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- June 16, 2022
June 16, 2022
Administration
Juneteenth in Sun Prairie
Originating in Galveston, TX, Juneteenth is a time to commemorate the emancipation that occurred of enslaved African Americans on June 19, 1865. See the event information of how Sun Prairie will be observing this time.
A Time to Bike!
Do you know about Bike Month? This is a celebration of biking as transportation, as recreation, as essential to our well-being and everyday lives. May is also when the National Bike Challenge kicks off, and the challenge continues through September.
We want you to get involved and have highlighted a variety of different events, activities, resources, and more all related to biking!
Click here to see all of the different activities, events, and more happening for you!
Clerk's Office
Reminder!
Community Development
Downtown Sun Prairie wants to hear from you!
The Downtown Sun Prairie Business Improvement District invites everyone in the community to participate in a Community Engagement Session on Tuesday June 28! The Session will be held at the Loft at 132, located at 132 Market Street in Downtown Sun Prairie and will take place from 4:30-6:30PM. Pizza from Glass Nickel Pizza will be provided.
The Community Engagement Session will be led by Schmitz Consulting Group, a 3-person team that the Downtown Business Improvement District contracted with, who will provide a 5-Year Strategic Plan for the BID Board to consider incorporating into its 2023-2027 Operation Plan. Schmitz Consulting Group will focus on four priority areas with Community Engagement Session attendees, including: Downtown Sun Prairie events, beautification efforts, and recruitment and retention of businesses; branding/sense of place; transportation and parking; and future development.
The Community Engagement Session is one of several research opportunities that Schmitz Consulting Group have employed to gather information about the current state of, and expectations for Downtown Sun Prairie. Other engagement sessions have included focus groups for Downtown business and property owners, City of Sun Prairie staff, public officials, and other community members that have been involved in or are knowledgeable about Business Improvement District committees and activities.
Schmitz Consulting Group plans to present a final 5-Year Strategic Plan document to the Business Improvement District Board on August 18, 2022.
Please rsvp or direct questions about the Community Engagement Session to: Downtown@CityofSunPrairie.com
The Downtown Sun Prairie Business Improvement District’s mission is to support the development, improvement, and promotion of the Downtown area for the economic benefit of all businesses within the District as well as the general social and economic benefit of the people of the City of Sun Prairie and its visitors.
Follow Downtown Sun Prairie on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/downtownsunprairie; Instagram at: downtown_sunprairie; or visit our webpages on the City of Sun Prairie’s website for more information about activities, events, and announcements: https://downtownsunprairiewi.com/.
Branding Survey!
The Sun Prairie Tourism Commission, along with the City of Sun Prairie invites YOU - & everyone who lives & works & has a connection to Sun Prairie - to fill out a quick (10-15 minute) survey to help define Sun Prairie's true identity.
Survey responses will provide insight into what YOU think makes the Sun Prairie community unique & distinct from other parts of Wisconsin! The survey is part of a research & branding initiative, & is confidential.
Take the survey here!
Downtown Sun Prairie to host 2022 Great Race lunch stop on June 23
The Downtown Sun Prairie Business Improvement District is pleased to announce that the event organizers for the Great Race have selected Downtown Sun Prairie as a Lunch Stop on June 23 as part of the 2022 Hemmings Motor News tour, presented by Hagerty Drivers Club.
The Great Race, the world’s premiere old car rally, will bring 120 of the world’s finest antique automobiles to town for the event, with the first car rolling in to Angell Park’s south entrance starting at 11:45 a.m. The event will begin in Warwick, Rhode Island, on June 18, and will finish in Fargo, North Dakota, on June 26.
“We are excited to come to be coming to Sun Prairie and visit the historic Angell Park,” Rac e Director, Jeff Stumb said.
Teams and cars from Japan, England, Australia, Germany, Canada, and every corner of the United States will converge in Rhode Island in mid-June, with vintage automobiles dating back as far as 1916. The 9-day, 2,300-mile adventure will travel to 19 cities in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota. “There are more than 500 people just in our entourage from all around the world,” Stumb said.
