The city of Rhinelander would like to clean up the former Lindey Cleaners in downtown Rhinelander and should they get ownership, they would like to remove the building.
The city council voted Monday to authorize working toward a grant to build a parking lot on the site. The city could eventually get ownership of the property for back taxes through foreclosure. The federal Environmental Protection Agency would like to remove solvents and underground tanks underneath the Stevens Street property. City Administrator Blaine Oborn gave an update...
"....if we get the help from the E.P.A. and the help from (Oneida) county waiving the taxes, then counting our initial investment of $4,000 it looks like we will be able to do the clean up without additional funding...."
Oborn says demolition of the building and cleanup of the property would be covered by a grant administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The city's burden on the grant is thought to be $4,000 but can be matching funds.
The council voted to pursue another grant totaling $20,000. That grant would enable the conversion of the site to a parking lot, should all the other initiatives come to fruition. The timeline on the project is about two years, should the federal and state funding come through.
