County to purchase properties in Wausau
Marathon County is looking to purchase a trio of buildings in downtown Wausau as part of a long-term plan to expand its courthouse and jail facilities.
After meeting in closed session at its July 18 meeting, the board of supervisors adopted a resolution to use $768,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to buy the following properties: 525 and 527/531 Washington St. and 210 N. Sixth St. The actual cost will be less any outstanding property taxes owed by the current owner, plus closing costs (there are no taxes owed as of 2022, according to online tax records).
The vote was 30-1-1, with supervisor Chris Dickinson voting no and supervisor Jasper Hartinger abstaining.
County maps indicate that all three properties are currently owned by a trust established by the law offices of Crooks, Low & Connell, LLC., and one of them is operated by Designer Bridal Discounts. They are clustered together at the southwest corner of Washington Street and North Sixth Street, on the same city block as the county’s courthouse/jail complex.
A stipulation in the county’s purchase offer will allow the properties to be leased out to the current tenants.
According to the resolution adopted by the board, the purchases are in line with a resolution adopted in 2013 to “pursue negotiations” for any available properties “between Forest Street and Washington Street and Fifth Street and Sixth Street to support potential long-term courthouse and jail expansion plans.” The resolution also notes that the county previously acquired a property at 530 Jackson St. in 2020 as part of this policy.
Supervisor Tony Sherfinski, who made the motion to approve the purchase resolution, provided the only open-session comments about the decision.
“I think it is a prudent and wise use of our funds to pursue this property and plan for the future,” he said.
Prior to last Tuesday’s vote, the planned purchases were discussed twice in closed session by the Human Resources, Finance and Property Committee and once by the full board at its July 13 educational meeting. At that meeting, board chairman Kurt Gibbs denied a request by an unnamed supervisor to record the closed session discussion.
Gibbs said the board’s rules allow for the recording of closed sessions, but he worried about the technical ability to fully record the conversation. He noted that supervisors’ individual microphones would have to be turned off to prevent their voices from being heard outside the room, so it would be up to the ceiling microphones to pick up the sound.
“I do not want to create a record that is inaccurate or not complete,” he said.
When supervisor Joel Straub asked if individual board members could record the conversation on their cell phones or other devices, Gibbs said the county’s rules do not allow that.
Supervisors Sherfinski and Dickinson voted against going into closed session at the July 13 meeting, and supervisor Tim Sondelski joined Dickinson in voting against the closed session at the board’s July 18 meeting.
As stated in the resolution, county administrator Lance Leonhard is now authorized to extend an offer to purchase and “take all necessary steps to complete” the transaction.
Other business
n The board approved amendments to Chapter 16 of county ordinances, including a change that will allow fat tire bikes to use designated trails during the winter at Nine-Mile Recreation Area.
n The board approved the following appointments to a newly created task force that will examine tax-incremental finance (TIF) districts in the county: supervisors David Overbeck (chair), Jacob Langenhahn, Gayle Marshall, Tom Rosenberg and Allen Drabek, along with Gerry Fitzgerald from the town of Emmet, Lisa Rasmussen from the city of Wausau, and CPA Jean Schultz from the business community. A representative from another taxing jurisdiction still needs to be determined.
n The board approved the creation of a second sheriff’s deputy position to be assigned to Rib Mountain, with the cost of salary and benefits to be fully paid by the municipality.
n The board approved the transfer of a $4,000 grant from the Wisconsin Election Commission to the clerk’s office, which will use the money to buy newly redesigned absentee ballot envelopes.
n The board approved budget assumptions for the 2024 budget, which includes a set of projections for revenue such as sales tax and state shared revenue and expenses like employee compensation and health insurance.
