County reports property closings for potential highway shop relocation; schematic-design RFP planned

County staff told the Marathon County Infrastructure Committee on July 9 that the county has completed property closings for parcels previously approved by the county board as possible sites for a relocated highway shop in the Village of Kronenwetter.

Deputy County Administrator Holman and staff said the last of the closings occurred in recent weeks. Staff plan to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for design services to develop schematic site plans and schematic-design cost estimates. The RFP is structured so the county can stop after schematic design; staff said the work would only proceed beyond that phase with explicit county board approval.

Administrator Lance Leonard and project manager Troy described schematic design as the stage that programs building needs, produces a site plan required by the Village of Kronenwetter for approvals and generates a schematic-level cost estimate. The approach follows the process used on prior county projects including the Regional Forensic Science Center and facilities at the North Central Healthcare campus.

Staff emphasized there is no budgeted appropriation yet for the schematic-design phase; the RFP will be released to help determine the cost of that initial phase, and any contract award would return to the county board for funding approval.

Committee members thanked staff for progress on property acquisition and directed staff to return with cost proposals once the RFP responses are evaluated.