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Wausau council declines to overturn mayoral veto of proposed sale for Wyatt Street property
Summary
The Wausau Common Council voted 1–9 not to overturn a mayoral veto of a resolution authorizing sale of city-owned parcels at 208–214 Wyatt Street after questions about the disposition process, an underage applicant and an applicant withdrawal were raised.
The Wausau Common Council on May 20 failed 9–1 to overturn Mayor’s veto of a resolution that would have authorized sale of city-owned property at 208–214 Wyatt Street to 208 Wyatt Street, LLC.
The veto, issued May 16, returned the matter to the council after the council had approved the sale 8–2 at an earlier meeting. The mayor told the council he had received a written request from the applicant, identified in meeting remarks as Mr. Nowak, asking to withdraw the application prior to the meeting; City Attorney Jacobson said the applicant’s written withdrawal arrived about an hour before the meeting.
Council members and public speakers sharply debated the city’s property-disposition process and whether staff had sufficiently vetted the applicant. Several alderpersons said they were seeking a review of the department procedures; other alderpersons and community members defended staff and emphasized that a full review should be handled professionally.
Alder Neil Larson, who supported the resolution earlier, said he had favored cleanup and reuse of the lot but acknowledged he did not know the purchaser’s age when he voted. Alder Becky Lukens said she found media coverage and public accusations against staff “extremely unfortunate,” and urged more professional internal inquiry before publicizing concerns. Alder Julie McElhaney said she had repeatedly asked the economic development department for details and had not received timely answers, and she defended her decision to press for review to address constituent concerns.
Public comment included Tom Killian, spokesperson for Citizens for a Clean Wausau, who said a 2023 HUD Region V review found deficiencies in the city’s handling of floodplain management related to the site and had declined release of federal funds until the issues were addressed. "HUD region 5 environmental staff have reviewed your objection ... and have found your comments to be valid," Killian quoted from the HUD correspondence.
Council discussion also touched on the applicant’s financing and project plan: some alderpersons said the record showed an applicant-qualified loan of $250,000 and a proposed duplex, which raised questions about how an applicant described as 17 years old could qualify for the transaction. Several members urged stronger vetting procedures going forward, including verifying age, financing and past project experience before approvals.
When asked by the city attorney, the council was told the applicant withdrawal made overturning the veto effectively moot, but members proceeded to a vote on the vetoed resolution. The motion to authorize the sale again failed 1–9, leaving the mayoral veto in place.
The mayor and staff said a review of how the transaction was handled is underway and that the council and finance committee would see findings and recommendations. The council did not take further action on the property during the meeting.
