As we move into the spring season, there are several important updates and opportunities to share with the community.

The City will be moving forward with several road improvement projects in the coming months. These include resurfacing Hall Street from Stanton Street to Douglas Street, resurfacing Tabbert Street, and the complete reconstruction of Houston Street and a portion of E. Seward Street. These projects reflect our ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving city infrastructure. To learn more about future investments in Ripon, please see the “Ask the Administrator” segment below.

The City is also entering our building season, and there is strong activity underway. We have already issued 10 new single-family home permits in the first quarter of the year, in addition to the 37 single-family homes started in 2025. We continue to see positive private investment and are currently completing a zoning code update to ensure Ripon is well-positioned for continued growth. You can expect to see additional exciting development proposals in the coming months that will further enhance and build on the positive growth trajectory our community has experienced in recent years.

With warmer weather arriving, I encourage residents to take advantage of Ripon’s parks and outdoor spaces. The Parks and Recreation Department offers a wide variety of programs and activities for all ages, and the Senior Activity Center continues to offer regular programming. To learn more or get involved, please visit ripon.recdesk.com.

Finally, information regarding the upcoming spring election on Tuesday, April 7 is provided below by the City Clerk.

Thank you for your continued engagement in our community.

Theodore Grant

Mayor, City of Ripon

• Clerks Office - Election Updates
• The Spring Election will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Polls will be open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM at City Hall located at 100 Jackson Street.
• In-person absentee voting opens Tuesday, March 24, at City Hall. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and Friday, April 3, from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Get ready to vote by seeing what’s on your ballot. Visit MyVote.wi.gov for more information.
• Questions? Please call: 920-748-4915 or email cityclerk@cityofripon.com.

• Payment Service Network: Make your Utility Payments online! Click here.
• Pet Licensing: All City of Ripon residents owning a dog or cat that is 5 months of age or older must have their pet licensed. The license year is January 1 through December 31. Click here to learn more.
• City Hall Services and Dept of Public Works - See our Services Handout
• City Hall Summer Hours: Our summer hours begin from after Memorial Day through Labor Day. During this period, we will be open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and Friday from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM.

Q: What road projects are planned in the coming years?

A: The City of Ripon continues to aggressively plan and execute major road reconstruction projects to improve infrastructure and maintain long-term system quality. The city maintains a 5-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that outlines major infrastructure projects, including road reconstruction. This plan is reviewed and updated annually as part of the city’s budgeting process and is incorporated into our long-term financial management strategy.

Residents can view the full CIP, budget, and financial reports here and planned projects are summarized below: https://www.cityofripon.com/budgetsummary

Planned Road Reconstruction Projects (CIP):

• 2026: Houston St. (Full) & E. Seward St. (Houston to Spring) – $1,250,000
• 2027: Liberty St. (Union to West) – $1,500,000
• 2028: E. Sullivan St. (Full) – $750,000
• 2029: Pacific St. (Full) – $1,350,000
• 2030: STH 23 Project – $3,000,000

In addition to these larger reconstruction projects, the city utilizes Wheel Tax funding to complete additional pavement replacement projects each year:

Wheel Tax–Funded Street Projects:

• 2026: Tabbert St. (Washington to Eureka); Hall St. (Stanton to Douglas) - $193,672.47
• 2027: Carol Ave. & John St. (Full)
• 2028: Lincoln St. & Oak St. (Full)
• 2029: Wa Wa Ave. (Full); E. Jackson St. (Stanton to Douglas)

The Wheel Tax, coupled with our planned road reconstruction projects, has allowed the city to reduce its road replacement cycle from 104.57 years to 52.91 years, essentially doubling the amount of road miles completed annually. This is in addition to ongoing maintenance activities such as patching, crack filling, and other minor improvements, which receive over $325,000 in annual budget allocations.

The city also actively pursues state and federal grant funding to help offset costs and accelerate improvements. If awarded, these funds allow the City to expand project scopes, complete additional streets, and adjust priorities to maximize impact. Recent grant applications include:

• Griswold St. (Full Reconstruction): $5.4 million
• Scott St. (Full Reconstruction): $3.6 million

All planned projects are subject to ongoing evaluation of system needs, Common Council priorities, and available funding, and may be adjusted accordingly as part of the city’s annual budgeting and planning process.

