Saturday to minimize inconvenience/conflicts. Most of the lot is planned to be finish paved at this time. Because the asphalt work will be coordinated with the apartment developer, there may be some areas with only a first binder layer of asphalt if the apartment complex is not ready for final paving at the same time as the City.

The illustrations show the curb, gutter, and parking lot work phasing.

For more information, or for any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at 715-421-8255.

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(Wisconsin Rapids, WI) Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Zach Vruwink, in partnership with River Riders Bike Share, is hosting another Bike Ride with the Mayor event on Monday, September 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Veterans’ Memorial Park. This is the second ride with the Mayor this season after having a successful first ride in August.

River Riders Bike Share started in 2014 and was spearheaded by community members who saw the need for transportation and recreation options in Wisconsin Rapids. River Riders Bike Share is focused on making sure that biking is for all and that residents and visitors will have increased access to transportation, recreation, and physical activity opportunities.

Recognizing the positive impact this program has had on our community, Mayor Vruwink and the bike share team created the Bike Ride with the Mayor event in hopes that it will promote community involvement, physical activity, and give community members a different view of our city.

Wisconsin Rapids is experiencing a period of brand-new developments and road improvements almost everywhere you look, among them, bike-friendly initiatives! The Bike Ride with the Mayor event will allow community members to ask Mayor Vruwink questions about new developments, understand the timelines of projects, and learn how bright the future is for our city.

There will be bicycle safety materials, helmets, water bottles, and reusable bags to give away! Bring your family, bring your friends, and bring your biking gear on Monday, September 16th at 6:00 p.m. at the Veterans’ Memorial Park to enjoy an evening with your Mayor!

The City of Wisconsin Rapids offers information regarding contractors and storm damage
 
(Wisconsin Rapids, WI) With the recent storm damage experienced by residents and property owners within the City, the following information is provided in an attempt to minimize issues experienced during repair of any damage.  
 
BUILDING PERMITS REQUIRED; PERMITS SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT BY CONTRACTOR
A building permit is required for any repairs that exceed $500.  This is for property owner protection and code compliance.  Permits should be applied for by the contractor performing the work.  The only exception is that a building permit can be applied for by a homeowner if the homeowner certifies that the homeowner is performing the repairs on their own. There are some exceptions for repairs to electrical services made necessary by the storm, an overview of those exceptions can be found on the City’s website on the Community Development Department page or https://www.wirapids.org/uploads/1/0/3/3/103347874/electrical_service_repair_q_a.pdf  
 
Permits must be obtained from the Community Development Department on the second floor of City Hall at 444 West Grand Avenue, Wisconsin Rapids, phone: 715-421-8228.  Permit hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Forms are also available online (http://www.wirapids.org/licenses-and-permits) and can be printed and mailed in, or dropped off at the office. 
 
Please be advised that if the homeowner hires a contractor to perform work which is being completed under a building permit requested by the homeowner, and the contractor is not bonded or insured as required under State law or City ordinance, the following consequences might occur:
 
A.)   The owner may be held liable for any bodily inquiry to or death of others or for any damage to the property of others that arises out of the work performed under the building permit or is caused by any negligence by the contractor that occurs in connection with the work performed under the building permit.
 
B.)   The owner may not be able to collect from the contractor damages for any loss sustained by the owner because of a violation by the contractor of the municipal or state code, because of any bodily injury to or death of others or damage to the property of others that arises out of the work performed under the building permit, or because of any bodily injury to or death of others or damage to the property of others that is caused by any negligence by the contractor that occurs in connection with the work performed under the building permit.
 
ALL CONTRACTORS MUST BE STATE LICENSED
Any contractor working on a home must be licensed through the State of Wisconsin as a Dwelling Contractor and a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier.  As part of the building permit process, the City will determine whether the contractor is licensed before a permit is issued.  
 
USE CAUTION WHEN CHOOSING A CONTRACTOR
The City encourages homeowners to fully investigate each prospective business, including requesting a dwelling contractor license, transient merchant permit (if applicable), references, insurance coverage, and warranty information.  
 
Use extreme caution prior to signing anything without prior consultation! The type of damage sustained may vary greatly, but whenever possible, please be sure to take the time and check with the City or other resources to research any contractors you are not already familiar with.
 
SOME NON-LOCAL COMPANIES MAY NEED TO OBTAIN TRANSIENT MERCHANT PERMITS
Any business that has not been located in Wood County, Wisconsin, for at least one year, and is going door-to-door offering estimates or services, leaves materials or leaflets at your residence, or calls you on the telephone, unsolicited, must be registered with the City of Wisconsin Rapids as a Transient Merchant.   The registration of any businesses with the City of Wisconsin Rapids does not imply endorsement of these businesses by the City.  The City makes no warranties, guarantees, or representations regarding these businesses, their services, or their merchandise.  They have simply fulfilled a registration requirement with the City.  A transient merchant permit may take up to 30 days to be issued; merchants that have current state contractor licenses or that are already registered through the City’s building permitting will see a shorter processing time. Transient Merchant permits can be obtained from the City Clerk at 444 West Grand Avenue, Wisconsin Rapids, phone: 715-421-8200.
 
Residents should be aware that non-local businesses may be contracting or affiliating with local businesses, and thus will be representing themselves as being “local”.  Some of these arrangements do not require the non-local business to register as a transient merchant with the City.  
 
FOR QUESTIONS:
• Transient Merchants performing door to door estimates/sales:
o To inquire if a Merchant is registered, call 715-421-8200 
o To report a suspicious or violating merchant call 715-423-4444 
• For Building Permits or to verify if a contractor is licensed, call 715-421-8228