The event began in 1983 by Tom McRae and it takes its name from the 1965 movie, The Great Race, which starred Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Natalie Wood, and Peter Falk. The movie is a comedy based on the real life 1908 automobile race from New York to Paris. In 2004, Tony Curtis was the guest of the Great Race and rode in his car from the movie, the Leslie Special.
The Great Race is not a speed race, but a time/speed/distance rally. The vehicles, each with a driver and a navigator, are given precise instructions each day that detail every move down to the second. They are scored at secret check points along the way and are penalized one second for each second either early or late. As in golf, the lowest score wins.
Each stop on the Great Race is free to the public and spectators will be able to visit with the participants and look at the cars for several hours. It is common for kids to climb in the cars for a first-hand look.
Cars built in 1974 and earlier are eligible, with most entries having been manufactured before World War II. In the 2021 Great Race a 1932 Ford won the event from San Antonio, Texas, to Greenville, S.C. The 2022 winners will receive $50,000 of the $150,000 total purse.
“When the Great Race pulls into a city it becomes an instant festival,” Stumb said. “Last year we had several overnight stops with more than 10,000 spectators on our way to having 250,000 people see the Great Race during the event.”
Parking will be offered at Angell Park’s upper lot, located off of Hwy N/Grove Street, and at the Sun Prairie East High School for $5.00, cash only. There will be live music and a variety of local food vendors at Angell Park. Angell Park is walking distance to unique shops and restaurants that the Great Race cars will drive past on their way out of town.
After the Great Race, Downtown Sun Prairie is hosting Classic Cars from 5-8 p.m. It is a free, family friendly event that will have free balloon sculptures for kids, and entertainment by Elvis impersonator Tony Rocker, in addition to cars being on display on Market Street.
Downtown Sun Prairie’s Lunch Stop event is presented by Downtown Sun Prairie. The Presenting Sponsor is the Bank of Sun Prairie, other sponsors include The Loft at 132, Frank Beverage Group, Beans N Cream Coffeehouse, Wilde East Towne Honda and General Beer Distributors.
Follow us on Facebook at Downtown Sun Prairie for more event details! www.facebook.com/downtownsunprairie
Community Spotlight
Movie Night!
Come out for an outdoor movie of SING 2 on the Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium field to benefit the McKenzie Family Boys & Girls Club!
35th Annual StrawberryFest
Enjoy summer in true Sun Prairie style with the 35th Annual StrawberryFest on Saturday, June 18th. Come enjoy strawberry shortcake, hot dogs and brats, beer and wine, kettlecorn and more! And, of course, fresh local strawberries from Creek Bed Country Farmacy. Bring the whole family for summer fun-- a craft market, live music from Nine Thirty Standard, children’s games, and a Kiddie Farm brought to you by the Sun Prairie High School FFA! And for the first time this year, let your pet get in on the fun with the PawberryFest Pet Photo Contest! See our website for details. (https://www.colonialclub.org/petcontest)
The event will be all outdoors, from 10am-3pm at the Colonial Club Senior Activity Center: 301 Blankenheim Lane, Sun Prairie, WI 53590. Parking will be available at the Sacred Hearts DayCare (315 Columbus St, Sun Prairie, WI 53590). A free shuttle will be provided.
City-wide Make Music Sun Prairie on June 21st
Sun Prairie is hosting Make Music Day on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. The event takes place globally on the summer solstice each year and brings people of all ages and skill levels together to make music. Make Music Day began in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique and has spread to over 1,000 cities across 120 countries. Completely different from a typical musical festival, Make Music concerts are performed by anyone who wants to take part and enjoyed by everyone who wants to attend.
Reflecting the strong music education tradition in Sun Prairie, performers of any skill level are invited to sign-up to share music of any type at performance spaces throughout the city. Performance areas will be spread across six locations with music starting at 10:00 am at Vandenberg Park and ending with a Concerts in the Park performance featuring the bluegrass band Soggy Prairie at 6:00 pm at Wetmore Park.
