Fond du Lac City Council approves rezoning for SSM expansion, backs industrial revenue bond and festival alcohol waiver

The Fond du Lac City Council on Jan. 22, 2025 approved a package of land-use, financing and administrative measures that included a comprehensive-plan amendment and rezoning to allow SSM Health to expand at Eastgate Place, and an initial resolution authorizing taxable industrial development revenue bond financing for projects at East Johnson.

The actions also included appointments to two advisory bodies, a temporary waiver of the city's prohibition on alcoholic beverages along a block of Sheboygan Street for the Sturgeon Spectacular festival (Feb. 7'9, 2025), and updates to the city's public deposit and investment policy.

Why it matters: The comp plan amendment and rezoning clear local land-use hurdles for a medical campus expansion by SSM Health; the industrial revenue bond resolution starts a formal public-notice process for developer financing that staff said would carry no city liability. Council members said the investment-policy change gives staff more flexibility to manage city funds; the festival waiver permits a temporary, city-sanctioned alcohol zone for a downtown event.

The council opened its action agenda by unanimously approving the consent agenda, which finalized minutes from the Jan. 8 meeting and a list of claims dated Jan. 15, 2025.

Appointments and community items City Manager Mike Moore (introduced nominees) and the council unanimously approved Resolution No. 9161 appointing two midterm replacements: Mr. Weese, who Moore said heads the teen program at the Boys & Girls Club, to the Advisory Park Board; and Strong Langolf, identified as executive director of Habitat for Humanity, to the Alcohol License Committee.

During audience comments Laura DeGaulier thanked Greenway Arboretum volunteers by name, listing volunteers…