Marathon County Courthouse. MWC file photo.
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Marathon County Board of Supervisors voted 29-5 to approve a $795,000 land purchase for what could become a new Highway Department headquarters along Old Highway 51.
Highway Commissioner Jim Griesbach says he’s been involved in site surveys for dozens of potential locations in the last ten years, but this one fits their needs in multiple ways. “This one is zoned properly for us. That’s key because we’ve run into that issue on a few other parcels. Once we [realized] that, it became a very attractive site to us.”
It also allows the County to move the Mosinee satellite facility into the new location. That outpost houses four to five trucks and needs $4-5 million worth of upgrades. “To be able to combine them into this site is a big cost savings for Marathon County.”
Griesbach says the current facility at the corner of West Street and S 17th Avenue presents many “conflict points” as the city has grown around them. That includes a new Kwik Trip convenience store, which he admits is “great neighbor for lunch, not such a great neighbor when you’re trying to pull out of the parking lot,” along with pedestrian and vehicle traffic from Marathon Park, First Student’s bus barn, and Lincoln Elementary School.
“Our trucks actually need to pull out onto the sidewalk before they can see. I’ve always been afraid of accidents, coming out and hitting somebody on that sidewalk; a pedestrian or a biker,” added Griesbach.
He says a new facility will also allow for better workflow and efficiencies with staff. Modern equipment has also outgrown the current sheds, meaning some trucks have to be stored outdoors.
The purchase involves 18 acres, including land currently owned by Wisconsin Public Service. Griesbach says their ideal site is 24 acres, and they are working on purchase agreements for additional parcels.
“We do have an offer to purchase out for other [parcels] which will go through the same process we just went through tonight. So we will see if we end up building on this, or [something] a little bit bigger. We’re sitting on less than nine [acres] currently, so [this] would double our size. It’s something we can work with, but ideally, it doesn’t give us much room for expansion,” added Griesbach.
Some Supervisors expressed disappointment that the deal hadn’t been discussed with leaders in Kronenwetter, a sentiment that nearly derailed the measure. Two amendments were offered that would have put the vote on hold until the Village could be looped into the discussion, but those fell apart when it was revealed that two of the purchase agreements had May 1st deadlines.
Supervisor Chris Voll, who previously served as Village President in Kronenwetter, said Village leaders typically aren’t in the loop on land transactions. But once site plans for the land are drawn up and submitted, they will be. County leaders expressed a desire to begin those dialogues with the Village early so there are no surprises, especially when site plans are submitted.
“From an Administration standpoint, we put a lot of emphasis on meeting with not only the municipal leaders, but the neighbors,” said Administrator Lance Leonhard. “We would engage in significant conversations before a final plan is developed. It’s been my experience that you like to have a site plan that you know people are going to approve before you walk in and ask for approval.”
Griesbach says the design phase of the project could begin later this year. Construction would likely take 18 months, meaning completion is over two years away.
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