[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6115030,"mediaKeyId","2740433-e9ae1eaef48151bcba91cb8adf9b695f","parentId",2740433,"title","Board schedules votes on appointments, ordinances, zoning and grants for next meeting","audioSeconds",5138,"startMs",4938000,"endMs",10076000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2740433-e9ae1eaef48151bcba91cb8adf9b695f&start=4938&end=10076","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2740433-e9ae1eaef48151bcba91cb8adf9b695f/thumbnail_4938000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6115030/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Board-schedules-votes-on-appointments-ordinances-zoning-and-grants-for-next-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6115030-9e67e17a52d784d598ef29e742b0e276/orig.mp4?Expires=1770414190&Signature=RGjMRy6CuGtGkdMWCpIry3Icz0ejO5L7nHxluJWXYyUpbi37WZ4B82lu-00INSN9UXzQ-lgFgw8kHRJE6E~h9vuvpJrCbbkI9TuxgAu-3jelsoIxB6Zoer7qMx1QlUVGFB0i4KHJ4kseOODht2bS-~1IaThzqUAGv6-6p6KiDo9pIvLkKhozJ~eo2hSaaE6EtgivdFCiHWxopBQpyOD29FPINdnc5xLBPgswLtMVxxOBDYhCE0HdUIyv-wugoE1oc1JK4zWja3pmLZQ43FWAptkYfDI2iLdzTaQwn2~D~FQt8khUdu3OLcHXsd4eawe~xwhrqUN7ByOY9GitC3M3qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-23T04:19:16.23Z","article","On Thursday the Marathon County Board of Supervisors read and discussed several items that were scheduled for a future vote at the next county board meeting; no final votes on these items were recorded at the March 20 educational session.

Items presented for future board consideration (as read in the March 20 meeting packet):
- Reappointment: Reappoint Patrick Schreiner of Athens to the Marathon County Board of Adjustment to complete a three‑year term to expire 06/30/2027 (agenda item 9a1). The clerk read the appointment notice to the board.
- Ordinance updates: Amendments to Marathon County Code of Ordinances (chapter 16 and chapter 19) and updates to sections 2.06 and 7.125 of the Wausau City Parks subsection were listed for consideration (9b1).
- Purchasing ordinance: Revision to chapter 3 of the Marathon County Code of Ordinances related to cooperative purchasing (ordinance packet item 9b2).
- Zoning/resolutions: Environmental Resources Committee items including rezoning requests and ordinance changes for the Town of Wausau and Town of [Tonawas? Tonawasa as read] (resolutions cited in packet as 13‑25 and 14‑25); specifics in the packet were read and questions invited.
- Grants/resolutions: An item authorizing a letter of commitment for a BRIC grant match and funding support for a safe‑room study/construction was listed (resolution 15‑25); a county resolution supporting renewal of the Knowles‑Nelson Stewardship Fund was listed (resolution 16‑25).
- Parks funding: A resolution to consider allocation of funds for short‑term repairs at the Marathon Park ice arena per Park Commission direction was listed (resolution 17‑25).
- Additional resolutions: A Work Zone Awareness Week proclamation (resolution 18‑25); a letter of support for Attic Services housing‑help program funding (resolution 19‑25); and a letter of support to the state for funding the medical clearance program at Northcentral Health Care (resolution 20‑25).

How the board handled the items
Board members asked informational questions during the March 20 session. Several items were discussed in committee and advanced to the full board’s agenda for a formal vote on the scheduled Tuesday meeting; fiscal impacts and match obligations were raised during discussion, and staff committed to provide additional detail and backup materials in advance of the vote where requested.

No final approvals or vote tallies for the listed resolutions and ordinances were recorded at the March 20 educational meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Marathon County Board Educational Meeting - 3/20/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board read several items for consideration at an upcoming Tuesday meeting — including a reappointment, ordinance revisions, zoning changes, grant applications and resolutions — but did not record final votes at the March 20 session.","taxTitle","Marathon County, Wisconsin","taxId",4560,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6115034,"County weighs short‑term repairs to Marathon Park ice arena and seeks grant commitment for a safe room",6343,137000,6480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2740433-e9ae1eaef48151bcba91cb8adf9b695f&start=137&end=6480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2740433-e9ae1eaef48151bcba91cb8adf9b695f/thumbnail_137000.jpg","/articles/6115034/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/County-weighs-shortterm-repairs-to-Marathon-Park-ice-arena-and-seeks-grant-commitment-for-a-safe-room","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6115034-6884933d760bcd6cd7034538b2eda9fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770414190&Signature=TTtMhIKX2gl2wV5dJNJXl1MDcFi9zlTFPsjnpkk5TofppjY4YnhbCG4ZExXuYS6ESON1s2YCoc2KUcgsgEAEfj4FlARhWKFXFOm8PxCC0pxE9ILvTbiJ8mSZxFof~cMV9zWSFMFXd~oYQASIEIsrmYQ6aY1YD-9fxX1oBZ3JdsGIClYLEJ4nYrrHD4vXtKqmjv7OQEvb8xwu4EEJHT4CDvs235mSl2jgKDdlM9K~Egx0kLha~Inp-4Bi~TQ-h5q793w8nIHtbePqEiMN6kvaRVuzSe2cmhKjWvHsn9gKJmqfJrm6oaoPNJYj59eTtGuhzulcFlXcTYk6-A7IqXUzCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Marathon County presentation and subsequent debate on Thursday focused on short‑term repairs to Marathon Park’s ice arena and a related federal grant application for a safe room.

