Environmental Resources Committee approves rezones, forwards comprehensive-plan amendments and several county plans to full board

The Marathon County Environmental Resources Committee on July 1 recommended approval or advancement of multiple zoning and policy items — including two rezones and two Town of Wausau planning items — and approved staff recommendations on a proposed special charge to fund the county septic maintenance program and on county solid-waste and trail planning documents.

The committee unanimously moved forward two rezone petitions and two Town of Wausau items for consideration by the full Marathon County Board of Supervisors. It also approved a staff recommendation to pursue a special (tax-bill) charge to fund the county’s private on-site wastewater treatment system maintenance program and voted to advance a solid-waste environmental management plan and a Wausau–Merrill corridor master plan.

Why it matters: The rezones and Town of Wausau plan changes will change zoning or planning guidance for properties in Gunther, McMillan and Wausau townships. The committee’s approval to pursue a special charge signals a policy shift toward assessing users of on-site wastewater systems instead of funding the maintenance program entirely from county levy. The solid-waste and trail planning actions authorize county staff to pursue next steps that could lead to capital projects or grant applications.

What the committee did (votes at a glance): - Rezone petition of Stephen Gilley, Town of Gunther (RR rural residential to GA general agriculture): motion to recommend approval to the Marathon County Board carried (mover: Supervisor Eubank; second: Supervisor Schoenborn). Staff had recommended approval. (Item 5A1)

- Rezone petition of David Fulkowski on behalf of Adding Acres LLC, Town of McMillan (FP farmland preservation to GA general agriculture): motion to recommend approval to the Marathon County Board carried (mover: Supervisor Kroll; second: Supervisor Debreu). Staff had recommended approval. (Item 5A2)

- Town of Wausau amendment to comprehensive plan to add an overlay map identifying areas compatible with wind/solar development: motion to forward to county board carried (mover: Supervisor Drebeck; second: Supervisor Schoenborn). Staff characterized the comprehensive-plan amendment as a nonbinding guidance document. (Item 5B1)

- Town of Wausau rezone (1.98 acres from Commercial Light Manufacturing to Agricultural District): motion to forward to county board carried (mover: Supervisor Kroll; second: Supervisor Draback). (Item 5B2)

- Private on-site water treatment system maintenance: committee voted to recommend pursuing a special charge on tax bills to fully fund the maintenance program rather than fund it 100% from levy (motion by Supervisor Kroll; second: Supervisor Debreu; motion carried). Staff presented cost and implementation options. (Item 5C1)

- Solid Waste Department environmental management / leachate plan: committee voted to move the plan forward so the county board can adopt it, enabling a Clean Water Fund application and further planning for on-site or pretreatment leachate solutions (mover: Supervisor DeWert; second: Supervisor Unger; motion carried). (Item 5C2)

- Wausau–Merrill Veil master plan (corridor study funded by River District Development Foundation): motion to adopt the master plan (mover: Supervisor Carl; second: Tom Muller; motion carried). Staff and consultant described the plan as nonbinding and not obligating county spending. (Item 5C3)

Details and next steps: For the two rezones and both Town of Wausau items the committee’s recommendations will be transmitted to the full Marathon County Board of Supervisors for final action. For the septic maintenance financing change, staff will prepare ordinance language and pursue required town notifications and the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) review before public hearing and potential ordinance adoption. For the solid-waste plan, staff will proceed with steps required for a Clean Water Fund application, including county-board adoption of the environmental management plan to support the application.

Ending: Committee members directed staff to follow the procedural steps for public notice and unit coordination for each action and to bring ordinance amendments, grant applications or county-board items back in the normal review sequence.