Tuesdays with the Mayor: A weekly update with Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza
By Taylor J. Hale
Staff Writer
STEVENS POINT – Mayor Mike Wiza sat down with Gazette staff to give an update on city functions as the COVID-19 pandemic proceeds to gain momentum in the state.
“We want to remind people to stay home if it’s not essential,” Wiza said. “I’m getting reports of people congregating in yards or houses and still having get-togethers. If it’s not essential, you should be staying home, that’s the quickest way to get through this.”
Safe polling
Wiza noted that the April elections were still held, but staff and volunteers were prepared with protective masks, disinfectants, and hand sanitizer.
“We wipe down the voting machines more frequently than we ever have to keep them clean,” Wiza explained.
Various groups and individuals throughout the city offered voters free handmade masks and pens to help curb any possible spread of the virus.
“I know even some private people where having masks or pens outside of their house so people could have them when going to vote,” Wiza said. “There’s a lot of caring, compassionate people here. When there’s a problem, they’re willing to step up.”
Stevens Point Fire receives pet oxygen masks
The Stevens Point Fire Department received life-saving pet oxygen masks from the Invisible Fence of Northern Wisconsin Project Breathe Program.
Project Breathe has supplied over 30,000 masks to various communities since its inception in 2006.
“We don’t necessarily have the money to buy these kinds of things for ourselves all the time, but when the community is able to step up, or there are grants available, we certainly appreciate it,” Wiza explained.
The kit includes a small, medium, and large mask for different sized pets, and provides fresh oxygen.
To learn more about Project Breathe, visit: https://www.invisiblefence.com/why-invisible-fence/project-breathe.