Messer project moves forward

The Rhinelander Common Council held a 10-minute special meeting Tuesday evening to authorize Mayor Kris Hanus to sign the necessary paperwork to apply for a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development not to exceed $5.2 million, and a grant not to exceed $1.3 million, to fund the 2025 Messer Street Area and Utility Improvement Project.

Plans for the project, which involves the neighborhood adjacent to Hodag Park and Boom Lake, were unveiled during the June 24 council meeting.

The streets involved are Messer (from Doyle Street to Hodag Park Drive), Evergreen Court (from Doyle Street to Rose Street), Lake Shore Drive (from Doyle Street to Rose Street), Rose Street (from Lake Shore Drive to Thayer Street), Fremont Street (from Messer Street to Hodag Park Drive) and Hodag Park Drive (from Messer Street to Thayer Street).

The project, which has been compared to the recent Oneida Avenue project, is expected to include sanitary sewer mains, manholes, laterals, partial street, sidewalk, storm sewer and miscellaneous improvements, according to materials included with the June 24 council agenda.

A public hearing, required as part of the loan application process, was held on July 22. 

Only two speakers chose to address the council during the public hearing. 

City forester Tom Jerow noted that the area in question is one of the city’s more heavily forested neighborhoods.

“Replacing the trees that need to come to down when you do this type of project, is going to be a challenge.” Jerow said, noting that it’s important to plan ahead for the replacement of the trees. He also suggested the contractor be responsible for planting the new trees rather than city staff. 

The second speaker was a resident of Thayer Street who had questions about the water, sewer, electrical and communication lines.

Mark Barden of Town and Country Engineering, the firm overseeing the project, responded by advising that there are maps available that show the plans for the project. It was also noted that a separate informational meeting for the affected residents will be held later this year.

During the public comment portion of Tuesday’s meeting, a Messer Street resident shared that traffic is an issue in the neighborhood.

“We have so many speeders on our road going from Pearl (Street) down to Hodag Park Road and they don’t stop for the stop sign at the corner there,” she said. “It’s just a hot mess every day.”

Among other things, the speaker suggested the city consider adding a stop sign at the corner of Fremont and Messer to better control traffic.

She also noted it would a major inconvenience for neighbors who are on a fixed income to have to hire someone to shovel the new sidewalks. 

Finally, she expressed concern about the potential loss of the neighborhood’s “beautiful old trees.”

“We have beautiful, beautiful trees on our road and if you drive down on our road there is great landscaping,” she said. “Everyone takes great care of their lawn and we take great pride in that, we don’t want to lose those trees.”

Because the comments were made during public comment, the alderpersons were prohibited from responding, per council rules.

Before the vote, city attorney Steve Sorenson said he had reviewed the application paperwork and found it in good order.

He stressed that having the mayor sign the paperwork does not obligate the city to proceed, but there would be a risk in not submitting the application.

“You’re not tying yourself in to anything but you are making yourselves available for something that if you didn’t do this it could be a couple of years before you could be eligible again,” the attorney explained. “This is a source of funds you may never see again.”

Hearing that, the council voted unanimously, and without discussion, to authorize the mayor to sign the USDA paperwork.

The total cost of the Messer Street project is estimated at approximately $9.4 million.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].