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Tom Rem emphasizes infrastructure, budgeting and public-utility readiness in run for alderman
Summary
Tom Rem, a former alderman and candidate for Wisconsin Rapids Fourth District, said aging streets and underground infrastructure are the city's top challenge and cited infrastructure, budget realism and city presentation as his priorities; he raised lead-service-line costs and urged clear resident communication.
Tom Rem, a lifelong Wisconsin Rapids resident and former alderman now running for the Fourth District seat, told the forum that aging streets and subsurface infrastructure are the city’s most pressing problems and that the council must align priorities with the dollars available.
"I think the infrastructure of what we deal with... our street conditions ... the aging infrastructure that's under it" is a major challenge, Rem said, adding that the city also needs to educate residents about emerging issues such as proposed data centers in the region.
Rem said he would focus first on infrastructure and budgeting, working with city staff to get concrete dollar figures before the council sets annual priorities. "It's to work with staff to get dollar figures... and then the council has to make a decision each year of what they can do or what they look at as the priorities to try and do," he said.
On negotiating a property tax assessment for the former paper mill, Rem said outside counsel can be helpful for specialized, technical work and recommended seeking expert opinion rather than asking the city attorney to take on unfamiliar complexity.
Rem addressed lead-service-line replacement by urging ordinance enactment, accurate tracking of affected properties and clear public communication about costs. He cited a rough $3,000,000 figure for replacement work and recalled a federal-related timeline around 2037: "It's somewhere around they're looking at probably about $3 million... I believe the deadline for getting everything done is about 2037 I believe somewhere in that area." Rem emphasized the need to find grant assistance and keep residents informed so they do not "get all up in arms."
Rem also urged intermunicipal cooperation on shared services to control rising costs and encouraged civic promotion of local assets such as schools and Mid-State Technical College. He closed by citing long experience in local government and a willingness to ask questions and make tough decisions when needed.
The program moved to closing remarks after the interview; there were no formal votes or endorsements during Rem's segment.
