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More Testing Needed For Rhinelander Downtown Clean Up Sites

WXPR

A wrinkle has developed as the City of Rhinelander works to clean up and eventually sell two properties that have had hazardous chemicals on them.

One is the former Lindey Cleaners site on Stevens Street and the former Kabel Auto also downtown. The city is working to remediate the sites.

City Administrator Daniel Guild updated the common council, saying the process involving the city's consultant and the state toward a resolution of the two contaminated sites has slowed after the DNR wanted more testing..

"...Despite the fact the consultant followed the DNR's process and did everything the DNR asked them to do, the DNR has decided that that process is insufficient and would like us to do more testing. So the DNR denied closure of the sites. They are currently communicating with our consultants about next steps, what they need to do..."

Guild says the question arises as to where the money will come from for the additional testing. He says talks are underway to find the money to facilitate the additional testing. Guild didn't know Monday night what the new costs will be. Mayor Chris Frederickson says he's made contacts about getting more grant money to pay for the additional testing. Public Works Director Tim Kingman said the recent studies were to test the soil contamination but other concerns emerged...

"...The results indicated there still is groundwater contamination present. So the subsequent efforts here that the DNR would like to see on the site would be for the groundwater to be monitored...."

City Attorney Carrie Miljavich says the state can't compel the city to do anything further in the cleanup, but she says if the city ever wants to sell the properties, they need a final OK from the DNR to do so.

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