Planned activities include a drum circle, boomwhacker ensemble, ukulele jam with Piano Gal Marta Hansen, an open rock band jam, opera in the park with Kyle Ketelsen, sing-a-long with Gina Jorgensen, open-mic performances, and musical instrument crafts.
All instrumentalists and vocalists are invited to share their musical passion as open mic performers at Sheehan Park, Cannery Square, or the McKenzie Family Boys and Girls Club. For detailed information regarding performance spaces and activities, or to register for the ukulele jam, rock band jam, or an open-mic performance slot, visit https://www.makemusicday.org/sunprairie.
Make Music Sun Prairie is co-sponsored by Prairie Music & Arts, Sun Prairie Community Schools, Sun Prairie Parks, Recreation & Forestry, the McKenzie Family Boys and Girls Club, Sun Prairie Public Library, and Sun Prairie Dream Park. All Make Music Sun Prairie activities are free and open to the public.
Parks, Recreation and Forestry
Recreation Department
The Sun Prairie Parks, Recreation & Forestry office is open: Monday – Friday 8:00am-4:30pm, or by phone at (608) 837-3449 or by email at rec@cityofsunprairie.com.
Announcements:
Summer Rec Guide out now!
Registration now open for all summer programs and swimming lessons. To view the guide or to register, visit rec.cityofsunprairie.com
Sun Prairie Family Aquatic Center Passes
Family Aquatic Center season passes, and discount punch cards are now available to purchase. To purchase, visit Purchase Season Passes
WPRA Discount Tickets On Sale Now!
Tickets must be purchased in person and payment with cash or check only.
Fitness Flex Pass
Not sure what fitness class is right for you? Enjoy the flexibility to try them all with our new Fit Flex Pass. Click here to purchase a 5 or 10 class pass, Fit Flex Pass - Sun Prairie Parks, Recreation & Forestry (cityofsunprairie.com), passes never expire!
Important Dates:
Concerts in the Park
The Sun Prairie Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department is excited to announce this summer’s Concerts in the Park Presented by the Bank of Sun Prairie.
The concerts will take place every Tuesday evening at Wetmore Park and are open to the public. There will be free crafts for kids and food and beverages available for purchase.
- June 7, 5-7 PM – Summer Kick Off & Sun Prairie Area Community Band (Traditional & Contemporary Band Music)
- June 14, 6-8 PM - Random Maxx (Pop/Rock)
- June 21, 6-8 PM - Soggy Prairie (Bluegrass)
- June 28, 6-8 PM - Depot. Express (Classic Rock)
- July 12, 6-8 PM - Sista Sensi (Reggae)
- July 19, 6-8 PM - Nine Thirty Standard Sponsored by the Friends of the Sun Prairie Media Center (Blues/Country/Rock)
- July 26, 6-8 PM - Marta and Clarisse with the Piano Gal Shop (Dueling Pianos)
- August 2, 6-8 PM - Sammy Ray & Friends (90's Cover Music)
- August 9 - Family Night, 5:30-6:15 PM David Landau (Children's Music) & 6:30-7:30 PM Sun Prairie Area Community Band (Traditional & Contemporary Band Music)
- August 16, 6-8 PM- Blue Olives (Blues)
- August 23, 6-7 PM - Sun Prairie Area Community Band (Traditional & Contemporary Band Music)
Concerts in the Park are sponsored in part by TDS Telecom, West Prairie Dental, Tipsy Cow, Josh Erickson – American Family Insurance, Herzing University, and Maureen Crombie, District 3 Alder.
Follow Sun Prairie Parks, Recreation, and Forestry on Facebook or online for event details!
https://www.facebook.com/sunprairierec
https://cityofsunprairie.com/1611/Concerts-in-the-Park
Upcoming Programs Not to Be Missed:
Swim Lessons Session 2
Family Aquatic Center Guide out Now
Registration opens for Residents on April 14th, Non-Residents on April 19th
Online Guide available now - https://view.flipdocs.com/?ID=10018939_769193
July 11th – July 21st
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Registration Ends: 07/04/2022
Participants will learn the game of volleyball and develop their skills through game play. This camp is suitable for beginners and intermediate players. You can take one or both weeks to improve your skills. Session 1 and Session 2 will cover the same skills and activities.
