Committee accepts wrought-iron fence donation as county weighs future of radio-lot building

The Walworth County Public Works Committee voted Jan. 25 to accept a donated wrought-iron fence valued at more than $5,000 for installation along the north side of the government center radio-tower parking lot.

Rich, Director of the Public Works Department, told the committee the existing picket fence was donated by the same couple years earlier and is falling apart. He said the donation meets the county's reporting threshold for gifts and that installation costs would be manageable whether the county installed a picket fence or this wrought-iron donation. “It is a capitalized item,” Rich said, noting county policy requires committee awareness for donations above $5,000.

Committee members used the donation discussion to probe the future of a small brick building adjacent to the radio tower. Staff told the committee the county will decommission radio equipment this spring and remove the tower; the brick building currently houses radio equipment and needs future maintenance such as a new roof. Rich said the county had not decided to sell the building and that any disposition would be handled through the CIP process. “Until we further clarify our intent with this building, we would never give up that land,” he said.

Why it matters: The donation affects county property adjacent to a structure scheduled for radio decommissioning. Committee members flagged that accepting the fence now could interact with future decisions about the building’s maintenance, alternative uses or potential sale.

Details and context

- Donation and installation: The donation exceeds the committee’s $5,000 reporting threshold and was presented as a replacement for an aging donated picket fence. Staff said the donors have verbally expressed interest, in the future, in purchasing the brick building, though no formal offer was on the table.

- Radio tower and building status: Staff reported the radio tower will be decommissioned this spring; accompanying radio equipment will be removed. The committee discussed that removal of the tower might influence decisions about the small brick building but did not authorize any sale or transfer.

- Site implications: Committee members and staff discussed installation details — the county will install proper posts and avoid unnecessary long concrete footings to keep installation costs down. Staff also noted that if the building were removed later, donor interest suggested they might extend the fence or otherwise further define the site.

Next steps: The fence donation will be accepted and installed per the resolution. Any future disposition, sale or major change related to the brick building or adjacent lot will be considered and scoped through the county’s capital improvement planning process.