Wisconsin Rapids to use downtown TID funds for river-wall rehabilitation estimated at about $1 million

Mayor Matt Zacker described a planned river-wall rehabilitation to protect the downtown riverbank that he said will be funded from the downtown TID/TIF.

"That was a big and it's a huge, engineering undertaking," Zacker said, estimating the project at "right around 1000000, maybe a little more than 1000000" dollars and saying the funds will come from the downtown TID set up for the area. He said the city sought state funding but was unsuccessful and therefore decided not to delay the project.

Zacker outlined the planned work: diverting water to allow extensive tuckpointing of the stone wall and constructing a lower concrete wall in front of the existing rock to reduce erosion and protect the structure during high-water events. He said the risk increases when water runs high several times per year and the new concrete facing will better absorb friction than the existing stone.

The mayor said protecting the wall is an enabling step for downtown redevelopment, given nearby planned projects.