Marathon County supervisors debate purchasing Kronenwetter land for new highway facility

Marathon County Board of Supervisors members debated a proposal April 22 to authorize purchase of properties in the Village of Kronenwetter for a new county highway facility, citing the poor condition of the current shop and potential service improvements.

Supervisor Fiffrick, chair of the infrastructure committee, urged action on the land purchase, saying the discussion "really starts with looking at the need that the county has" and describing the county's existing facility as deteriorating. He called the Kronenwetter site a "unique opportunity" and said it would deliver "better levels of service" and bring county equipment closer to materials and equipment needed during storm events.

The motion to authorize purchase was introduced by Supervisor Robinson and seconded by Supervisor Masc. Supporters pointed to operational benefits and opportunities for collaboration with the village; Supervisor Covelli said he is "in favor of this location," but asked that the county maintain open communication with the Village of Kronenwetter and work with the village if the county purchase would affect the village tax base.

Several supervisors, including Supervisor Sandalski, raised concerns about local notice and the village's involvement. Sandalski said she had received multiple emails and phone calls from residents and village board members who had not seen discussion of the sale at Kronenwetter board or planning commission meetings. She moved to table the vote on the purchase until the board's May meeting and asked administration to present the project to the village planning commission or village board in a public setting.

Discussion at the meeting included references to existing land ownership near the proposed site. Fiffrick said WPS owns a large contiguous parcel, that 12 acres of WPS land are tax exempt, and described another nearby six-acre property that paid $16.51 in total tax the prior year. Members and staff noted timing constraints: one parcel's offer acceptance date was reported as May 10 and another as May 23, and later in the meeting an administrative note said an acceptance deadline of May 1 appeared in the packet.

The provided transcript records the motion to table but does not include the result of that motion or any final vote on the purchase authorization. The record shows administrative staff locating and reporting the acceptance dates but does not record a completed purchase or board approval in the excerpt provided.

The debate reflects competing concerns: supervisors who emphasized deteriorating county infrastructure and operational benefits of a new facility, and local residents and officials worried about notice, local tax base impacts and village involvement. The transcript indicates the board considered delaying action to allow direct discussion with the Village of Kronenwetter and to clarify offer deadlines.

Next steps were not recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.