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Council approves $1 offer to transfer Fire Station No. 1 to Midwest Museum of Firefighting
Summary
The West Bend Common Council voted to authorize an offer to sell Fire Station No. 1 to the Midwest Museum of Firefighting for $1, subject to due diligence and municipal site‑plan review.
The West Bend Common Council voted to authorize an offer to sell Fire Station No. 1 to the Midwest Museum of Firefighting for the price of $1, contingent on a museum due‑diligence period and required municipal site‑plan and architectural reviews.
Representatives of the Midwest Museum of Firefighting — including Jim Schlaemer (acting president), Kevin Steiner (vice president/co‑founder) and members of the Franz family who hold the collection — told the council they have a large historical apparatus collection currently housed in Polk and want to locate a museum in the downtown fire station. "We have commitments plural for over $2,000,000 in cash donations," Schlaemer said during the presentation, and the group said it expects to raise more funds before construction and exhibit work begin.
Why it matters: Council members described the proposal as a downtown anchor that could draw tourism and help downtown revitalization. The city-owned building is zoning‑eligible for an institutional use and…
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