Committee backs recommendation for partial historic designation of East Case Hall stone wing

The Marathon County Executive Committee voted to recommend that the City of Wausau list the stone wing portion of East Case Hall as a historic landmark rather than designating the entire facility.

Administrator Leonard told the committee the three central questions were whether partial designation is allowed, whether designation would affect future improvements (for example, air conditioning) and whether insurance costs would increase. He said the short answers were: yes, partial designations are possible; major renovations such as adding air conditioning would have to follow the city's process; and insurance could increase if the county sought replacement coverage that preserved historic character. "There would be a significant increase if the county sought to, ensure the those buildings, to provide for historic...replacement consistent with their historic character," Leonard said, noting that such replacement coverage is optional.

A parks commission had recommended a partial designation focused on the stone wing because that portion contains Depression-era stonework and the site where Martin Luther King Jr. spoke years earlier. Chair Gibbs moved that the county follow the parks commission recommendation for partial designation; the motion carried unanimously. The administrator said staff would communicate the committee's recommendation to the City of Wausau Historic Landmarks Commission and designated Jamie Polley to attend the city's meeting if needed.

The committee emphasized that partial designation would not obligate the county to insure or restore the building to a historic standard and that funding or insurance choices would be made separately. No county legislation was initiated; the vote was a recommendation to the City of Wausau's review process.