As always, if you have any questions about the city, please ask!

Adam Sonntag

City Administrator, City of Ripon

PARKS & RECREATION / SENIOR CENTER



• Arbor Day Annual Community Day Celebration – Friday, April 24

Join us in celebrating Arbor Day by honoring the vital role trees play in our community at a special tree-planting event at Murray Park!

Community members of all ages are invited to roll up their sleeves and take part in this hands-on experience—helping place trees and fill in soil as we grow our shared green space. No experience is needed—just bring your enthusiasm, wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, and come ready to lend a hand.

The Department of Public Works will provide everything else. This year, we’ll be planting 10 new trees—come be part of something that will grow for generations to come!

• Light Up Ripon! Sponsor the 2026 Community Fireworks, July 3rd

The City of Ripon is preparing for its annual Community Fireworks Display on Friday, July 3, 2026. This event brings together hundreds of families and visitors each year and is made possible through community support. With rising costs, now averaging approximately $1,500 per minute, sponsorships are more important than ever to continue this tradition. Local businesses and community members are invited to contribute at any level to help make this event possible. If you’re interested in supporting the 2026 fireworks display, please contact Ashton Zeien, Parks and Recreation Director at azeien@cityofripon.com for more information.

• Bunny Hop Recap- The Murray Park Trail Bunny Hop brought families together for a fun-filled morning of movement, treats, and community connection. The day kicked off with a festive Easter egg hunt hosted by the Early Bird Kiwanis, followed by a lively stroll along the Murray Park Trail. Along the way, participants visited local organizations, collected goodies, followed interactive signage, and enjoyed time outdoors with family and friends. This special event was made possible through the collaboration of the Ripon Parks and Recreation Department and the Early Bird Kiwanis. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day such a memorable celebration of community!

Watch the recap video on our Facebook Page.

Visit our Parks and Recreation Website

to explore a variety of activities and ways to get involved!

A Big Shoutout to Our Public Safety Teams!

Snowstorms are never easy—unpredictable conditions, long hours, and personal sacrifices make this a tough job. Our public works and safety teams go above and beyond to keep our streets safe and the city moving with minimal disruption to businesses, events, and daily life. See below for our stats for the most recent snowstorm in March.

POLICE DEPARTMENT



Drug Take Back Event: Tuesday, April 14th, 9–11 AM at the Ripon Senior Activity Center located at 388 Murray Park Drive where you can safely dispose of unused or expired medications. We also have a Permanent Drop Box location at the Ripon Police Department/City Hall lobby area during regular business hours.

Cadet Program: The Police Department is starting a Public Safety Cadets program! The Cadets are motivated & responsible students ages 14-20. The Cadets train with law enforcement officers, attend conferences/competitions, ride along with officers on patrol, and learn the skills needed to be a police officer. Build that resume early. Interested students can contact Officer Shew at (920) 748-2888 or brandon.shew@riponpolice.com.

RIPON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Check out our website to stay current on what's happening and discover ways you can get involved!

Did you know the library has a newsletter? Sign up here.

City Departments

Explore our city departments to learn about current policies and programs, and stay up to date on what’s new in our community.

Share this LINK with your neighbors and friends of the community to sign up for our city newsletter to stay connected with what’s happening across the City of Ripon! From city policies and projects to highlights from Police, EMS, Public Works, Parks & Recreation, and the Senior Center, there’s always something new to discover. Learn how city employees serve the community, keep Ripon safe and thriving, and stay connected to local initiatives, events, and ways to get involved.

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100 Jackson St, Ripon, WI 54971

920-748-4916

Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm

www.cityofripon.com

Our Mission Statement

The City of Ripon invites businesses, residents, and customers to be a part of our strong community networks. We are proud to provide exceptional community spaces, public safety, municipal services, and community programs to all Riponites.



Our Core Values

• Commitment - We work hard and give our best every day, providing dependable services, safe neighborhoods, and welcoming spaces that help Ripon thrive.  
• Accountability - We take ownership of our actions and decisions, acting with honesty, fairness, and transparency to earn the community’s trust.  
• Respect - We treat everyone with fairness, care, and professionalism, building trust through every interaction.  
• Enrichment - We solve problems, encourage new ideas, and work together to create opportunities that help Ripon grow and thrive.