Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Negotiation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee moves into closed session to discuss offer on Marathon Hall; negotiations to continue under direction of administrator and counsel
Summary
The committee voted to enter closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e) to deliberate negotiation strategies and price thresholds related to an offer to purchase the Marathon Hall dormitory at 518 South Seventh Avenue; staff indicated the proposal came from a nonprofit proposing social services and temporary housing uses.
The committee voted to go into closed session to consider a formal offer to purchase county property at 518 South Seventh Avenue (Marathon Hall/dormitory) and to deliberate competitive and bargaining strategy consistent with Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e).
Administrator Leonard summarized an unsolicited proposal from the Ethiopian Community Development Council (referred to in the packet as the multicultural community center) offering a nominal purchase price for the Marathon Hall dormitory with proposed uses that include temporary housing for newly arrived refugee families, supportive student housing, short‑term housing for single unhoused women, affordable nonprofit office space and a community workforce development center. The proposal included a provision allowing the county to accept transfer of ownership back to the county if the purchaser later ceased operations or no longer used the facility.
Administrator Leonard and Corporation Counsel Dan advised that discussion of negotiation strategies, price thresholds and contract language could put the county at a competitive disadvantage if aired in open session and recommended a closed session. The committee voted (roll call) to enter closed session; staff and counsel remained to discuss negotiation approach and potential counteroffer guidance. The committee returned to open session and announced that it had directed staff to continue negotiations and to report back to the committee with proposed terms.
Because negotiation details and specific price thresholds were discussed in closed session, the committee announcement upon return was limited to the procedural outcome: direction to staff to continue negotiations with counsel and provide future updates to the committee. The county packet contains background on previous 2020 efforts to solicit redevelopment proposals for the dormitory and noted there were no viable offers received in that earlier solicitation.
