In March 2022, a sewer line across the old hospital property was capped where it entered the city’s sewer. In May, as the potential developer for the hospital property was doing their due diligence, questions arose whether the University’s sewer connection ran to the capped sewer line on the hospital property. That property is currently owned by Aurora Health Care while the University property is owned by the county. Warren Howard, the city’s Water and Wastewater Operations Manager, told the Marinette City Council that he became aware of the issue May 10th. After some investigation, it did not appear there was flow in the line on the hospital property, but there was also no flow detected on another lateral to the University Property near the intersection of University Drive and Bayshore Street. Howard speculated the wastewater could be going into the ground.

Because of that possibility, and the danger for nearby wells, Mayor Steve Genisot says the city wants to see the issue resolved quickly.

Genisot says meetings have been ongoing, and hopefully can involve all parties to reach a resolution.