Wisconsin Rapids Alder Faces Recall Election Amid Data Center Dispute
Wisconsin Rapids residents forced Alder Michael Timm into a recall election after criticizing an email he sent to a local hotel about distributing signs opposing a proposed data center. The project, which would convert a historic paper mill site, also faces substantial community opposition, while the city’s Planning Commission recommended denying its conditional use permit.
Wisconsin Rapids residents collected enough signatures to trigger a recall election for Alder Michael Timm, citing an email he sent to Hotel Mead regarding the sale of signs opposing a proposed data center. Critics said the message improperly pressured the business, while Timm denied making a threat and said he was expressing his opinion. He has said he will not resign and plans to contest the recall.
The recall effort is part of broader opposition to a proposal to convert a historic paper mill site into a data center. The project has drawn large crowds, public protests and heckling at a developer-hosted forum led by former New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission unanimously recommended denying the developer’s conditional use permit, but the article does not identify the developer by name. The City Council approved the recall process in a 6-0 vote, with a primary and subsequent election scheduled for October and November unless no primary is required.