Committee names next poet laureate and gets update on Thomas Street infill testing

The Economic Development Committee on Oct. 7 unanimously recommended the Arts Commission’s choices for Wausau’s next poet laureate and alternate, and heard a progress update on an infill remediation project on Thomas Street.

Why it matters: The poet laureate selection is a cultural appointment routed through the economic development committee per the Arts Commission’s authorizing resolution. The Thomas Street update concerns another environmental testing project in the city and signals continued movement on remediation and grant reporting.

Poet laureate selection: Brad Lehi, city planner, summarized the Arts Commission’s subcommittee review. The commission recommended Mai Cal as poet laureate and Berry Liss as alternate; the committee approved the recommendation by unanimous voice vote after a motion by Alder Neal and a second by Alder Tierney.

Thomas Street infill update: Randy Feifrick reported that test wells were drilled in August as part of the city’s WAM grant work and that DNR lab results were pending. He said the DNR contact expects a draft report by the end of the month and that staff will continue coordination on the grant and next steps.

Ending note: The committee approved the Arts Commission selections and asked staff to continue coordinating with the DNR on Thomas Street testing results and next steps.