[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6089927,"mediaKeyId","2870818-eda6b88a38da8dd88c048e259d1b587b","parentId",2870818,"title","Committee reviews strategic plan progress: broadband, childcare training, housing and business supports noted","audioSeconds",1584,"startMs",4259000,"endMs",5843000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2870818-eda6b88a38da8dd88c048e259d1b587b&start=4259&end=5843","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2870818-eda6b88a38da8dd88c048e259d1b587b/thumbnail_4259000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6089927/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Committee-reviews-strategic-plan-progress-broadband-childcare-training-housing-and-business-supports-noted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089927-16356d3ee523efd3a120b4ef0fa4cba7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770456249&Signature=DLB17-PyOADzSNxOx7VHDwylQBigpjoez83nigOBh4o-0HI5RWmFW8NZ9DKghdNx29jErI15Zbq2Pmkzm~FCcduNucaRM3eb~gZOuW7IOmg59UvI2VwR37Tm1pdW7HIxHpNFW2tGGsz1r9kecAYPL2oXTWwfC47jLQnc9ZYtncvU5OEVqU9qas9y2vKVXrfczy7Ji10cTV-hYLrj4oLFadYp2nsldGioMeB-Xx9bxlwBw29nPSqTFmKcn65qD7D33z6QUiyNxfA6sunFWy6Xu4ZBE3FGKfqyjFYGvDQNKuwq2wg6N8FWlJDvE-PMefJ8xXntr9iRImaXDmXHEIEOHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marathon County, WI","date","2025-04-04T05:54:03.92Z","article","A Marathon County committee reviewed progress on multiple strategic plan objectives on April 3, receiving updates from county staff and partner representatives on broadband, childcare, housing, business supports and road condition metrics.

Administrator Leonard summarized broadband outreach and tracking efforts and said linked resources are now available on the county website, including speed‑test data and service‑availability maps. He reported an 88.8% broadband subscription rate from the most recent census‑based data he cited and described continued work with the Broadband Task Force to expand access.

On workforce and childcare, staff reported that a county‑funded childcare training course begun after the committee’s prior recommendation is underway: the first cohort has four participants (one already employed in group childcare), and subsequent cohorts are planned in May as staff work to reach the program target of 30 participants over two years.

The committee noted a housing resolution it forwarded in late 2023 was adopted by the full county board in December 2023. Committee members discussed strategies for developable industrial land and TID/TIF considerations; staff noted WEDC’s Locate in Wisconsin database and local site certifications managed by municipal partners.

Kim of McDevco reported that McDevco and county programs have mentored roughly 1,800 entrepreneurs since 2018 and that the county‑administered loan fund has been active as a gap financier; the organization expects to deploy nearly $500,000 in loans by July and to approach exhaustion of the county’s $1.0 million commitment. Kim said McDevco focuses on outreach and incubation for small business creation and expansion across the county.

Public works metrics were reviewed: staff reported the county pavement condition (PASER) rating averaged about 7.05 at the end of 2023, an improvement relative to earlier years, and that maintaining or improving that rating requires continued capital investment due to the county’s roughly 614 miles of county trunk highways.

Committee members identified priorities for the comprehensive plan update and the coming strategic plan, including broadband, all‑season access to business parks, and workforce attraction and retention. No formal additional actions were taken at this meeting; staff will return with more detailed materials on items the committee requests.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Marathon County Extension, Education & Economic Dev. Committee Meeting - 4/3/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members reviewed progress on several strategic plan objectives, including broadband availability, a county‑supported childcare training program, a housing resolution adopted by the full board, McDevco entrepreneurship activity, and county highway pavement condition metrics.","taxTitle","Marathon County, Wisconsin","taxId",4560,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089932,"Committee hears overview of worker‑relocation programs as a potential tool for workforce shortages",682,3116000,3798000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2870818-eda6b88a38da8dd88c048e259d1b587b&start=3116&end=3798","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2870818-eda6b88a38da8dd88c048e259d1b587b/thumbnail_3116000.jpg","/articles/6089932/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Committee-hears-overview-of-workerrelocation-programs-as-a-potential-tool-for-workforce-shortages","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089932-d03ce2cc221fe3d451d6f52ad4d949c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770456249&Signature=je27vGxqENvAZH36Tv14I1wZWCP9TLAQGmMX0kpPoHGutRvCCLEd~0kAnBmdGyVved0rVrWLhPuimRWaAtOaVRgYrATDZr7NAglHP6xCfb8~nyexQYOmsG2weExhHT6LoDsfE3KIsv2LrthHVO91TcpQFZOtyulnfV~h-NLaFFPyNfKE1DtewXWp4rmLrWRfWh4nmk4oil0G1l3p7Ypo~bRVt1KzXpYjWJ2XR91y8sqtmdeP0NlwG~q~Izmiw9R6591xy2s8RapwJgnEd5i5kuCSJGFFmJIc-vAnReFb~px0O5ngWZg9XR1MfqGaAWXt5vJGw71abaLNVMf~2oU~Uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff presented an overview of worker‑relocation and talent‑marketing programs used by other counties and regions as one tool to address local workforce shortages.

