Wausau committee grants easement through Hammond Park to Wisconsin Public Service, contingent on legal review

The City of Wausau Parks and Recreation Committee voted Aug. 4 to grant Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) an easement through Hammond Park at 600 Grand Avenue to install underground electric and gas service for a nearby development, contingent on city attorney review.

Jamie, Parks department staff, told the committee the request arrived late in the packet: “I apologize for getting this on the agenda, late on Friday. I just got the letter from WPS, asking for this request.” She said WPS prefers approval within 30 days. Jamie said the proposed easement runs along the park’s edge and does not cross the park’s central infrastructure: “it goes along the eastern or the northern edge, of the park there,” she said.

Committee action A motion to approve the easement contingent on city attorney review was made and seconded at the meeting; Alderman Rasmussen was recorded as the mover and Alder Watson as the seconder. The committee voted unanimously to approve the easement, with the approval specifically conditioned on the city attorney’s legal review of the agreement.

Scope and next steps Jamie said the easement is for burying lines and supplying electric and gas service to a new apartment development adjacent to Hammond Park. She noted the map in the meeting packet places the easement along a park edge and that the route “doesn't affect any of our infrastructure that's there” though it may cross a trail in one spot. The signed easement will be forwarded to the city attorney for review as required by the committee’s motion.