No well: Nicolet College board declines Rhinelander’s proposal

The Nicolet College board of trustees has notified the city of Rhinelander the college is declining the city’s proposal to install a municipal well on Nicolet College’s campus.

The college is in the town of Pelican and the well has been a contentious item since the April 21 meeting of the Pelican town board in which town officials and residents alike let it be known they hadn’t any idea the city of Rhinelander was looking at the possibility of well installation on the college campus.

In May, two informational meetings about the well project were conducted, the first by the city of Rhinelander that was hosted by Nicolet College and the second conducted by the college itself. 

Overall, the city’s proposal was met with negative reaction from Pelican residents and town officials. Town chairman Nick Scholtes said he has consistently called for more transparency from both the city and the college. 

“After careful consideration, Nicolet College respectfully declines the City of Rhinelander’s proposal to install a municipal well on Nicolet College’s campus,” the board’s July 15 letter to Rhinelander city administrator Patrick Reagan read. “In close consultation with our legal counsel and a technical expert hired specifically to conduct an evaluation of the proposal, the Nicolet College Board of Trustees discussed in depth the benefits and environmental concerns associated with the project.” 

Citing its “deep concerns” outweighing  potential benefits, the board’s conclusion, the letter states, “is that likely more appropriate replacement well locations exist and are more readily available.” 

The letter then highlighted what it was the board based its conclusion on.

• There is a “high degree of uncertainty” about the extent of the impact/drawdown of nearby marshland, private wells and lakes. “The Board was unable to adequately evaluate the trade-offs of installing a municipal well without certainty of the well’s environmental impact.”

• Board members felt that installing a municipal well on college property “may only provide short term relief for local water needs.”

“The Board encourages the City to evaluate and strongly consider water treatment for contaminants, water conservation planning, and other long-term, more sustainable initiatives.”

Also with the letter to Reagan was a copy of the technical memorandum the board commissioned as part of a peer review of the well site investigation report for what was to be called “Well No.9.”

“We thank the City of Rhinelander for your partnership throughout the decision-making process, and we look forward to future opportunities to partner on initiatives that support our shared communities,” the board’s letter concluded. 

Town, city reaction

Scholtes Wednesday said he appreciated the listening sessions the city and college held in May “for the residents to be able to voice their concerns.”

“We’re also grateful that Nicolet College did their own study to help them make a good, informed decision,” he said.

One of the reasons the city of Rhinelander had been looking at installing a well at Nicolet College was because two other city wells were shut down a few years ago due to PFAS contamination. 

“We appreciate their situation that they’re in,” Scholtes said. “The fact that they have the need for this additional water. They’ve known about this need for years and hopefully, they have some contingency plans in place to move in another direction quickly.”

“We respect their decision,” Reagan said of the college board’s determination. “We will continue to look for a new site for a well and evaluate the options that we have.”

Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].