Marathon seeks $1M for utility extension

County to decide in July

Marathon City officials last week Wednesday called on the county’s Human Resources, Property and Finance Committee to recommend that the village receive $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to pay for utilities needed to develop a business park north of STH 29. The county anticipates receipt of $26.3 million in ARPA revenue that needs to be spent by the end of 2026.

The officials, village president Dave Belanger and administrator Andy Kurtz, argued that the county could reap an additional $71,000 in property tax and $58,000 in sales taxes annually from industrial, commercial and residential development if the money is granted for the business park project. They said this was a return on investment of 30 percent.

Kurtz said development of the business park would spur $22.5 million in growth outside the park, including “a pretty significant subdivision north of STH 29” on 100 acres of land already annexed to the village. The administrator said the subdivision construction could start within 18 to 36 months.

Belanger told supervisors the business park plan calls for a second utility crossing of the Big Rib River and construction of 1.6 miles of business park roads. Total cost for the plan is $4.9 million, he said.

The village president said the village’s current business park was filled and was a success. Started in 2004, he said the park was now home to 35 businesses that employ 225 people.

Kurtz said Act 94, co-sponsored by Sen. Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon) and Rep. John Spiros (R-Marshfield), allows the village to continue to spend money in its Tax Incremental District (TID) No. 1 business park for an additional seven years through 2035. The village, he said, has sold a revenue bond to help pay for expanding the park to the north side of STH 29.

The administrator said the village was eager to close out TID No. 1 in order to return property in the business park to the regular taxes rolls. He said, depending on the pace of development, the village could elect to close out TID No. 1 as early as 2031.

County supervisors questioned Kurtz on the use of ARPA dollars on a project already subsidized by Tax Incremental Finance (TIF).

Supervisor David Baker, Kronenwetter, asked whether the project would go forward if the county did not fund the village’s ARPA request.

Kurtz said the project would not be killed. He said the village intended to seek a Community Development Block Grant and a Department of Transportation grant to help fund the business park infrastructure.

County board chairman Kurt Gibbs, town of Cassel, questioned whether the county benefited from TIF used to develop the business park. He said TIF was used in a “war of municipalities” to woo businesses within their jurisdiction but that the county benefited no matter what county municipality a business decides to locate in.

Kurtz said only two businesses in the park were transfers from other county business parks. He said the village is a signatory to an anti-poaching agreement between county villages and cities.

The Marathon proposal is one of 23 requests for ARPA funding to be considered by the committee. The other

projects include:

n Digital forensics lab Faraday enclosure and mobile device forensic tools upgrade, $341,000.

n HVAC replacement for jail administration, booking and kitchen areas, $1,011,765.

n Marathon County jail property and person scanner, $280,000.

n Lake View Plaza HVAC control upgrades, $812,188.

n NextRequest public records request platform, $36,000.

n Marathon County Veterans Service Commission Fund, $24,000.

n Veterans small business project, $150,000.

n Courthouse duct cleaning, $13,000. n Marathon County fire department communications upgrade, $30,000.

n Marathon Juvenile Center air handler and duct cleaning, $13,000.

n Library duct cleaning, $17,000. n Replenish the North Central Health Care balance, $6,300,000.

n The Fenwood Creek Subwatershed conservation project, $3,660,000.

n City of Mosinee Library request, $75,000.

n District Attorney Office staffing, $320,087.

n Library headquarters third floor multimedia training area, $750,000.

n Regional Forensic Science Center project, $2,000,000.

n Sheriff’s Department Taser replacement, $77,231. n Eau Pleine Park shower and restroom facility enhancements, $750,000.

n Dells of Eau Claire restroom/ shower facility, lift station and camper cabins, $675,000.

n Nine Mile chalet renovation including sewer and water infrastructure enhancements, $850,000.

n Sheriff’s Department Training and Resource Center replacement, $3,200,000.

The county board has already approved $5,183,735 in projects, including $3,950,835 for broadband expansion.

Committee chairman John Robinson, Wausau, said the committee planned to hold another meeting to hear presentations for other ARPA requests. He said he hoped to send the county board a list of ARPA recommendations for its July meeting.