Riverside Park sign. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — There will be additional testing in Wausau’s Riverside Park before a final verdict on if dioxin levels in the soil pose a danger to residents who recreate in the park.
On Monday the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee discussed a request from the Wisconsin DNR for further testing in some areas of the park, particularly the culvert.
Committee Chair Pat Peckham says they haven’t been given the exact location of where those tests should be taken. He says it appears the best route is to have REI, the city’s consulting firm on this project, work closely with the DNR to map that out. That includes getting the DNR to sign off on the work plan before additional samples are collected.
“It’s not required,” said Peckham. “It would probably come down to if REI is confident they have a handle on what needs to happen they can go forward. But, if they want to be darn sure and maybe wrap it up with this round of testing they would run it past the DNR.”
According to an email from Matt Thompson, a scientist with the DNR who has been working with the city for the duration of these tests, the added testing would better define the source of contaminants at the base of the culvert. He also requested two additional tests in other areas which were defined by their boring codes from previous results.
These additional tests were hinted back in June of 2020 when Thompson told Peckham the further testing could be required before any additional action is taken.
RELATED: Further investigation into Riverside Park soil samples requested
No specific timeline for when this testing will occur was given. Killian did request that the committee stays in close contact with the city’s Engineering and Public Works Departments to keep constituents informed through the process.
“I’m going to get questions from residents so it would be easier for me [to have that information] rather than playing some sort of middle-man,” he said.
Killian added that could be as simple as having a summary of communications between the city’s Public Works Director Eric Lindman and the DNR and others regarding soil testing included in future agenda packets. The committee then considered that request in the form of a motion, which passed.
Previous tests have shown higher-than-normal dioxin levels, though not elevated enough to present a greater risk to residents and those using the park. Because of those results, the city has never given the park a clean bill of health but has also never closed it off to public access.
Comments