Infrastructure committee approves amended offers to buy parcels for relocated highway facility, includes occupancy terms for homeowners

Marathon County’s Infrastructure Committee voted unanimously June 5 to approve amended offers to purchase multiple parcels in the village of Kronoware as potential locations for a relocated county highway facility.

The committee approved staff recommendations to accept offers on parcel identification numbers 14527070220957 and amended offers on 14527070220973, 14527070220971 and 14527070220970. County staff told the committee the amended deals include post‑closing occupancy rights to address the owners’ housing needs and to allow the county to close promptly on the transactions.

County staff discussed the terms at length. Jim (county staff) said the first parcel is a 0.58‑acre lot that was part of an earlier assemblage and that the county had agreed a closing now with occupancy through “the last day would be February” (year not specified). Lance (county staff) told the committee he and other staff had held multiple meetings with the property owners, identified in the discussion as Ariel and Eric Shevkin, and the village, and that the amendments give those owners flexibility to secure replacement housing while the county finalizes acquisition.

Lance said the occupancy agreements differ slightly in duration across parcels but “address their concerns” and still protect the county’s interests. Staff also told the committee they reviewed the deals with corporation counsel and viewed an arm’s‑length purchase under these terms as financially preferable to pursuing eminent domain.

Supervisors asked whether the owners had a financial incentive to delay a closing. Staff replied there was no clear financial gain for closing earlier; the primary benefit to the owners would be the ability to stop making mortgage payments once the county owns the property and the owner has the right of occupancy. Staff noted the owners would continue to pay insurance and utilities while occupying the property post‑closing.

Supervisor Hartinger moved approval; Supervisor Soybert seconded. The committee voted unanimously to approve the offers of purchase and the proposed amendments. Staff said the county would pursue a prompt closing if the full County Board approves the recommendation.

The action forwards the offers to the full county board for final consideration. Staff said closing promptly protects the county’s financial position and affords the owners a transition period to locate and purchase new housing.

The committee did not specify precise dates for vacancy beyond the verbal reference to “February.” Staff also did not provide a public appraisal figure in the meeting for the parcels on the record.