Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Weekly Blast!: If you live on a hard-surfaced road you may have noticed it looks a little cleaner this week. Thanks are extended to Public Works employee Leo Krueger who used a motorized sweeper to push off the sand mix used this past winter. Others have recently noted bright yellow flowers blooming along our roadsides. It’s likely a plant called Yellow Mustard Seed or Wild Mustard (Latin name Sinapis arvensis) which is a common annual weed in our area. It looks rather attractive this time of year, but it can quickly outcompete other more desirable plants and is deemed an invasive species in Wisconsin. It’s particularly troublesome in farm fields. Three years ago, the Town Board approved mowing Best Management Practices (BMP) to help us address the problem of invasive plants. It’s our chosen way to manage this very real problem using a sensible mowing regiment rather than resorting to pesticide use. The latter is sometimes necessary, but we have not used it to date. I’ve attached the map and narrative here. Grant Road Side Mowing Best Management Practices for Roadside Mowing  If you have questions, just give me at call at 715-213-1717. Clerk Stefanie Schlapa, Supervisor Doug Steltenpohl and I met with the WDNR Electronic-Cycle Compliance Specialist Mallory Susdorf this week. She inspected our E-Waste storage trailer, noted our record-keeping, made suggestions for additional signage, and more. Overall, it was a very interesting and positive visit. Clerk Schlapa will be working on additional ideas for signage, and Supervisor Steltenpohl and I are looking at options to consider taking used anti-freeze; something that has been requested for some years. More to follow on these and other upcoming improvements... Perhaps the morning frosts are on their way out soon. I’m tired of wrapping and unwrapping my finicky rhododendron! Take care, Sharon

Posted on , by Flor Faustino

Weekly Blast!

Happy May Day! Funny because you’ll have to cover your sensitive outside plants the next few nights, otherwise they will FREEZE! I remain optimistic that spring will decide to stay sometime soon…

Many of you may have read or watched local news regarding a proposed Data Center in Wisconsin Rapids. The following news release was published today:

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The City of Wisconsin Rapids public hearing for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a data center, scheduled for May 4 at 4:00 p.m. within the Council Chambers at City Hall, has been deferred. Due to the project’s specific industry (data centers), size, and location, as well as the importance of conscientious planning for City growth and development, the City has decided to postpone any action on the data center CUP request. To support meaningful communication between the City and the community, and shared understanding of the project’s scope, the City will schedule a listening session to provide project information and respond to questions. The date and time have not yet been determined. Details will be posted on the City’s website: www.wirapids.gov

The CUP request may be considered at a future Planning Commission meeting, which would include a public hearing, and will be noticed appropriately.

Mayor Matt Zacher said, “In a democratic, market-based system, it’s essential that all potential businesses have access to a transparent and equitable review process. We also have an obligation to maintain ordinances that safeguard residents’ quality of life and to thoughtfully address the concerns they share with us. Taking additional time to distribute and review information regarding the CUP, as well as to facilitate a public listening session, allows us to meet that obligation.”

View the CUP application materials (please note that this application may be updated or revised before it is reviewed at a Planning Commission meeting): www.wirapids.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2708/CUP-Application-for-Data-Center-2026-04-24

View the adopted City ordinance regarding data centers: www.wirapids.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2706/MC-1415-Ordinance-Amendment—Data-Centers-PDF

Subscribe to City of Wisconsin Rapids meeting notifications: www.wirapids.gov/list.asp

Questions regarding the CUP process can be directed to:

Kyle Kearns
Community Development Director
715-421-8225

Last week I told you that the Town of Grant Plan Commission is already working on an ordinance to address these large industrial developments because we might be a community that data center companies are looking at. The Commission’s next meeting is Wednesday May 20 beginning at 6:30pm. If this is topic of interest to you, please attend and lend your ideas to this important discussion.

Enjoy the weekend (with your winter coat)! Sharon