Council approves sale of city-owned lot to Troy Engman over objections about price

The Wausau Common Council voted 9-1 on Sept. 23 to approve the sale of a city-owned parcel to Troy Engman for redevelopment as a single-family home.

The council motion, moved by Alder Larson and seconded by Alder Lukens, approved the sale after committee review. "He's gonna build a single family home there, and this is probably exactly what the neighborhood has been asking for all along," Larson said in support of the sale. The meeting record identifies the motion as file 25-0914; the transcript did not specify a full street address in the motion text.

Alder Killian spoke in opposition and said the proposed purchase price of $3,500 for three combined city lots was inadequate and that she would prefer the city obtain closer to $19,000 to recoup prior spending. "I'm not going to support this simply because I feel that the value of that lot ... is not adequate," Killian said.

City staff told council the parcel had been in city ownership for more than 20 years and that the buyer—that is, Engman—had chosen not to increase his offer price after outreach. Staff also said the property has reached DNR final case closure with continuing obligations and that the buyer will need to follow a soil management plan during construction to remain in compliance with the continuing obligations.

Alder Watson and supporters described the sale as a chance to return the parcel to productive use and to put the property back on the tax rolls. Watson noted that the project would be an opportunity for a resident to live closer to family. Several alderpersons said they welcomed the cleanup and residential reuse of the site.

The council recorded the motion as passing 9 to 1. The transcript indicates Alder Killian voted "no." The minutes do not show any additional conditions or amendments to the sale included in the motion at the time of the vote.