City of Sun Prairie

*ONE MONTH AWAY* We are one month away from the 5th Annual Multicultural Fair! This event will be taking place on Saturday, September 21 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sheehan Park! Never been to the Multicultural Fair? We would love to see you there! The purpose of the fair is to provide attendees the opportunity to connect, learn about different cultures, and appreciate what makes Sun Prairie the community it is. Attendees can look forward to performances, activities, and food representing countries and culture from all around the world such as Africa, Central America, India, and more. For more information about the 2024 Multicultural Fair, including updates on activities, performers, vendors, and more, please visit https://lnkd.in/gKdkw3FV

*CITY HALL SELFIE DAY* We love to keep on showing our local gov pride! Featured in this photo is our team from the Sun Prairie Media Center. This year we wanted to follow a theme of getting "corny" for Sun Prairie's Sweet Corn Festival, which takes place until Sunday, August 18. This beloved community event is planned by the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce and attracts visitors from all over. Interested in attending? Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gm9cjy4g

*HAPPY CITY HALL SELFIE DAY* Happy #CityHallSelfie Day from staff at the City of Sun Prairie! We look forward to showing off our local gov love every year with this activity organized by ELGL: Engaging Local Government Leaders! This year, we wanted to highlight one of Sun Prairie's most cherished events, the Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival! We incorporated the theme of "Let's Get Corny"! The Sweet Corn Festival is an annual event held to celebrate the region's agricultural heritage, particularly its sweet corn, which is a local specialty. It will take place this year from August 14 to August 18. Check out more details here: https://lnkd.in/gm9cjy4g

*2024 GOVERNMENT DAY* We want to give a special congratulations to Sophia Morrison (first photo) and Hadja Jalloh (second photo) of Prairie View Middle School for earning the recognition of Most Outstanding Participants in this year's Government Day! Government Day offers students a chance to explore the various aspects of local government. It allows them to learn how city council meetings are conducted, understand the operations of city staff who ensure smooth operations, meet city leadership, and much more. We look forward this event every year!

*POLICE CHIEF MIKE STEFFES TO RETIRE* After 30 years of dedicated service to the public safety profession, Chief Michael Steffes of the Sun Prairie Police Department has announced his retirement, effective in January. Chief Steffes has been an integral part of the Sun Prairie community, serving with dedication to building relationships and solving problems in the community. Steffes joined the Sun Prairie Police Department in December 2019 and guided the department through major challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest. Under his leadership, additional achievements include the creation of a Police Chief’s Advisory Board, the prioritization of mental health through the hiring of a coordinated response specialist, and the implementation of the National Incident-Based Reporting System to enhance the quality of crime data collection. The date and time for the Chief’s retirement ceremony will be announced closer to his departure. We are immensely grateful for his service to the Sun Prairie community and the organization!

*NEW EPISODE JUST DROPPED* A new episode of Sustainable Sun Prairie: Conversations for a Greener Community just dropped! What does it take to create a sustainable school? Join us as we discuss this question with Kevin Splain, Sustainability Manager for Sun Prairie School District, and two passionate student activists who have recently graduated from local high schools. Together, they uncover the current state of sustainability initiatives within schools, illuminating the essential shifts needed to make schools greener. From student-led advocacy groups to impactful policy reforms, discover the actionable steps paving the way for greener schools of tomorrow. Listeners can easily tune in to the podcast by accessing the Sun Prairie Media Center app, tuning into to 103.5 The Sun, or visiting https://lnkd.in/gr6BEzUe. Additionally, the podcast is available on platforms such as Spotify, Amazon Music, and Google Podcasts. For those who share a passion for sustainability and wish to get involved as a guest, please complete the interest form at https://lnkd.in/gC_ziwXW