The issue surfaced twice during the meeting: in public comment and later under committee business, when staff described a plan intended to keep ice available while the county evaluates long‑term options.

What speakers said
- Visitor impact: Tim White, director of Visit Wausau (the Wausau Central Wisconsin Convention and Visitors Bureau), told the board the arena supports local events and tourism. White said a conservative estimate for the September–March season shows “at least 10,600 plus attendees” with about “5,700 visitors” and estimated visitor spending of “$1,400,000,” averaging roughly “$150 per visitor.” He urged support for a temporary fix to preserve the Badger State Games and other major events.
- Short‑term repair plan: Parks staff and Administrator Lance Leonard presented a short‑term, flexible repair strategy intended to ensure ice for the next season while leaving options open for a long‑term decision. The plan centers on installing a mat system over the existing slab, targeted floor repairs and addressing key mechanical components; staff described that approach as less invasive than a full floor replacement and as reusable or resalable if the county later builds a new arena.
- Funding and timing: Staff said the short‑term package was discussed by the Park Commission and HR/Finance and would require county funding unless outside grants or donor contributions are secured. A cost figure discussed during the meeting — cited by supervisors during questions — was approximately $940,000 for the short‑term work. Staff noted some components (for example, replacement of the cooling tower) could be deferred at the cost of increased operational risk; staff estimated the cooling tower component at roughly $120,000.
- BRIC safe‑room grant: Jamie (Parks/Emergency Management staff) explained the county previously received a $300,000 planning grant to study a safe room that could be integrated into any new ice facility and is preparing a federal Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant application for construction. She said BRIC would fund up to 75% of a safe‑room construction project; the local match would be 25% and could be provided via levy, in‑kind contributions or fundraising if the board accepts any award.

Board discussion and outstanding questions
Supervisors debated whether and how much county taxpayers should cover. Questions centered on user group contributions, fundraising, fee increases, and whether short‑term county funding should be provided while a long‑term facility plan is developed.
- Several supervisors urged staff to seek private sponsorships, increase user fees, and produce alternative funding proposals tied to user commitments and timelines.
- Parks staff said user groups, local teams and promotional partners would be engaged for fundraising if the board directs a longer‑term project; staff also noted that many area rinks are near capacity and that losing ice at Wausau would create scheduling strain for youth and adult programs.

Actions on the agenda
Parks and finance committees moved a short‑term repair recommendation forward to the full board and asked staff to seek grant opportunities for the safe‑room element. The meeting did not record a final vote on construction funding; staff said a funding decision would be brought to the board in a future session. The board also considered a resolution authorizing a letter of commitment for the BRIC grant application; Jamie clarified the letter does not itself obligate the county to spend funds but is a standard prerequisite for applying for BRIC construction funds.

