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Richland County committee flags grant language that may require waiving claims against UW
Summary
County staff told the committee that the UW redevelopment grant application asks applicants to attest that county–university agreements are null and to waive claims; members debated whether to pursue the $2,000,000 award or seek legal remedies and asked staff to get legal clarification.
Richland County staff told the campus reconfiguration committee that the state UW redevelopment grant application contains language that could require applicants to waive legal claims against the University of Wisconsin system.
"The applicant will waive all claims that it has related to the branch," Candace, a county official who read the application language to the committee, said during the meeting. She said the application also asks applicants to provide termination agreements or nonrenewal notices showing that county–university agreements are or will be "null and void."
The discovery alarmed several committee members. Commissioner Brewer said the $2,000,000 maximum award "is tied to us signing off forever" and urged the county to make the issue a formal agenda item for possible action. Other members said the language appears to exceed the legislative intent of the law that created the grants.
Why it matters: The committee is evaluating options for the former UW branch campus and had been counting on redevelopment grants as one funding source. If the application requires a waiver of claims or termination of prior agreements, counties facing closures could lose the ability to pursue legal remedies tied to campus closures and negotiations with the UW system.
What county staff said: Candace said she circulated the application language to the county's legislative contacts, the Wisconsin Counties Association and state offices and had received outreach from the governor's office and legislative staff seeking screenshots and exact language. She asked committee members to provide any additional documentation they want the legislative liaison to review.
Board reaction and next steps: Members debated whether to accept grant money that may carry legal concessions or pursue a legal challenge. Several asked county legal counsel to review the application language and requested any clarifying guidance from the governor's office and WCA. The committee asked staff to keep pushing for clarification and flagged the item for follow-up before a final decision about applying or accepting funds.
The committee did not take a formal vote on the grant language at the meeting. Staff said they would share updates as soon as they receive them and indicated legislative liaison and WCA support were being pursued.
