Winnebago County approves $870,000 to operate UW‑Fox campus through Dec.; authorizes short leases

Winnebago County’s board on a 30‑1 vote approved a $870,000 amendment to the county budget to fund operation and preservation of the former UW‑Fox campus from July 1 through Dec. 31, and later authorized the county executive to negotiate and sign leases up to two years to accelerate reopening of campus facilities.

The amendment, approved as Resolution 0154062025, covers utilities, maintenance and other short‑term operating costs while the county completes a facilities assessment and solicits managers and tenants. The board then approved Resolution 0156062025, giving the county executive authority to sign leases up to two years without options to allow immediate, short‑term contracts with arts, education and childcare partners.

The board heard more than a dozen public comments urging quick action to return the Communication Arts Center (the CAC), the Barlow Planetarium and associated campus spaces to frequent public use. “We would love to return to the CAC,” Attic Theater President Melody Bookinger told the board, asking for “a long term contract with the county.” Susan Rabidoux, director of theater at UW‑Fox, described the CAC as “a $14,000,000 facility” with a 360‑seat theater, black box and visual arts space; she urged a plan and “a technician to turn the key to start generating revenue.”

Speakers from local arts groups said they need months of lead time to book seasons and bring revenue back to the campus. “Having someone to support the booking, leasing, marketing, and the technical support for the facility as soon as possible will help bring these groups back,” Katherine Niswander of the Fox Valley Concert Band told the board.

County Executive (unnamed in the transcript) told supervisors July 1 is the county’s takeover date, that an inventory and facilities assessment are planned with results expected by August, and that the county will solicit proposals for management and programming. The executive also announced a public forum on Wednesday, June 25, at the United Way Fox Cities to gather ideas and answer questions.

Barlow Planetarium director Terry Gee described the planetarium as “the only planetarium in Northeast Wisconsin” and asked for time to start a capital campaign to replace aging projection equipment. Several speakers said community fundraising would be central to a longer‑term plan.

The resolutions passed with board direction that the county administration use the summer to pursue short‑term leases and booking agreements that could bring immediate rental revenue back to the campus. County staff and several board members emphasized that the $870,000 appropriation is for short‑term operating needs and that any ongoing support would be considered in the 2026 budget after the county has completed assessments and issued requests for proposals.

Votes and next steps: Resolution 0154062025 (budget amendment) passed 30‑1; Resolution 0156062025 (lease authority, amended to limit leases to two years without options) passed 30‑1. Staff said they expect to circulate requests for proposals and take bids from potential managers and operators for theater, field house and other spaces; a facilities assessment is expected by August to inform longer‑term budgeting.

Authorities referenced in the meeting were county resolutions 0154062025 and 0156062025. The transcript includes written letters of support from local arts and civic groups that were entered into the record.