Registrations deadline to receive a camp T-shirt is July 4.
July 11th – August 4th
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration Ends: 07/04/2022
For Kids entering grades 1-5 for the 2021-2022 school year.
Grab your sunscreen and lace up your tennis shoes because you are in for a summer full of excitement! Come join our staff for a supervised afternoon jam-packed with playground games, wild and wacky activities, arts and crafts, outdoor exploration and more!
Program Information:
• Program staff will be stationed at the park from 1:00 – 5:00 pm Monday – Thursday, weather dependent. Please check Rainout Line or Facebook to see if the program is cancelled for the day due to inclement weather.
• The program fee covers all days for each session. The fee will not be prorated or credited for days that your child does not attend or cancellations due to inclement weather.
• This is a drop-in style program. Children will sign-in upon arrival and sign out upon departure from the program. Children are not to leave on their own without being signed out by a parent/guardian or if a permission slip for self-sign out is on file with program staff.
• New this year! We are offering a 2-day drop-in option for families. This option works the same as our Monday-Thursday sessions, with a little more flexibility for those who need it!
• Structured activities will take place all afternoon – children may attend for the entire duration of time, or may choose to come for just certain times. Because it is a drop-in style program, children are not required to attend every meeting date – come play when it works for your child’s schedule!.
Rec on the Go July – Fun Prairie
Registration Ends: 07/14/2022
Rec on the Go are theme-based exploration kits for kids ages 5 and up. Each bi-monthly kit will feature crafts, experiments and other fun activities for kids. Kits are available for pick up or delivery.
JULY THEME – FUN PRAIRIE:
July has once again been designated Fun Prairie month. Our kits spotlight what make Sun Prairie great. Explore recreation opportunities, games and more with our Rec on the Go activity kit!
Pick up and delivery will be available July 14 & 15. Participants will be emailed when kits are ready, so make sure your email address is in your profile is correct.
Public Safety
City of Sun Prairie Announces Christopher Garrison as Interim EMS Chief
The City of Sun Prairie has appointed Fire Chief Christopher Garrison of the Sun Prairie Fire and Rescue Company to serve as interim EMS chief following the resignation of Brian Goff. He has served as Sun Prairie’s fire chief for the past seven years and brings a wealth of experience that qualifies him to take on this role.
Chief Garrison has an extensive background in public safety that consists of 33 years of fire service experience. During his time in Lake Forest, Illinois, he served as the deputy chief of operations and deputy chief of administration with the Lake Forest Fire Department. Prior to his leadership roles, he started as a firefighter paramedic in Libertyville, Illinois. This insight and expertise will prove invaluable as he leads two departments in offering exceptional public safety services during this time.
The day-to-day EMS duties such as commanding the EMS team, ensuring adequate response times, monitoring supplies, and managing staffing needs will now fall under Chief Garrison. Additionally, he will oversee the expanded services contract and implementation with the Village of Marshall, towns of Sun Prairie, Medina and York along with the EMS Community Outreach program.
Chief Garrison has begun his tenure as interim EMS chief. As he serves in this interim capacity, the City will review and consider future options.
“Chief Garrison’s passion for public safety is clear to all and has made him a qualified fit to lead the EMS department,” said Aaron Oppenheimer, City Administrator. “We are confident in his leadership and expertise”.
Certficiation Course
Sun Prairie Fire & Rescue had many members enrolled in Certification Courses this spring. We would like to congratulate the following people on furthering their knowledge and education to serve our community.
Christopher Alexander, Driver Operator - Aerial
Ike Bedford, Entry Level Firefighter & EMT- Basic
Kurt Collins, Firefighter 1
Ron Chester, Firefighter 1
Corey Dahmen, Emergency Services Instructor 1 & Fire Officer 1
Kenny Kim, Emergency Services Instructor 1& Fire Officer 1
Kalee Miller, Entry Level Firefighter
Mark Mlekush, Fire Officer 2
Adam Nieft, EMT - Basic
Skylar Potts, Driver Operator
Derek Weum, Fire Officer 2
Joshua Wise, Entry Level Firefighter
Seargent Promotions
In May, the Sun Prairie Police Department and Police Commission completed the sergeant’s promotional process for the approval of two new sergeants. Please join us in congratulating Leonard Webster and Freddy Garcia for being our top two sergeant candidates!
