City‑County IT: Thomas Street fiber issue likely solvable; redevelopment RFPs expected next year

Dale Schirmacher, City‑County IT information security manager, updated the Marathon County Infrastructure Committee on Dec. 4 about IT projects and the county’s Thomas Street connectivity constraint affecting redevelopment plans.

Schirmacher said he was filling in for Director Jerry Cline and that he could answer questions about project statuses in the packet. A supervisor asked specifically about fiber connectivity to the Thomas Street location and whether the county could eliminate the fiber run so the Thomas Street or River Drive parcels could be sold or redeveloped. "We can certainly give that update," Schirmacher said, and county staff explained the credit union’s planned relocation is expected next summer.

County staff told the committee that historically the fiber path through River Drive had constrained redevelopment because equipment access was tied to that route; with the credit union’s relocation the county expects to be in a position to release requests for proposals for redevelopment of River Drive and Thomas Street "in the very near future" if committees direct staff to proceed.

Why it matters: Fiber connectivity and building tenants can limit the county’s ability to market and sell surplus properties. Staff said resolving those infrastructure ties would allow redevelopment procurements to move forward without additional technical constraints.

Next steps: IT staff will provide a follow-up update on the services currently provided to the Thomas Street location and options for eliminating the fiber dependency. The county expects to proceed with RFPs for redevelopment after the credit union leaves its Thomas Street location next summer, assuming committee direction.

Sources: Marathon County Infrastructure Committee transcript; statements by Dale Schirmacher.