During the committee’s public comment period on Nov. 4, Wausau resident Carrie Morell said she had been exploring a private, grant‑funded plan to acquire a property at Whitewater for wraparound services for people experiencing homelessness and that on Oct. 21 she met with zoning, assessment and other city staff while researching the site.

Morell said she subsequently saw an agenda item placing a city discussion of purchasing Whitewater into closed session. She told the committee the timing and lack of public notice gave a negative impression, particularly given public statements by the mayor opposing visible homelessness. Morell said she was not seeking city funds and that she had filed an open records request to review the timing of city actions; she said she “can’t prove anything” but wanted the sequence noted for the record.

After public comment and committee business, the Economic Development Committee voted to adjourn to closed session under Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(e) to deliberate the purchase of property at 130 First Street. A motion to go into closed session was made by Aldo Neal and seconded by Aldo Tierney; the committee voted in favor. Committee members indicated they would not return to open session and that the meeting would adjourn from closed session.

The committee did not take any public action during closed session, and no purchase decision was recorded in the open meeting minutes.