They showed amazing work with their projects, attention to detail, time commitment, and effort. The candidates completed lengthy essays, created AV presentations, and participated in interviews with external agencies and with a chief’s panel.
Sun Prairie Media Center
“MULTICULTURAL FAIR: RADIO REBOOT” TOTRANSFORM INTO “SUN PRAIRIE STORIES”
The City of Sun Prairie’s award-winning program, “Multicultural Fair: Radio Reboot,” will become “Sun Prairie Stories” at the Sun Prairie Media Center (SPMC) as a way to continue to tell the story of Sun Prairie’s growing community. The podcast will launch later this summer.
Due to the COVID-19 rates in 2020, the in-person Multicultural Fair was canceled and inspired the Radio Reboot. This was a way to offer programming that still celebrated the growing diversity of the Sun Prairie community while maintaining safety. The program focused on community members of diverse backgrounds. Sara Milewski, an SPMC volunteer, hosted the hour-long, monthly radio show and interviewed guests on their life stories and experiences. Guests also shared some of their favorite music and had an opportunity to promote a community service organization that reflected their culture. The eight-episode series concluded with the 2021 Multicultural Fair. The success of the Radio Reboot inspired the idea to start the new show, with a continued focus on the people who make Sun Prairie what it is today.
Sun Prairie Stories will offer participants an opportunity to record important parts of their lived story, with the support of a producer. The stories may be on a variety of topics about an individual's experiences. Those personal stories will be shared with the community as podcasts, on The Sun, 103.5FM, and online via the City website and social media platforms.
“I believe that it is our personal stories that make us who we are,” said Sara Milewski, SPMC Volunteer and producer of Sun Prairie Stories. “Sharing our stories helps us see the humanity in one another, and helps us better understand our community.”
Individuals of all ages and backgrounds are welcome to participate. For more information on how to participate, please visit the Sun Prairie Stories website at sunprairiemediacenter.com/sunprairiestories or contact Sara Milewski at sara.milewski@gmail.com.
Sun Prairie Utilities
Sun Prairie Utilities Hydrant Flushing Program
Sun Prairie Utilities has begun our annual hydrant flushing system maintenance. Hydrant flushing is a controlled procedure where water is released from system fire hydrants that is vital to the general maintenance of Sun Prairie’s water distribution system. From April through October each year SPU flushes a little more than half of the system’s 1,800 hydrants.
Sometimes, as the churned-up water passes by your water service on the way to the hydrant, some discolored water may go up into the service line leading to your house, especially if you have a faucet on or an appliance is drawing water. Discolored water is safe to drink and use, however it may stain laundry. If flushing is taking place, try to not open the faucet or use water until the flushing is completed on your street. But if your water is coming out discolored, wait until flushing on your street has subsided and then run a garden hose for five minutes or run a cold-water tap for 10 minutes, until the water runs clear.
If you have questions, please visit our website for our Hydrant Flushing FAQ’s.
Summer Energy Rates
Energy costs more in the summer. Overall customer demand for electricity is at its highest in the summer months, in part because of increased air conditioning use. That often means SPU pays more to purchase the energy resources we deliver to your home. This means your bill is likely to increase during this time of year. You also may notice the Power Cost Adjustment Clause (PCAC) on your bill. Since the cost to generate or buy electricity fluctuates throughout the year, billing adjustments are made to reflect your true cost of power. Each month, base rates are collected representing the utility’s projected cost, then the PCAC rate adds to, or subtracts from, the bill to adjust for SPU’s monthly fluctuations in power costs. When the actual costs are lower than projected this line item is negative, but when the actual costs are higher this line will be an additional charge.
Visit Sun Prairie Utilities website for information on Electric Rates.