Wausau committees vote to enter closed session to discuss purchase of riverfront parcels amid contamination concerns

The City of Wausau Finance Committee and Economic Development Committee voted to go into closed session Tuesday to discuss negotiating purchase of parcels identified in meeting materials as 201 North First Avenue (later described as a scrivener’s error) and 901 and 1021 Cherry Street.

Committee members and staff cited results from previously commissioned Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments in their public discussion. Carol (last name not specified), a staff member, told the committees that one rationale for a closed session was that “open meeting laws restrict reasons that we can go into closed session, but one of those exemptions is for deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of property.” She explained that discussing negotiation strategy in open session could undercut the city’s bargaining position.

The committees’ packet included Phase II results requested at an earlier meeting; staff said the assessments found contamination typical of long-used industrial riverfront property and identified cleanup needs. A committee member noted the Cherry Street parcels lie adjacent to what the speaker called the Luansa Superfund site and the Lebonne Landfill associated with that site, and referenced an EPA report dated “03/20/2025” raising concerns about groundwater and PFAS at the nearby Superfund area. That member asked whether REI’s Phase II work included groundwater testing for PFAS on the Cherry Street parcels; staff answered that the packet did not show PFAS groundwater testing and that REI had not provided that specific information in the materials.

Staff and committee members discussed potential future uses of the parcels, including expansion of the River Edge Trail and a possible municipal fleet facility, but said no final decisions had been made. Eric (last name not specified), a staff member, said the city was continuing to look at multiple sites and was not committed to using the Cherry Street parcels for fleet operations. The committees also noted the redevelopment potential for commercial or residential uses if remediation proved feasible.

During the open session discussion members raised remediation cost concerns. One committee member summarized the Phase I/II findings as indicating “significant cleanup issues” if the city were to purchase the properties, and said additional environmental information could be brought back for the committees to consider before settling on a purchase price or moving forward. Staff agreed they could return with further testing or analysis if the committees requested it.

Following the discussion the committees adopted a motion to move into closed session to negotiate the purchase of the identified parcels pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes §19.85(1)(e). The roll call recorded in the meeting indicated affirmative votes from members present; the open session closed and those not invited to the closed session left the room. No purchase agreement or final procurement action was reported in open session.

The committees left several items unresolved for public record: whether additional PFAS groundwater testing would be commissioned, the corrected street/address to replace the scrivener’s error in the materials, and any timetable for returning to open session with further environmental or pricing information. The committees indicated staff would report back with requested follow-up.