Mayor Matt Zacher has made a proclamation for ​National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW) is observed annually during the second full week of April to honor the dedicated professionals who serve as public safety telecommunicators. In 2025, NPSTW will take place from April 13 to April 19. 

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The City of Wisconsin Rapids has adopted a resolution designating the month of May 2025 as No Mow May, which temporarily relieves property owners of lawn maintenance standards in Chapter 36, Sections 302.4 of City Ordinance. Participation in No Mow May is voluntary and free of charge.

City residents and property owners who are interested in participating may do so without registering.
During their March 18 meeting, the Common Council adopted a resolution to suspend the enforcement of Chapter 36, Section 302.4, of City Ordinance city-wide for the month of May 2025.

Properties must be brought back into compliance by June 4, 2025, which provides a grace period in recognition of weather or scheduling conflicts. Properties that aren't compliant by the deadline will be subject to regular penalties for long grasses and weeds. This is the City’s fourth year adopting the No Mow May resolution.

Each City of Wisconsin Rapids property is eligible to receive one free yard sign, but we have a limited number of yard signs available. Please keep your yard sign for future No Mow May programs. Additional yard signs can be purchased for $10 each. Yard signs can be picked up at the Mayor's Office on the 3rd floor of City Hall, 444 West Grand Ave., Monday through Thursday, between 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; or Fridays between 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

If you prefer to schedule an appointment to pick up a yard sign, you may contact Emily Kent at 715-421-8216 or [email protected].

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
• Sand Lot Park (ball fields and spectator areas will be mowed)
• McMillan Memorial Library (E. Grand Ave. side 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. Native weed growth in May is particularly important because many other spring blooms have not yet emerged.

“Less Mow May” and “Slow Mow Summer” have emerged as alternative catch phrases for the movement to change lawn care practices in support of native pollinators. Whether “no mow,” “less mow,” or “slow mow,” the objective is the same – aid and protect native pollinators. Residents are encouraged to establish the following lawn care practices:

• Lawns that are chemically treated for weeds and pests will not be very beneficial for pollinators, even if they are allowed to grow for a full month. Consider limiting or eliminating chemical treatments.
• Native flowering plants, such as white clover, creeping charlie and dandelions, provide important food for pollinators. Consider allowing native plants to flower, then mow before they go to seed.
• Mowing grass several inches all at once is hard on plant health, leaving the grass vulnerable to drought. Consider allowing the grass to grow to 6-8" before cutting the tips off at your highest mower deck height. Increase deck heights and cut less frequently all growing season. (Chapter 36, Section 302.4 of City code allows grasses up to 7”.)
• Hibernating pollinators can’t safely emerge in early spring. Leaves provide important insulation for hibernating bees, moths and butterflies, and some bees nest in stems until June or later. Consider waiting to remove winter leaves from your yard until you notice blooming trees and flowers with active bees. Leave past season’s stems alone and allow the new growth to cover them. If you want to remove the stems, find a place to safely stash the cut stems until the bees that might be nesting in them have a chance to emerge. Compost the stems in midsummer.

“We’ve learned a lot about pollinator-friendly environments since the City of Wisconsin Rapids first implemented No Mow May a few years ago. While No Mow May is a great slogan and an important sentiment, protecting pollinators requires a more thoughtful approach,” said Mayor Matt Zacher. “Join me in bolstering nature’s bounty by implementing this year’s suggestions for modifying your lawn care practices to help local insect populations, birds, and gardens.”

Below are some local resources and programs that are available to learn more about pollinators:
• Clean Green Action (CGA) and Bird City Wisconsin Rapids will have an informational booth on No Mow May and pollinator-friendly practices set up at McMillan Memorial Library this May. 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
“Participating in No Mow May annually has been a wonderful experience, and I have learned a lot. I found that changing our mowing habits has helped my vegetable and fruit trees by keeping a more pollinator-friendly space for them. By leaving my grass longer in summer, with a diversity of bee friendly plant species, the lawn needs less watering and stays greener. I now keep the mower at its highest deck level and cut when conditions warrant or I want to keep invasive plants from going to seed,” said Elizabeth Whelan, Monarch and Pollinator Encouragement Project Leader for Clean Green Action.

Learn more about the No Mow May initiative online here: www.wirapids.org/no-mow-may
Questions about No Mow May or availability of yard signs can be directed to the Mayor's Office at 715-421-8216 or [email protected].

Municipal code can be found online at: www.wirapids.org/municipal-code. Questions about lawn care ordinances can be directed to the Code Enforcement Officer at 715-421-6206.
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Questions about how to dispose of residential lawn clippings can be directed to the Street Department at 715-421-8218 or [email protected].

Mayor Matt Zacher has made a proclamation for National Nutrition Month. National Nutrition Month is an annual campaign held every March in the United States. It was created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to promote the importance of making informed food choices and developing healthy eating and physical activity habits. 

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The City of Wisconsin Rapids has released a survey seeking public feedback on their priorities. Responses will help elected officials and staff develop mission and values statements for the organization, understand the public’s preferences in allocating property tax revenue, and guide long-term planning.

From March 3 through April 1 at noon, the public may respond to the survey linked on the homepage of the City’s website www.wirapids.org or using the QR Code.
​If needed, the public may respond to a printed version of the survey at the following Wisconsin Rapids locations:
• City of Wisconsin Rapids Mayor’s Office, 3rd Floor, 444 West Grand Avenue
• Lowell Center, 220 Third Avenue S, Ste. 3
• McMillan Memorial Library, 490 E Grand Avenue

As an incentive to participants, each person who completes the survey has the opportunity to be entered once into a raffle to win a free prize. Four prizes are available: two $20 Heart of Wisconsin Chamber gift certificates that can be used at eligible Chamber member businesses, and two $20 City of Wisconsin Rapids Parks & Recreation gift cards. Additional raffle details are provided in the survey.

“As mayor, my guiding principals have been transparency, exceptional customer service and public communication, and growing community engagement. This survey is just one of many future opportunities to enhance collaboration between our local government and the people we serve,” said Mayor Matt Zacher.

Survey results will be provided to the Common Council and discussed at their reorganizational meeting in April. The full survey is also linked below: 

​Survey Link
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Questions about the public survey can be directed to the Mayor's Office at 715-421-8202 or [email protected].

Mayor Matt Zacher has made a proclamation for United Way Day. 

​2-1-1 United Way Day is an annual event celebrated on February 11 (2/11) to raise awareness about the 2-1-1 helpline, a free and confidential service that connects individuals to essential resources like housing assistance, food support, healthcare, mental health services, and more. Managed by United Way, 2-1-1 is available 24/7 in many communities across North America. The day highlights the impact of 2-1-1 in helping millions of people navigate crises and improve their quality of life by accessing critical support services.