The Richland County Campus Reconfiguration Committee heard updates on a UW redevelopment grant application, consultant data needs and plans to remove remaining items from the campus during its meeting.

Carol, a committee member and the staff lead on the grant application, said she submitted an initial request for “a little under $2,000,000” and that the grant contact, identified only as Ela in the record, told staff to request the full amount now and provide supporting documentation later. "If I don't ask for it at the get go, we lose it," Carol said.

The committee was told the grant contact confirmed coverage for the bridge project. Committee members discussed a preliminary figure for the bridge of about $650,000. Staff said they will upload quotes and supporting documents for demolition, HVAC work, surveying, sidewalks, separate utilities and a parking lot into the application.

Why it matters: committee members framed the redevelopment grant as central to near-term work that could clear or prepare property for redevelopment. Several members noted the value of the campus is likely tied to developable land rather than the buildings themselves because building-condition and demolition costs can make the standing improvements neutral or negative in value.

What was said and what remains to be done
- Staff reported SEH, the engineering consultant, is still gathering information and has asked for clarification about parcel ownership and acreage discrepancies; staff has looped in Kathy Cooper and Julie Linz to help resolve those questions ahead of SEH's next update.

- On the grant, Carol said the application will be revised to include additional items and supporting quotes. She reported being told the bridge will be covered and that the application should list all needs up front. "They said there's some parcels of land that they can't figure out who owns. There's some discrepancies about the number of acres," she added when describing the questions from the consultant.

- Committee members discussed demolition cost estimates and options for removing material. One member suggested getting an estimate from highway staff for hauling demolition debris so the committee would have a number to include in the grant and planning. Several members said they had or would get quotes for specific items: a survey, HVAC quotes for the Simon's building, parking lot work on Hyve Drive, separate utilities and sidewalk work.

- Members noted vendor reluctance to provide fresh quotes until the project is near commitment, particularly for HVAC work. Mike Hardy was asked to try to locate a more recent HVAC quote; staff said some prior estimates exist but vendors often decline to re-price without assurance the work will proceed.

Bridge and access constraints
Committee members discussed two campus bridges. One bridge was described as unsafe for heavy vehicle traffic and suitable only for pedestrians; members said that could limit access for development unless a reliable vehicular route is maintained or replaced. That access constraint factored into discussions about which property parcels would be most marketable for redevelopment.

Disposal of remaining items, donations and logistics
The committee reviewed plans to clear remaining campus items. Staff reported the piano was claimed by a church and volunteers or contractors were being arranged to move it. Members outlined a short, volunteer-run sale plan: move remaining usable items to the student center, hold a one- or two-day sale (items priced nominally), and then dispose of leftovers in a rented dumpster. Metal items could be collected by a local recycler (referred to in the record as "L and M"). The committee also discussed contacting Habitat Restore to see if it would remove doors or other salvageable building materials.

Historic items
Members flagged a commemorative plaque and a memorial by the student center and asked that those items be preserved and tracked separately from general disposals.

Closed session and next steps
The committee voted unanimously to enter a closed session under Wisconsin Statutes § 19.85(1)(e) to deliberate or negotiate on the potential sale of certain campus buildings; Trish was included in that closed session. After returning to open session members reported “no action” was taken as a result of the closed-session discussion.

The committee set a follow-up meeting for Nov. 19 at 4:00 p.m. and asked SEH to attend in person to present its update.