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Committee asks staff to draft RFP criteria, thresholds for excess county property and tax-delinquent parcels
Summary
Members asked county administration to develop evaluation criteria and a tracking document for selling or redeveloping excess county parcels, and discussed using an RFP process for larger properties (River Drive, Thomas Street, West Street) while relying on Wisconsin Surplus for smaller lots.
The Human Resources, Finance and Property Committee on June 11 asked county staff to develop an outline of evaluation criteria and a tracking document for future dispositions of excess county property and tax-delinquent parcels.
Administrator Lance Leonard said he will bring a draft request-for-proposal (RFP) specifically for the River Drive campus within about 45 days and asked the committee for guidance on evaluation factors. Leonard suggested the RFP would ask respondents to describe the proposed use, estimated sales- and property-tax impacts, developer tax status (taxable or tax-exempt), and job creation estimates.
Supervisors recommended criteria that include whether the use will be taxable (property and sales tax), jobs created and family-supporting wages, compatibility with neighboring uses, and possible county interest in retaining or reusing existing physical improvements. Vice Chair Marshall and others proposed a value threshold to decide which parcels should go to an RFP (suggestions ranged from $500,000 to $1 million) and to use Wisconsin Surplus for lower-value or isolated parcels.
Leonard said staff will produce progress-tracking documents for both tax-delinquent and surplus properties. He also noted the county sent tax-deed letters on roughly 44 properties earlier in the month and that he will return with a list of parcels for committee review. The administration is investigating whether state statutes allow a streamlined approach for very small “sliver” or “orphan” parcels (e.g., 60-by-60 corners) to be offered first to adjoining landowners before listing on surplus.
Corporation counsel will perform legal research on statutory constraints before staff pursues any nonstandard disposition process. The committee asked that future reports include the recommended sale method (RFP, Wisconsin Surplus, direct offer to adjoining owner) and that staff present those parcel-level recommendations in future meetings so the committee can approve any sales.
The committee did not take a formal vote on policy changes; members provided direction for staff to return with proposed RFP criteria, a parcel-tracking document, and recommendations on which parcels should use which disposition method.
