Winnebago County board votes to terminate UW Fox Cities agreement; county to assume campus July 1

The Winnebago County Board of Supervisors voted to approve an agreement terminating the 1970 memorandum of agreement with the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin and Outagamie County, clearing the way for Winnebago County to assume ownership of the UW Oshkosh Fox Cities campus on July 1.

County Executive Hintz said the termination will be signed by UW Oshkosh’s chancellor following the board action and that Winnebago County will take ownership of the property July 1. “Assuming we terminate the lease tonight, UW Oshkosh chancellor will sign the termination agreement tomorrow. And then starting July 1, Winnebago County will take ownership of the property,” County Executive Hintz told the board. He said the county expects to have a short-term lease in place with a public-sector partner to continue on-site child care so services are not interrupted when UW Oshkosh’s operations end June 20 and the county’s management begins June 21.

Why it matters: the campus houses community assets including the Barlow Planetarium, Weis Earth Science Museum and other cultural and educational facilities. County leaders said they plan to preserve those uses where possible but will need partnerships and funding to make a sustainable long-term plan.

County Executive Hintz told supervisors the county will request a 2025 supplemental budget appropriation, to be considered by the Personnel and Finance Committee and the full board at the June 17 meeting, to cover operating costs from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2025. He also noted the county is eligible for up to $2,000,000 from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation for campus redevelopment and said the county is preparing inventories and facilities assessments.

Public comment and local stakeholders: community members and groups urged the board to preserve the campus’s cultural and educational uses. Allie Thiele, speaking for New Springs Christian Academy, introduced a new K–12 school seeking space and said the group had submitted a business plan to county administration and would welcome consideration as a campus tenant. “We are looking at a couple of campuses, 1 being the former Shattuck Middle School campus, and the other being the UW Oshkosh Fox Valley campus,” Thiele said.

Tom France, speaking for Save the Fox Campus, described community interest and offered the group’s help identifying potential tenants and users for spaces such as the Barlow Planetarium, museum, community garden and performing-arts spaces. “We bring unique knowledge of the facilities, connections to community groups and tenants who may use the spaces,” France said.

Veterans recognition: the meeting opened with remarks and an appearance by World War II veteran Larry Eckstein, who will turn 101 on June 30. Diane McDonald, executive director of Old Glory Honor Flight, described the Honor Flight program and related veterans projects and asked the board to remember Memorial Day. “Our goal is to get our veterans to see the war memorials that were built in their honor in Washington, DC before it’s too late,” McDonald said.

Board direction and next steps: board members and the county executive emphasized the need for partnerships, fundraising and a sustainable operating model for the campus. The county will perform an inventory of equipment and assets, continue a facilities assessment already underway, and pursue the WEDC redevelopment funding opportunity. The county executive said he will meet with local philanthropic and visitor-economy partners to build support and that more public listening sessions will be scheduled in June.

Votes and formal actions: the board approved the agreement to terminate the 1970 memorandum of agreement, clearing the procedural steps for the campus transfer and prompting the county to advance budgeting and coordination work.

What’s next: supervisors were told a supplemental budget request will be presented in June, and staff will continue inventory and facilities assessments. County leaders urged community partners to work with the county on a financially viable plan to preserve campus resources.

Ending note: board members asked administration to track which campus programs can be kept in place and which will require external partnership or funding, and to report back to committees in the coming weeks.