Ending
County staff said the short‑term repair plan is intended to buy time while the board weighs a longer‑term decision (repair, rebuild one sheet, rebuild two sheets or exit the ice business). Supervisors asked staff to return with alternative funding scenarios that include increased fees, private sponsorships, and user‑group fundraising commitments prior to any larger county capital commitment.","County staff proposed a flexible, short‑term repair strategy to keep ice available next season and discussed a separate federal grant application for a safe room; supervisors asked for stronger user‑group fundraising commitments and fee options.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6115038,"Marathon County officials outline options, timeline and funding strategy for new Wausau highway facility",3237,299000,3536000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2740433-e9ae1eaef48151bcba91cb8adf9b695f&start=299&end=3536","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2740433-e9ae1eaef48151bcba91cb8adf9b695f/thumbnail_299000.jpg","/articles/6115038/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Marathon-County-officials-outline-options-timeline-and-funding-strategy-for-new-Wausau-highway-facility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6115038-79316fc0888075ae92c8262bad04965b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770414190&Signature=UeoMhRroSOUYgfKeUWlLjmYtr-jFxv9cmevLg6fA5j-9zSSSBxeoLrgxBohCZrIgsS08F2x-uUSkwDQ2VfuMeUvKLpxXx6ATxoma80Dw1-IaYk4KO0Kpaqqsza54q~e9Uk9FY4xFXgttAkHitJI0EEZHReMii8DFhJJ5FNOrQX-bxyWLw2pC-OtABAmMrDdGTuGhsZV~CM3~snULWm4m9gZ1fKZWRqjexx0hfq2tmov0X6dwRq-4Q9KGqNAhc3JpZYUTkboDYe-AhEVq7OvryNYasWVzSdXv0eQoI8FJHS3Xyrp8mEmOCEhmC8cvJ99YQ9pNgbhCsuTqSCf0prcTcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marathon County administrators and infrastructure staff on Thursday summarized more than a decade of studies and mapped steps toward a possible relocation and replacement of the county’s main highway facility in Wausau.

The presentation, led by county Administrator Lance Leonard and highway staff, said the county has completed multiple space‑needs and site studies and is now preparing offers to purchase property for a potential new shop that would be brought to the full county board for a decision in April.

Why it matters: County presenters said the current West Street site constrains safe truck movement, forces nightly removal of plows and reduces vehicle longevity and efficiency. Staff said the existing facility dates from the 1930s in parts and requires repeated temporary repairs; a new facility is intended to reduce recurring maintenance and safety risks and better protect expensive equipment.

County and consultant findings
- Space needs: Staff reported a range of facility-size estimates. A highway‑only shop was described in staff materials as roughly 240,000 square feet; a larger consolidated option that would include other departments was previously estimated at about 340,000 square feet and would require more than 40 acres.
- Cost estimates: Early ballpark estimates from construction advisors and consultants put a likely project range nearer $40–$45 million rather than an earlier, higher $60 million estimate; staff said final pricing will depend on design and bids.
- Funding approach: Presenters described a capital strategy built from a mix of existing highway reserves and borrowing. Staff said the highway fund contains a substantial unassigned balance that could contribute (figures cited in the meeting: roughly $26 million–$30 million available to apply), with the remainder financed by bonds if the board chooses to proceed. A county financial advisor is preparing refined projections.
- Site and safety concerns: Highway staff described the current West Street site as roughly 7.88 acres with constrained vehicle flow, tight turning radii, pedestrian and school crossings nearby and routine conflicts with adjacent commercial traffic. Staff warned the constrained layout requires nightly unhooking of plows, which they estimated costs the county several thousand dollars per storm in labor and reduces inspection quality and equipment life.

What staff proposed next
- Offers to purchase: Leonard told supervisors staff have “made some really good headway on that” and will bring offers to purchase candidate sites to the board; he said some offers will be before the board at the April county board meeting for members to consider.
- Phased decisions: Staff emphasized the board will have multiple “off‑ramps” and that acquiring land would not automatically commit the county to building; design documents and borrowing could be staged so the board can stop the process at several points.
- Design and procurement: Officials described the typical timeline — roughly a year for architectural design and another year for construction — and recommended using a construction manager at‑risk delivery model to involve contractors early and control cost exposure.

Questions and concerns from supervisors
Supervisors asked for written comparisons of the cost to substantially repair the West Street site versus relocating, more detail about traffic/access analysis for candidate parcels, and an appraisal of the redevelopment potential and tax revenue implications if the county divests the current West Street property under the Westside master plan. Staff agreed to deliver estimates for the cost to repair the current site, the traffic/access analysis for any proposed site(s) and an updated redevelopment valuation for West Street.

Staff cautioned the project is complex and that many decisions — site purchase, final design, and borrowing — would be subject to separate board actions.

Ending
Staff left the board with a clear set of next steps: finalize offers to purchase and return materials (site maps, traffic/access studies and refined cost estimates) for full board vetting in April. No formal board vote on a site or capital budget occurred at the March meeting.","County staff presented a multi‑year plan and ballpark cost estimates for replacing the Wausau highway shop, recommended potential next steps and said offers to purchase potential relocation sites will be brought to the full board in April for decision.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board schedules votes on appointments, ordinances, zoning and grants for next meeting

County weighs short‑term repairs to Marathon Park ice arena and seeks grant commitment for a safe room

Marathon County officials outline options, timeline and funding strategy for new Wausau highway facility