*HERE IS YOUR BIG 5* Our city newsletter "The Big 5" highlights the biggest 5 city news stories in an easy-to-read format that offers the option to go deeper into the content through recorded interviews with city staff connected to the story. It's a whole new look meant to engage you as the reader! You can subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/gYFpRudZ - - - TOP 5 STORIES - - - 1. Recap of Sun Prairie Utilities Groundbreaking - Sun Prairie Utilities recently broke ground for its future operations facility on Linnerud Drive. Sun Prairie Utilities (SPU) has been in downtown Sun Prairie for over 50 years. Its current location has undergone a few expansions to reach the current 29,000 square feet, but the facility can no longer sufficiently meet the space demands required to serve our rapidly growing city. 2. No Mow May Impact Report - The 2024 No Mow May Impact Report is now available! This report reviews the impact of participants in Sun Prairie, covering topics such as the number of registrants, citizen participation data, city park involvement, and more. Check it out (https://lnkd.in/g92WHG3K) 3. Housing Sun Prairie Exhibit - Visit the City of Sun Prairie Museum after hours on Thursday, August 8 to view its newest exhibition! Housing Sun Prairie will lead visitors through the residential development of Sun Prairie since its founding and includes hands-on elements for children and adults. 4. Sun Prairie Road Conditions Ranked for Quality - Roads may not be top of mind for everyone, but did you know that the City of Sun Prairie ranks third for road quality among the 25 largest municipalities in Wisconsin? According to the Wisconsin Policy Forum's assessment of road conditions, Sun Prairie has a lower share of "Poor" and "Failed" roads compared to other municipalities. The City appreciates the Public Works staff for their efforts in maintaining high-quality roads! Check out the full report (https://lnkd.in/guxheJhh) 5. Sun Prairie Public Library Hours to Change - The Sun Prairie Public Library is undergoing a major expansion project, which will bring significant upgrades. Starting Monday, August 12th, the new hours will take effect.  Subscribe to learn more and take a deeper dive into the content! You can also tune in to 103.5 The Sun every Wednesday at 7 a.m. to hear all the interviews.

I'm so excited to share the launch of the newly created Visit Sun Prairie website! https://lnkd.in/gzSYjtcs This site has been a labor of love for Barbara Behling & I for the last several months, but a work in process for several years. As Barbara says, "We live in a beautiful city, with amazing amenities, & this site allows us to show it off!" The site highlights a range of “what, when, & why” people should visit Sun Prairie including special events, shopping, lodging options, gathering places/venues, history, & so much more! Whether a visitor, prospective business, or a local resident, the site provides valuable insights into the Sun Prairie experience. We've highlighted reasons why visitors should visit Sun Prairie, but also created a place for new & life long residents to discover more about the community. Check it out & please share it with eveyone you think would like to know more about my favorite city, the City of Sun Prairie! Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce, Boelter + Lincoln, North Star Place Branding + Marketing, Dannelle Gay, Focal Flame Photography

*SUN PRAIRIE SOLAR ARRAY UNVEILING* Thank you to everyone that joined us for today's press conference to unveil the solar array at the Wastewater Treatment Facility. This array, boasting a capacity of 403 kilowatts DC, has been operational since early May. As of today, it has already generated an impressive 156,000 kilowatt-hours of clean energy. Contributions totaling approximately $340,000 have been secured for the project, including $20,000 from WPPI Energy and Sun Prairie Utilities, $40,000 from Focus on Energy, and roughly $284,000 allocated through the Federal Inflation Reduction Act's clean energy elective pay. Thanks to the strong collaboration and persistence of staff, alongside the support of our elected officials, the City is confidently on track to achieve our goal of 100% renewable electricity for municipal operations by 2025. To learn more about Sustainable Sun Prairie, please visit https://lnkd.in/g6K4jtEB

*JOIN US AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE* The City of Sun Prairie is proud to unveil the recent installation and activation of a solar array at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, currently making it the third municipal array the City has installed and largest deployed to date in Sun Prairie. The unveiling will feature the new solar array, made possible through collaboration and significant financial support, along with updates on other solar energy initiatives underway. Contributions totaling approximately $340,000 have been secured for the project, including $20,000 from WPPI Energy and Sun Prairie Utilities, $40,000 from Focus on Energy, and approximately $284,000 from the federal Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy elective pay. The installation of this solar array is expected to significantly reduce the Wastewater Treatment Plant's energy costs while advancing Sun Prairie's goals for sustainability and environmental stewardship. - - -PRESS CONFERENCE DETAILS- - - Beginning at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 25, there will be a press conference held at the Wastewater Treatment Facility. Various city staff and elected officials championing sustainability efforts will be speaking at the event. Guided tours of the Wastewater Treatment Facility will be offered after the press conference concludes.