The Oshkosh Common Council on Nov. 11 approved resolution 25-578, authorizing the city to begin the process to acquire stormwater easements at 3820 Jackson Street, 3835 Somerset Way and 3847 Somerset Way to allow construction of the Advocap Child Care Incubator.

Tanya Marco, executive director of Advocap, told council that the incubator — unanimously approved by council in August — is a cornerstone of local economic development and the city's strategy to address a shortage of childcare. "Every day of delay in securing this easement jeopardizes our ability to meet our approved construction timeline and risk escalating costs," Marco said, asking council to approve the resolution so construction timelines and budgets remain viable.

Public-works engineering staff reported they evaluated four routing options with consultant Bowen Caldwell. Two options were hydraulically infeasible because they would transfer flow into a different watershed and increase flooding risks; two alternatives are technically feasible but would require substantial new or upsized storm sewers, roughly 1,100–1,200 feet of pipe in one scenario, and additional easements or impacts to 4–5 downstream property owners.

Several council members said acquiring the easement or, if necessary, purchasing property directly would be a less disruptive and lower-cost path than extensive rerouting. City legal counsel explained the resolution "starts the process" for acquisition, including appraisals, owner-notice and preserves the ability to use eminent-domain procedures only if negotiations fail.

Following discussion the council voted to approve the resolution so staff can begin negotiations with property owners and proceed with the statutory acquisition process; the city indicated it will first seek voluntary easement acquisition or property purchase before pursuing condemnation.