Chris Holman (administrator’s office) summarized programs in Wisconsin and elsewhere, including Fond du Lac County’s employer‑reimbursement model and Sheboygan County’s entry‑level and short‑term housing supports, as well as national models such as Tulsa Remote and Greater Rochester’s relocation incentives. Holman said programs vary widely by eligibility, benefits (reimbursement, temporary housing, or consumer incentives), and local funding sources.

“The Wisconsin has been a little bit slower to adopt these types of programs among its Midwestern peers,” Holman said, citing a map that shows many programs located in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa and noting two Wisconsin examples (Fond du Lac and Sheboygan counties). He described Fond du Lac’s approach as a 50% reimbursement to employers after a worker stays 12 months and said local funding can include chamber funds, county sales tax proceeds and revolving loan funds.

Committee members discussed community integration and whether a cash incentive alone would create long‑term attachments. One member recalled the city’s past “Live it Up Wausau” down‑payment assistance program as an example with limited long‑term success. Administrator Leonard and others agreed the cultural and community‑integration pieces (housing, amenities, and connection to local organizations) are central to retention as much as the initial financial inducement.

Members also discussed feasibility and priorities. Some committee members said staff could perform additional legwork to identify models suited to Marathon County; others stressed limited staff capacity and the need to prioritize projects during upcoming budget planning. No formal action was taken; staff offered to return with more detailed options if the committee requested further work.

The briefing framed worker‑relocation programs as one possible component of broader workforce and community branding strategies, not a standalone solution.","County staff briefed the committee on worker‑relocation programs used elsewhere to recruit workers, including regional examples in Wisconsin and national programs such as Tulsa Remote; committee members discussed benefits and challenges and did not take formal action.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089937,"Marathon County Historical Society reports visitor growth, 37,000 searchable archives after digitization push",945,2137000,3082000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2870818-eda6b88a38da8dd88c048e259d1b587b&start=2137&end=3082","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2870818-eda6b88a38da8dd88c048e259d1b587b/thumbnail_2137000.jpg","/articles/6089937/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Marathon-County-Historical-Society-reports-visitor-growth-37000-searchable-archives-after-digitization-push","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089937-f3260f42c7914469e8fead6972fa1db2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770456249&Signature=NxYHfdECXQ5zBRaiUv5bXk~Pqme-wqGKmwyCseAnxe9O7X6tqN88k~zlN0Pw9KqETbz9MPyE-bGBsmODcn39uVS5iY5OQcbOtid2dQedLGZ0Gwn~EpSl23L6VnKQcxyQdJKnGWGDWvp-djRsMRHoJX7dHtpFcKTSym9zgv4w4xBNBbr2wnf2t7~2EOK9AfGElXXJeUXrepOLh0N6y7WstzVE0HVel~h2J5~jW4G7~S7Rw-FAd-ChQPkgYbjH5jlADYX-ZSqMLmQ5q2YW1mRh86MeFe2VLHbow6-54GdXHE2FxeVRaCBJgr56C~H80IQ7aAy6XgA3ItfwUO18HrhQuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Blake, executive director of the Marathon County Historical Society, told a Marathon County committee on April 3 that the society provided programs to libraries and schools, digitized archives, and drew significant visitor traffic in 2024.

Blake said the organization is the only local group focused on countywide history and reported 7,575 visitors from around the county to the Woodson History Center and Yockey House in 2024 (excluding city of Wausau visits). The society reported 37,000 searchable items in its online archives after digitizing about 12,000 documents in 2024 and preserving roughly 33.2 hours of obsolete media, including 8mm and 16mm film.

“We are the only organization that our sole focus is on the history of Marathon County,” Blake said, describing the society’s outreach and education work. He said the Little Red Schoolhouse program hosted more than 1,300 fourth graders in 28 field visits last year and that the society offered 106 free programs and events in 2024.

Russ, a society representative, described plans for the John and Carolyn Sonnentag Legacy Center, a proposed 39,000‑square‑foot preservation facility intended to store archives and artifacts and free space at the Woodson History Center for exhibits and research. Russ said the society has begun planning for the county’s roles in the U.S. Constitution’s 250th anniversary in 2026 and is pursuing national accreditation goals.

The society reported tourism rankings showing the Yockey House and Woodson History Center among the county’s top attractions and noted that 68% of its visitors come from outside Marathon County; 37% of visitors came from outside Wisconsin, the society said.

Blake and Russ asked the committee to note the society’s partnerships with local municipalities, the Chamber of Commerce, the county parks department, and other history groups across the county. The society also said it has a searchable digital archive (now about 37,000 items) available on its website and that it continues to add material to a publicly accessible database.

