County advances template RFP for Thomas Street property; credit union plans to move in 2026

County staff presented a reusable request‑for‑proposals (RFP) template on Nov. 7 intended for multiple Marathon County properties, starting with the Thomas Street building (the former social services office). The template is meant to solicit a broad range of proposals — purchases, long‑term leases or lease‑to‑own arrangements — and staff said it can be tailored for larger, more complex sites such as the UW campus.

Administrators and supervisors debated whether the county should prefer sale over long‑term leasing. Supervisor Marshall asked to remove long‑term‑lease language; Chair Gibbs (participating remotely) preferred keeping it as an option if outright sale proposals are insufficient. Several supervisors urged that evaluation criteria explicitly include neighborhood and community priorities.

Staff also said the credit union currently on River Drive is planning to occupy a newly acquired property and expects to move in 2026; staff noted that certain IT equipment serving the credit union runs through county infrastructure and that the county cannot decommission some systems until the credit union no longer requires them. Staff said they will coordinate timing and may allow addenda in proposals for supplemental materials beyond a streamlined page limit.

Next steps: staff will refine the RFP template, add neighborhood/community evaluation criteria, check parcel/TID status and return with a timetable; committees suggested including the Thomas Street RFP discussion on the Dec. 4 follow‑up meeting agenda.