RHINELANDER - Aging infrastructure is a problem for many cities.

And finding the funds to upgrade is a challenge.

But Rhinelander now has more than $5.5 million to help with its sewer system improvements.

Tim Kingman is the water and wastewater superintendent and says the city has been working to secure project funding for years.

The money comes from the U.S.D.A. Rural development funding program.

"Rhinelander is like many communities it has infrastructure that's aged and it needs repair," Kingman says. "Many communities are challenged with ways to come up with the resources to pay for these things."

The city opened its new waste water treatment plant last year.

This upgrade will help compliment it by improving the flow from the Davenport Street Bridge down across Kemp Street to the site of the old plant off of Boyce Drive.

The grant also ensures residents won't have to cover the cost.

"This is a necessary element to our sanitary sewer system in the city," Kingman says. "It had to be addressed at some time. It's a benefit to all users that we were able to go forward and get grant money to allieviate the cost that would normally get passed on to the user."

The project is set to begin next spring.

Story By: Matt Doyle