STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza used his September Mayor’s Monday segment to issue a special welcome to some 2,000 new residents that will call his city home for the next nine months.
“Census data is out, and Stevens Point actually went down in the overall census,” said Wiza. “However, enrollment at UWSP is back up this year. The year after the census, rotten luck,” he added.
Enrollment at UWSP had been declining for several years, but Wiza welcomes this year’s uptick. He adds that there are several little things that residents can do to make those students feel at home as well. “You are going to see people who are not familiar with our roads so they may be going slower while trying to find directions- be patient with them. Remember life is not about how fast you get there,” added Wiza.
He also notes that classes are in session for students in grades K-12 as well, meaning students will be on the move in all different forms of transportation for the next few months as well. “Walkers, skateboarders, bicyclists, I saw some electric scooters running around town this last weekend- just be cognisant that we have about 2,000 or more new members or returning members to our community.”
In addition to extending a welcome to those students to town, Wiza also extended an invitation to them to get involved in one or more groups or community projects. He says that can be done with a simple phone call to the Community Development Office at City Hall, and the level of involvement can be as big or as small as you’d like. That includes anything from participating in the municipal band to a community theater or volunteering to clean up the city.
“There are always people whether they are elderly, disabled, or otherwise unable to perform some tasks like cleaning out gutters, raking leaves, or if you’re skilled maybe you can build or repair a deck. There’s always a community need and we love to get people involved,” said Wiza.
Other topics Wiza discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner include:
Start of video- Welcome to new students and call to get them involved in the community
7:20- Process for replacing Tori Jennings as District 1 Alder
10:45- Capital budget process
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