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County discusses campus reconfiguration, UW System contents and $2 million WEDC planning grant; radio tower transition raises equipment questions
Summary
Supervisors updated work on campus reconfiguration and cleanup of UW System items left on campus, discussed applying for a $2 million WEDC grant tied to campus plans, and heard concerns about municipality costs to switch to new digital radio towers.
Supervisors received updates on campus reconfiguration work, the status of items left by UW System, and related funding and infrastructure questions.
Board members said the county is cataloguing campus contents left behind by UW System and is pursuing conversations with UW System representatives to resolve large volumes of material; staff said some items are usable county property while others appear nonusable. The board discussed options for disposing or redistributing contents, including hiring experts to inventory specialized items and using an auctioneer to liquidate large volumes; staff cautioned that a full auction could take months and that the prop/costume room alone would require extensive sorting.
Supervisors also discussed a potential $2 million grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) for campus reconfiguration projects. Staff said the county is preparing cost estimates and a plan; the grant requires an accounting of how funds would be spent and the county must identify a prioritized list of projects before applying. Supervisors noted bridge repairs at two campus-adjacent bridges and that WEDC funds could be used toward such work but that the county needs a clear plan before submitting an application.
On the county radio tower project, supervisors reported implementation underway but said many local fire departments and municipalities lack funding and equipment to switch to digital radio. Sheriff Porter and others are considering leaving at least one analog channel active to ease transition. The board discussed outreach to municipalities and Gencom representatives, regional meetings, and potential cost-sharing for end-user radios; no final funding commitments were recorded.
