Wausau finance committee enters closed session to discuss land offers for Business Campus Trail East‑West Connector

The Wausau Finance Committee moved into closed session July 8 to consider proposed offers and possible purchases of property and temporary limited easements for the Business Campus Trail East‑West Connector project (Project ID 699918-11).

Alder Tierney read the closed-session authority on the record, citing Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e): "Pursuant to section 19.85 sub 1 sub e of the Wisconsin statutes for deliberating or negotiating the purchase of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session regarding possible action..." The reading identified the agenda item as a nominal payment parcel report for the project and named the affected properties at 8101 International Drive and 7801 International Drive.

A motion to go into closed session was seconded by Henke and adopted on a roll-call vote. Recorded votes in favor: McElhinney (aye), Gisselman (aye), Henke (aye), Tierney (aye). The committee announced it would reconvene later to consider any necessary open-session action and then address joint committee items.

Why it matters: the closed session was taken under the statutory exception that permits confidential bargaining over the purchase of public property and similar negotiations. No open-session action approving purchases, payments, or easements was recorded in the public transcript before the committee recessed into closed session.

What happens next: if the committee takes any purchase or payment action after closed-session deliberations, that action must be reported in open session consistent with state law and the committee—s procedures.