Winnebago County presents $2.25 million plan to expand Butte More boat landing; grant application planned

Kyle Virgin, Winnebago County parks and expo grounds manager, presented a capital improvement plan May 6 to expand the Butte More boat landing on Leonard Point Road in the Town of Omro, asking the county board to approve applying for a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant that would cover 50% of construction costs.

Virgin said the existing landing has limited parking and staging — 36 truck-and-trailer spaces and roughly five regular vehicle stalls — and that users often park on lawns or on Leonard Point Road when the site is full. The design presented would increase capacity to about 86 parking spaces, add two aisles of drive-through parking, repave the drive, create concrete walkways to the launch and a new bathroom building, install additional lighting and security cameras, and remove three small open-air shelters in favor of one polygon shelter by the dock area. Virgin said dredging is planned to deepen the access channels to roughly 4–5 feet, and that stormwater biofilters and wetland delineation are part of the site work.

The presentation included estimated costs: planning, design and permitting at $145,008.48; construction at $2,108,050; total project cost $2,253,898. Virgin said the county will request a DNR grant for approximately $1,054,025 (50% of construction) and that the county has already paid $145,008.48 for planning/design; the remaining county contribution was stated as $1,005,425 to be considered by the board. Virgin said the consultant Rettler Corporation was selected in January 2025 and that public input meetings and site surveys occurred in February 2025. He said the county would seek board authorization to submit the DNR grant application at the next county board meeting and that the grant application deadline is June 1.

Supervisors asked about revenue offsets from increased paid parking and automation, which Virgin said could increase compliance but that further fiscal detail would come from staff (Adam Breese was named as the county contact for fee questions). Supervisors raised questions about security camera monitoring and recording (Virgin said the system would record on a closed loop and be retrievable), accessibility (Virgin confirmed an ADA-compliant kayak launch with a concrete ramp and walkway), fishing access (Virgin said both sides of the landing can be used and the west-side concrete walkway would improve fishing access), longevity of dredging (Virgin said the landing has been dredged roughly three times since construction and that cycles vary), and whether composting toilets or solar lighting had been considered (Virgin said the project currently assumes electrical service and conventional restroom connections because sewer runs near the site, but that alternative options could be explored with engineers and the parks director).

Virgin outlined a schedule assuming a successful grant: grant notification in September 2025, capital improvement plan approval in November 2025 if funded, bids released January 2026 and anticipated construction July–November 2026 (which would close the launch during that work), soft opening in November 2026 and formal ribbon cutting in April 2027. He said this project aligns with the county’s strategic plan pillar on quality of life and enhanced water access.

Several supervisors urged prompt action, noting safety risks from roadside parking and that tournament use already strains the site. No formal board action or vote on the grant application occurred at the May 6 meeting; Virgin said the board would be asked to vote on applying for the DNR grant at the next regular meeting.

The project materials and public input were referenced throughout the presentation; supervisors asked staff to provide additional technical details (fee revenue projections, ratio of single-vehicle stalls to trailer stalls, and stormwater design options) ahead of the next meeting.