October 6, 2020

To candidates for public office and the people of Rhinelander,

In DDD Rhinelander’s water was tested for PFAS and a few related chemicals. We found very high levels in two wells. I closed those wells to protect Rhinelander residents. The remaining three wells supply our basic needs. Increased demand or another well problem will start a water crisis in Rhinelander.

I focus on the future we can shape. The answer to the problem is a solution, not blame. I have three goals:

1. The City of Rhinelander will provide safe water.
2. PFAS will be contained and remediated at the groundwater source.
3. Human PFAS health effects are remediated.

In my vision of the future we solve the problem. The water supply is safe and healthy. The
community is united and moving forward.

Research on problem solving tells us that the first step toward a solution is to admit there is a problem. The first step is not to blame someone. We are here to solve problems. To assign blame only creates other problems.

Until we solve the PFAS problem the City of Rhinelander may see less growth. New businesses may be reluctant to come. Existing businesses may choose to expand elsewhere or move out of Rhinelander. Since we do not have federal PFAS regulations, states with PFAS regulations in place have an economic and policy advantage.

I recruited community members to advise me about PFAS and other forever chemical issues. The group is WATR, Water Action Team Rhinelander. Every Wisconsinite should have safe drinking water. We look for proven solutions, available in the market, in scale with our need, and can be quickly implemented. To speed solutions, we welcome businesses to test remediation technologies here.

We ask candidates for public office to commit to work with us to . . .
• Identify and secure funding for remediation.
• Set policy, make rules and develop best remediation practices
• Calculate the financial cost of PFAS contamination.
• Calculate the financial cost to remediate our municipal ground water supply
• Make proven remediation technologies affordable and available
• Identify and contain PFAS sources in the environment
Community members have asked . . .
• What is your position on PFAS regulation?
• How can we enable the DNR to respond to PFAS in Wisconsin?

October 6, 2020
• With what potential partners would you engage and why?
• Do you think the state should provide resources to local governments to remediate PFAS
chemicals?
• How do we set the table to bring industry and government together and solve the PFAS
problem?
• Who are the resources you trust for information about PFAS issues?
At WATR we ask ourselves why we do this. Our answer is, “Because we have to.” What part do you
want to play?

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