WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- Wausau Mayor Robert Mielke says he's continuing to watch the situation in Riverside Park but doesn't see any harm in waiting until 2020 to complete city-sponsored soil testing.
"I [would rather] carry that over to next year because then I'll have money set aside for it," said Mielke. He also noted that the contaminants in the soil have already been there for decades, and with winter drawing closer he doesn't see a reason to expedite the process.
Mielke said another reason he wants to wait is to protect the city's taxpayers from having to foot the bill for costly remediation. "It should be on WAULECO. If they caused the problem, caused the mess, why should the city of Wausau have to pay to get that cleaned up?"
"So like I said from a sense of both fiscal responsibility and common sense- if this is not on us, which it isn't, the right thing to do is to wait and see what that report is from WAULECO, and then make them pay for it," he added.
The testing became a semi flashpoint during last Tuesday's Parks and Recreation committee meeting when a Representative of Citizens for a Clean Wausau challenged the recommended testing points in the park brought forward by consultants hired by the city. Those on the committee challenged the group to come up with their proposal for test sites, which they said they would do.
The issue will come back to the committee in early October, where a final decision is expected to be made. It should be noted that any decision the Committee makes is still subject to approval by the city's finance committee.
Results of testing sponsored by WAULECO are expected to be in the city's hands by November.
Other topics Mielke discussed with WSAU's Mike Leischner include:
Start of video- a brief update on projects such as Riverlife and the new west-side fire station
3:15- Reaction to last week's Parks and Recreation committee meeting and additional soil testing in Riverside Park
8:00- Future of the Wausau Center Mall
11:00- Thoughts on the opening of football season