City clarifies well plan

Rhinelander city administrator Patrick Reagan has clarified the city’s plans with respect to the location of the new well it wants to construct on the city’s south side.

In a recent phone interview with the Star Journal, Reagan explained that the city is hoping to locate the new well near College Drive on the Nicolet College campus, however the city and the college have not yet negotiated an agreement for access to the property.

“The city plans on negotiating with Nicolet,” he said. “We want to be a good partner with Nicolet. (The college) is good for the community and we value them.”

During its last meeting, on March 24, the common council approved a resolution directing Mayor Kris Hanus to sign an agreement with Town & Country Engineering for engineering and design services for the new well at a cost not to exceed $166,000. 

The scope of services memorandum included with the resolution indicated the well is to be located at the site of a test well drilled earlier this year. What the memorandum did not make clear is that the city has not yet purchased or obtained the land in question.

In the interview, Reagan acknowledged that the language presented to the council in the resolution should have clarified this fact. However, he stressed that the design agreement with Town & Country had to be finalized in order for the city to apply for grants and other funding for the project.

A new well has been deemed necessary as two of the city’s wells. Nos. 7 and 8, have been offline since 2019 due to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl) contamination.

The goal is to help alleviate the city water system’s capacity issues.

The Star Journal will continue to follow the progress of this project.