Committee members thanked the presenters; no formal committee action was taken on the presentation.","The Marathon County Historical Society briefed a county committee on its 2024 service delivery: increased county visitors, expanded digitization (12,000 documents plus 33.2 hours of media) and ongoing planning for a 39,000 sq. ft. preservation center.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089941,"Marathon County committee authorizes letter supporting Domtar’s Rothschild Dam modernization, forwards request to full board",2036,53000,2089000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2870818-eda6b88a38da8dd88c048e259d1b587b&start=53&end=2089","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2870818-eda6b88a38da8dd88c048e259d1b587b/thumbnail_53000.jpg","/articles/6089941/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Marathon-County-committee-authorizes-letter-supporting-Domtars-Rothschild-Dam-modernization-forwards-request-to-full-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089941-1e48be22676a4d0724e9ebbadb441dfd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770456249&Signature=ntfVnIui9cj8XVlCYbESu2B9nzP2q3Md9GWd5tvRLnTNs4F9WDlKwMrX3BTViax5EIWNQ-tuZT1J3RMfuJNxOGbnmE5R5Tyo1~XGGvajWWC3EsHvagpjpmAiPpzkyIxM~npmj-lxgbIVLpenw0-DCPvGFJh8rEVGuMt2SqQSg9MqdrMxcklYaOu06Lb708r6tYtWDUlhWwPjkh~t6meFOKFnhAkbN6FPmlsrgztVMeJAh7-1DUK9Ofo4lGArf-TRYp155upksSPN8oUpmo7ZBWbb0BJ35Ql1KInY5Ql0vxkvkLXdhza~j7H2ug~3e1c32H9nPrY1sBQ8uy72GMAlfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Marathon County committee on April 3 authorized a letter of support for Domtar’s proposal to modernize the timber-crib spillway at the Rothschild dam and agreed to forward the request to the full county board for its consideration.

The request centered on a congressionally directed spending application being prepared through U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s office; Domtar asked for letters of local support to strengthen that application, which the company said must be submitted by April 7. Domtar’s representative told the committee the engineering is complete and the company plans construction this summer if funding is secured.

Mr. Fawcett, general manager of Domtar’s Rothschild mill, told the committee the total cost to repair the compromised timber-crib section is $84,000,000 and that his company is proposing a one‑third, one‑third, one‑third cost‑share model. “The cost of the project is $84,000,000,” Fawcett said, adding that Domtar would cover roughly $28,000,000 and that the company’s owner has proposed a third‑state, third‑federal, third‑local split.

Committee members pressed Domtar on contingency plans if state or federal funding did not materialize. Supervisor Lemmer asked about Domtar’s long‑term commitment: “What is happening at year 4?” Administrator Leonard and Fawcett said Domtar has explored sale or transfer of the asset to a hydro specialist, but the dam is in a condition that would make a transfer impractical without major repair.

The presentation described the damaged section as roughly one third of an approximately 800‑foot structure; two‑thirds of the dam is concrete and reportedly in good shape, while the timber crib spillway—described by Fawcett as resembling “Lincoln logs”—has deteriorated. Fawcett said the company has averaged about $1 million a year in repairs over the past 15 years and that the proposed construction would take three to four years to complete. He also said Domtar would pursue federal and state funding and requested local letters to bolster the state application.

Corp Counsel advised that a committee may issue a letter of expression of support signed by the committee chair but cannot bind the full board; the committee then may forward the matter for full board consideration of a separate countywide letter. Vice Chair Dickinson warned the committee that if the committee acted but the full board did not, the differing positions could create a conflict in messaging though not a legal bar to county staff action.

Supervisor Fraser Rosenberg moved that the county provide a letter of support for the project and forward the item to the full board for consideration of a county board letter; a second was recorded. The committee voted in favor; the motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.

Domtar representatives said the dam contributes to flood control and local recreation and that, while hydroelectric generation at the site is relatively small today, the structure plays a role in managing the regional reservoir and downstream flows. The company also said it is pursuing state support and congressional funding but that state officials want to see local backing before committing funds.

The committee authorized staff to draft a letter of support from the committee (to be signed by the committee chair) and to forward the matter to the full county board for possible adoption of a countywide letter of support. The committee’s action explicitly did not commit county funds; committee members and staff reiterated that no county appropriation was being authorized by the vote.

Domtar representatives said they would continue outreach to the village of Rothschild and other local units of government; the presenter said he would immediately return to the Rothschild board seeking the village’s approval to submit its letter with Domtar’s congressional application.

The committee then took up other agenda items.","A Marathon County committee unanimously authorized a letter of support for Domtar’s proposed $84 million repair of the timber-crib spillway at the Rothschild dam and agreed to forward the request to the full county board for consideration of a countywide letter.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee reviews strategic plan progress: broadband, childcare training, housing and business supports noted

Committee hears overview of worker‑relocation programs as a potential tool for workforce shortages

Marathon County Historical Society reports visitor growth, 37,000 searchable archives after digitization push

Marathon County committee authorizes letter supporting Domtar’s Rothschild Dam modernization, forwards request to full board