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Council narrowly amends TIF district plan to add West Riverfront parcels amid environmental concerns
Summary
The council approved an amendment to Tax Increment Financing District No. 8 to make certain riverfront parcels eligible TID expenditures. The 6-5 vote (with 1 abstention) followed debate about PFAS, groundwater testing and whether the city should hold or buy riverfront land.
The Wausau Common Council voted 6-5 with one abstention on May 13 to approve a project‑plan amendment for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District No. 8, amendment 4, adding certain West Riverfront parcels to the district’s list of eligible TIF expenditures.
The amendment does not authorize any immediate purchase or expenditure; rather, city staff and the finance director described it as putting potential future expenditures “on the menu” so the city could use TID funds for eligible costs if a later council chooses to proceed.
Finance Director Mary Anne Feifrick told the council, “It’s not authorizing staff to purchase property. It’s not saying that we will purchase property… It’s really just allowing it to be an eligible expense.” She and other staff said environmental reviews and further discussions would continue before any purchase decision.
Several alderpersons urged caution. Alder Larson argued the city could be left with costly cleanup obligations, sketching a scenario in which taxpayers might buy a parcel for $2,000,000, tear structures down for $2,500,000 and spend another $2,000,000 on remediation, then sell for far less. “I won't be supporting this,” Larson said, citing city debt and cleanup risks. Alder Killian and Alder Gisselman also said they would not support the amendment, pointing to Superfund‑area concerns and uncertain remediation needs.
Other council members supported the amendment to preserve a funding option. Alder Rasmussen said keeping the TID amendment in the project plan preserves the funding “toolbox” for future redevelopment and said real‑estate negotiations are handled separately and often in closed session when required. Alder Tierney and others emphasized that the amendment simply keeps options open and does not require use of TID funds.
Council discussion also touched on whether the site might be used for a municipal fleet facility; staff said the fleet decision, if pursued, would be a separate council decision and that site selection conversations remain ongoing. Staff said environmental work — including groundwater testing for PFAS — remains underway and would be presented to the finance and economic development committees in future meetings.
The council recorded the motion as passing 6 in favor, 5 opposed, with 1 abstention. No purchase agreement or expenditure was authorized by the amendment; it only makes certain acquisitions and related costs eligible for reimbursement from TID funds should the city later decide to proceed.
