WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — More tests will be done on the soil in Riverside Park in the near future.
At Monday afternoon’s Parks and Recreation Committee meeting for the City of Wausau, the committee discussed establishing a plan for the discussion of further soil testing at Riverside Park. The discussion began with committee chair alderperson for District 1 Pat Peckham giving some opening remarks.
He acknowledged there was some difficulty from the council in understanding the public continued concern for the park after the testing done for the Thomas Street project. Peckham explained the sample number used in the report was the second highest sample because the first highest soil sample was in an area of the park that couldn’t be accessed by the public. He also explained that the report was expressed in both parts per billion and parts per trillion as it is the standard for reports of that nature.
The discussion then continued to talk about other concerns about contamination in that area. Committee member Tom Neal was concerned about pooling water on the south side of the river and how that was impacting the soil. He also brought up that with the new plans for the river trail with the Riverlife projects, the city should know if it’s safe to work in that area with the soil.
Dennis Smith thought that the committee needed to determine what they were testing for first. Then the committee could figure out how to test the soil and where to test it at. But that it was more important to know what types of things would be tested for, like possible carcinogens.
Mayor Mielke also spoke on the topic, saying the city was open to more testing on the area. But he wondered what else there would be to do. He also questioned what level of testing would satisfy people’s concerns with the area of Riverside Park.
After more discussion among members about the potential scope of the testing, a motion was made to find an environmental consultant with the help of the Department of Public Works. Peckham told WSAU News that hiring a consultant would be the best way to satisfy the concern about the area. “And the best way appears to be that we get an environmental consultant. An independent company unrelated to the city that that person can help direct us.”
The consultant will be found by releasing an RFP. Peckham explains exactly what the RFP will entail. “It’s to have an environmental consultant who would lead us in deciding the testing that we’re going to be doing. What we’re going to look for any kind of afterward what to make of it.”
He’s hoping they’ll have the consultant in the room for the committee’s next meeting on February 4th. “We’re going to try to have some expertise in the room with us for our February 4th meeting. So we can decide how much testing is necessary, what we’re going to test for, which is crucial.”
Peckham says the main goal with the additional testing is to resolve the issue of the area being safe for park goers and any future construction projects. “What we’d like to do it, do this once, do this right. Let’s resolve this. And the park and recreation committee’s purview is the park. So we’re not going to be talking about the entire Thomas St. corridor. We are going to be talking about Riverside Park and trying to confirm for residents whether its safe or not.”
An RFP will be drafted by the department of public works in the coming week to be released to find an environmental consultant for the project. The next discussion on the future testing will take place at the Parks and Recreations next committee meeting on February 4th.
