Former Wausau Center Mall site. MWC file photo by Mike Leischner
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Wausau City Council will hold a special meeting next week to take action on an amended developer’s agreement for the Foundry on 3rd at the former Mall site.
The updated agreement calls for construction of the multi-story mixed-use development to begin by June 1st, 2024; with completion two years later. Alders were originally agendized to give final approval during Tuesday’s meeting but held off because legal counsel was unavailable.
Alder Lisa Rasmussen said the delay allows them to ask questions. “[It would be] a special session of the council. We could devote our full attention to the item that night, get the answers to the questions that we want, then immediately come back to open session and take action however we choose.
“We’re not creating a lengthy delay,” she added.
Mayor Katie Rosenberg noted that she received multiple requests for a closed session on the issue, which led to the decision to pull the item from the agenda. alder Doug Diny later requested discussion on it, and the council voted to delay action until after a close session could be held.
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Council President Becky McElhaney said she wouldn’t have been able to vote yes on Tuesday without consulting the city’s legal team in closed session. “I need to make an educated vote. I am here to represent my district. [My residents] are asking questions that I don’t have answers for. I can’t make a big decision without that knowledge.
“I totally agree with Alder Rasmussen. We will get to a better product that way. Once questions are answered things seem to clear up,” she added.
The first draft of the development agreement had called for groundbreaking by September 1st, three weeks from now.
The special meeting has not been scheduled, though Mayor Rosenberg was hoping to schedule it on either Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of next week.
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