City Council hears project update, approves resolutions

At the last Rhinelander common council meeting, Mark Barden of Town and Country Engineering, Inc. provided council members with an update on the city project near Hodag Park.

Barden stated the Messer Street Project was going well. Curb and gutter concrete was being poured that day, and everything north of Rose, including Messer, Fremont and Hodag Park Drive would be done the next day. The next step after that would be completing the sidewalks, and driveway approaches. He expected that work to be done by the end of the week or possibly into next week. The next week, he said, crews would be looking at asphalt paving, with binder going down on the North section.

South of Rose, Barden said, utilities were going in on Messer Street. He estimated that work would be done in approximately two weeks. At that point, contractors would start work on Evergreen Court. He said the Messer Street project, so far, was running a bit under budget.

The work on Evergreen is expected to take approximately three weeks. Once that work is complete crews would start work on Lakeshore Drive. 

Barden told council members he received the sewer permit for the redesign on Lakeshore from the Department of Natural Resources on the day of the meeting. With the redesign, he said, there was no PFAS treatment needed. That permit, he said, would open the project up to get the remaining work done.

He also spoke about the manhole cover repair on Timber Drive. He said he was still waiting on the contractor for that work, which would be completed the week after the meeting. 

In other projects, a control panel base on Oneida Avenue was completed prior to the meeting date. All that was left there was to replace some sidewalk pieces. He reported the project on Menominee Street would begin in August. Because bids came in quite favorable on that job, the city was looking at an expansion to include some work on Apache Lane. Barden said that request was submitted to DOT and he was waiting for a response.

Other 2025 street projects included the overlay of Courtney and Young Streets as well as a project at Schiek Plaza, which would include reconstruction of the curb and gutter of the sidewalk. Handicap ramps at the post office and the Lincoln Street Project will be going out for bids, with bids being opened July 30. 

He also spoke about the Department of Transportation (DOT) funded project on Coolidge Drive and Shepard Street, from Lincoln Street to Timber Drive. He said the 30 percent plans had been submitted to the DOT. This process, he said, was a lot more involved than a normal road project. He estimated it would be next year before the plans would be completed to DOT standard.

The West Hill Path project, Barden said, was submitted to the DNR three weeks ago. Calls and emails had returned no word as of yet to learn if work can proceed there.

Resolutions

The council went out for bondage for $1 million, as they do every year, and also approximately $1.5 million for downtown improvements. Mayor Kris Hanus reported they found more favorable interest rates than expected, which was good news for the city. 

Josh Low of Ehlers Public Advisors made a presentation to the council regarding the bids. Severn organizations bid on the matter, with the best coming from Baird. This bid came in at 3.25 percent, with Ehlers expecting 4 percent interest. The city’s AA- rating, Low said, was helpful in that.

Other resolutions approved by the common council were a three-year service agreement with Primadata for mailing of the city’s utility bills. An Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grant Agreement was also approved for tree damage in the recent storm. 

Police Chief Lloyd Gauthier spoke to the council thanking them for ultimately approving the agreement for a $300,000 grant to fund the Peer Specialist for the Rhinelander Police Department. This grant required no local share, Gauthier said. When Federal funding for the recovery coach was pulled, this grant was identified as a possible funding source. This grant will allow that position to be funded for at least two years as well as some other items.

Another resolution approved a change order on the Messer Street Project for six items that came up during construction for a total of just over $15,000. Barden delineated everything on that change order.

A related resolution that was approved was to pay application #3 from Musson Brothers, Inc. in the amount of $1,061,399.13.

The council also approved, authorized and directed the Mayor Hanus to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Rhinelander and the School District of Rhinelander to utilize school facilities, such as the Hodag Dome, for City-held elections. Council members agreed that facility was a definite benefit to the city and its residents.

The city’s code of ordinances on short term rentals was tabled.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].