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Richland County hires consultant for campus redevelopment, plans public engagement and to sell excess items
Summary
The county engaged Short Elliott Hendrickson for a nine-month campus redevelopment process that will include a market analysis, public engagement and RFP preparation; the board also approved selling a small amount of platinum found on campus and is preparing to comply with a $2 million WEDC grant.
Richland County approved engaging Short Elliott Hendrickson to lead a roughly nine-month campus redevelopment process, the county administrator said at the July 15 meeting. The consultant will complete a market analysis, review sites for future use, engage stakeholders and prepare materials such as an RFP and advocacy paper to identify funding opportunities and potential uses for the campus.
The administrator said the consultant work will include a first phase market analysis and site review, a second phase of public engagement and an advocacy position paper, and a final phase to assemble RFP or marketing materials and assist the county in evaluating proposals. Handouts describing the scope were made available to board members at the meeting.
County staff also reported that Ela from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation will tour the campus and discuss compliance with the $2,000,000 WEDC grant the county expects to receive; staff said they want to ensure the county is in full compliance with grant expectations.
Separately, the board approved selling a small quantity of platinum items recovered from the campus. County officials said a local jeweler estimated the items' value at about $1,300; the county intends to deposit proceeds to the campus fund to help defray costs such as a recently received campus gas bill.
The county administrator said the campus work aims to make the property a "sustainable public asset," and the redevelopment project will include identifying potential funding sources and preparing procurement materials. The board directed the administrator to continue coordinating tours and meetings with WEDC and stakeholders.
No binding development agreement was approved at the meeting; the consultant engagement and related work will inform any future RFPs and agreements.
