City alders express support for footpath, request more information

West Side residents are one step closer to improved foot and bike access to the rest of the city after the Rhinelander Common Council on Monday directed city administration to provide more information, including cost estimates, to build a path linking West Hill Road to Phillip Street.

The idea for the proposed footpath developed after west side resident Ben Meyer addressed the council last May to request that the city add a sidewalk to Davenport Street.

“Sidewalks and walkability” make cities and communities “much more attractive as places to live and places to raise a family,” Meyer told the council last year.

Meyer attended Monday evening’s council meeting to provide an update. While the sidewalk idea has not come to fruition, the footpath option is considered more feasible, he explained.

“The people on the far west side in the City of Rhinelander are effectively isolated from the rest of our community right now,” Meyer said. “We do not have an option to bike or walk to the rest of our city without using Davenport Street. Davenport Street is the only option and the west side of Davenport Street is windy, it is narrow, it has no sidewalk. It’s busy with traffic and tractor trailers are coming up and down that street regularly, so it’s not an inviting place for a person like me with a one-year-old who wants to have a stroller and go to the library or go to the park.”

Meyer went on to explain that there is an informal overgrown footpath at the end of West Hill a few hundred feet from the corner of Lois and Phillip streets and the current proposal is to “connect   those two points with a more formal bike path, something like crushed limestone,” so residents can get into town by foot or bike without having to contend with the busier, potentially more dangerous Davenport Street.

He noted that the city owns a strip of land between the two points, thus the path could be built without the need for an easement or land purchase.

However, there are “a couple of potential hurdles.”

The strip of land abuts a low-lying wetland area, which could be problematic, and there are two nearby residents who have raised objections based on loss of privacy and perceived reduction in property value, according to Meyer.

“We’re not asking for a major development here, certainly nothing commercial, not a road,” he stressed, in response to the concerns. “Accessibility like this rarely hurts property values,” he added, noting that the vast majority of residents in this area are in support of the path and “the folks with reservations are in the deep minority.”

He also noted that the Oneida County Biking and Walking Trails Council has expressed support for the project.

“In a broader sense, I hope you, as elected officials, want to make Rhinelander a better place to live, a place people want to live, especially for young families like my own,” Meyer said. “And if that’s something you want, this is the kind of step you need to take. Cities that are accessible, walkable, bikeable are places where people want to live.”

When the discussion turned to the council, alderperson Eileen Daniel noted that she has heard from the resident whose home is closest to the proposed trail.

Daniel stated that the resident advised the trail would be located some 5 to 8 feet from their home’s main window and they have concerns about members of the general public looking into their home.

The property was purchased with the understanding that it is kind of secluded and you pay a little bit more for something like that, Daniel noted.

Several alderpersons said while they understand the concerns expressed, the land in question is owned by the city and it may be in the best interest of the greater good to build the pathway.

Sveral alderpersons noted that close proximity to others is part of living in a city as a opposed to a rural area.

“First of all, I just want to say anybody walking past my house could definitely look in my windows from the sidewalk,” alderperson Carrie Mikalauski noted. “In that regard, that’s just part of living in the city.”

“I do think that this is a need and welcome anybody who thinks differently to contact me,” she added.

“Ultimately, it is city land and there is a need and want by many residents out there,” alderman Tom Barnett agreed.

Mayor Kris Hanus noted that the concerned property owners could alleviate privacy concerns by putting up a fence or barrier. 

He went on to say that he understands the property owners have considered this area to be part of their backyard, but just because they have used the area in question doesn’t make it their property.

City attorney Steve Sorenson then clarified that property cannot be obtained via adverse possession, meaning that allowing use of a particular piece of land does not convey property rights.

“Right now people can be walking on this any time they want,” he said. “People can be walking back and forth and that wouldn’t be a violation of any kind.”

After asking a few more questions, alderman Steven Jopek said it appears there is enough space to construct a trail without negatively impacting the nearby property owners.

“I don’t think anyone here is trying to harm anyone else’s privacy,” he said.

The discussion ended with Barnett making a motion to direct city administration to gather information on cost and materials to be brought to the council for further discussion during the second council meeting in October.

The motion passed unanimously.

In other business Monday, the council approved the appointment of the following individuals to the newly created ad hoc golf course advisory committee:

• Dan Lundberg

• Erik Matson

• James Sherman

• Brian Tonnancour

• John Zierden

• Mike Tolvstad

• Patrick Reagan

It was stressed that this panel will act in an advisory capacity only and its existence does not preclude the council from holding a work session or other meeting to address concerns related to the management of the city-owned Northwood Golf Club and the city’s contract with the management firm currently operating the course.

To watch the entire council meeting, visit www.hodagtv.com.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].