March 30, 2023 at 11:42 a.m.
PFAS issue shadows race for Stella town chair
Kristen Hanneman is running for town chair to help her fellow townspeople navigate the challenges associated with PFAS. At the same time, current town chair David Brunette is seeking to retain the office he's held for nearly four decades as the town faces some of its most difficult days.
Voters will make their choice on Tuesday, April 4.
Hanneman, who would be the first woman to serve as town chairperson in Stella, has experience in municipal government having served as treasurer for the City of Eagle River. She is also currently employed as state and local government auditor.
A resident of Stella since 2008, Hanneman noted that her family has been directly impacted by the PFAS contamination.
"What piqued my interest (in running for town chair) was the PFAS issue we're having out here and wanting to be more involved with the process and making sure that we see progress," she said. "My family is directly affected by the PFAS issue so to me it's really important."
Like her neighbors, Hanneman said she learned her well had dangerous levels of PFAS after it was tested as part of a statewide well testing project conducted by the DNR.
"It's absolutely terrible," she said of the contamination. "It's something I don't think any of us expected. It was not on any of our radar and now it's in our faces. It's a concern the whole community has."
"It's been an ordeal," she added.
PFAS, per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of human-made chemicals used for decades in numerous products including non-stick cookware, fast food wrappers, stain-resistant sprays and certain types of firefighting foam. These contaminants have made their way into the environment through accidental spills of PFAS-containing materials, discharges of PFAS-containing wastewater to treatment plants and certain types of firefighting foams, according to the DNR. These chemicals are known to accumulate in the human body, posing several risks to human health including certain cancers, liver damage and decreased fertility.
According to the DNR, some of the results from Stella are the highest seen anywhere in the state.
"Some of the numbers that came back we're just absolutely shocking," Hanneman said. "It's just really sad."
Given her experience working in local government and knowledge of municipal budgeting, Hanneman said she believes she can be an effective advocate for the town's taxpayers.
"A different perspective might benefit the community," she said, adding that her opponent has served as chairman for nearly four decades.
For his part, Brunette said he believes someone with experience should oversee things while the community grapples with PFAS.
"I want to see the town through this," he said, noting that he was instrumental in ensuring the affected households received water deliveries so they have clean water on hand to drink.
He also said he's anxious for the DNR to release the results of its most recent PFAS testing in the town.
Earlier this month, the agency announced it was expanding the testing area from 1 mile from the town hall to 2.5 miles from the town hall. Fifty-six residents and two summer camps received letters from the agency advising of the availability of the free well testing.
Brunette is hopeful the results of this latest round of testing will answer the question of just how pervasive the contamination is in Stella.
"Hopefully that will give us a pretty good idea where the (PFAS) concentrations are," he said.
Having served as chair for 38 years, Brunette is the only town chairman many Stells residents have ever known. Ultimately, the longtime public servant said it comes down to not wanting to leave his neighbors in the lurch at a time when support is vital.
"I'm always available to take calls and I've always been there for them," he said.
Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].
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