City to look at Lincoln Street safety options

The Rhinelander Common Council has given the city’s administrative team the green light to look into potential options for improving pedestrian safety at the Lincoln Street-Baird Avenue intersection.
Alderman Steven Jopek, whose district includes the south side of Lincoln Street, suggested the city consider modifying the intersection to mitigate the flow and speed of traffic.
While there is a crosswalk at that location, motorists drive through it at high rates of speed, he told his fellow alderpersons during the council’s June 23 meeting.
“They want to go as fast as they can, as fast as possible,” he said. “People do not stop for crosswalks, for people (standing) there. I’ve waited upwards of eight, nine minutes with my children, waiting to cross the road, as have many of my neighbors.”
“There’s plenty of families with young children who are all trying to cross the road to get to school, to get to events in the community, to get downtown…” he added.

The options discussed included installing a speed hump, a flashing walk sign, a 3D painted crosswalk or rumble strips.
Speed humps, it was explained, are “larger humps that are put into the road, not quite a speed bump, so it’s not as rough on your car, but definitely slows down your speed.”
It was noted that now would be the optimal time to discuss potential modifications to the intersection as the Department of Transportation (DOT) has agreed to complete a mill and overlay on a section of Lincoln before it’s used as a detour during the agency’s 2026 Highway 8 roundabout project.
When asked to provide input, Chief of Police Lloyd Gauthier stated that the area in question has been the site of a number of accidents over the years.
The sign for the restaurant at 343 Lincoln has contributed to the problem, he noted.
The sign, which was installed decades ago when the eatery at that address was a Fender’s ice cream parlor, has continued to be an impediment as various operators came and went and the facility served different cuisine, he explained.
“That sign really should have been really evaluated,” the chief said. “It is definitely probably the biggest obstacle to that intersection other than speed.”
Mayor Kris Hanus said a speed hump would be a “24/7 deterrent for speeding.”
“Everyone will feel it and slow down,” he noted.
Ultimately, the council voted unanimously to direct administration to work with the department heads, and consult with the DOT, to generate options for addressing speeding and accidents along Lincoln Street at the Baird intersection. Staff is to bring findings related to estimated cost and impact to the council for further discussion.
In other business, the council authorized the mayor and fire chief to sign a contract extending the Rhinelander Fire Department’s agreement with the State of Wisconsin continuing RFD’s role leading the Oneida County Hazardous Materials Response Team. In January, the council approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Oneida County allowing for the RFD to take over the county’s HazMat team. The agreement, effective as of July 1, extends this arrangement until June 30, 2027.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, deputy chief Josh Schmitz expressed concern about extending the contract.
“We’re not prepared for this,” he told the council, noting that half of the 18-member department has less than 20 years combined experience. “There needs to be way more time, way more training.”
He also asked the council to consider whether the department’s response to a state-activated HazMat incident could leave the city without proper fire coverage.
During discussion of the resolution approving the contract, fire chief Brian Tonnancour stressed that the department can turn down requests to respond to state HazMat calls.
In addition, he noted that some of the personnel who were on the team when it was led by the county are still involved and the team is linked to the Wausau HazMat team.
“It’s not just us,” he said. “It’s us and Wausau so we won’t be responding alone.”
As he did when the topic was first discussed in January, Tonnancour gave his word that the city will never be left without proper coverage.
“That will never be,” he said. “As long as I’m here, we will make sure that does not happen. Rhinelander will always be supported.”
Ultimately, the council voted 8-1 to extend the contract. Jopek cast the lone dissenting vote.
To watch the entire council meeting, visit www.hodagtv.com.