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Marathon County committee removes 24-month build restriction for two unsold tax parcels
Summary
The Human Resources, Finance and Property Committee voted to re-advertise two tax-delinquent parcels without the 24-month construction deed restriction after bids came in below appraisal; staff flagged litigation and enforcement questions tied to deed restrictions and prior taxes owed.
The Marathon County Human Resources, Finance and Property Committee voted to re-advertise two tax-delinquent parcels — identified in the meeting as 600 West Village Limits Road (Athens) and 738 South 3rd Avenue (Wausau) — without a deed restriction requiring the buyer to construct a residence within 24 months.
Committee chair Gibbs moved the action; Supervisor Poole seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote.
Why it matters: staff reported the county has reduced outstanding tax certificates by 64.56% since October 2024 and said the value of remaining certificates declined by 83.65% (January additions excluded). Two parcels in the most recent Wisconsin Surplus auction drew high bids below the appraised values: Athens’ parcel drew a high near $12,000 against a $13,000 appraisal, and the Wausau parcel drew roughly $5,000 against a $10,000 appraisal. Those gaps prompted debate about whether the deed restrictions were deterring buyers.
What was argued: supporters of removing the 24-month build restriction said releasing it for these properties could increase market interest and attract buyers. Opponents urged caution, noting the restrictions were adopted by a prior county-board action to encourage affordable housing and could have been set for policy reasons beyond immediate sale value. Committee members also raised legal and financial concerns: one supervisor cautioned that lowering restrictions or reducing listing values could expose the county to claims from prior owners if sale proceeds do not cover the county’s recorded debt. Staff explained that enforcement of deed restrictions would likely rely on contract or court action and that municipal permitting/zoning rules (and health department inspections for some tourist-rooming uses) factor into enforceability.
Next steps: staff will re-advertise the two parcels without the 24-month construction requirement and return updates to the committee. The committee did not direct a wholesale removal of deed restrictions countywide; members asked for case-by-case handling and for staff to continue analyzing risks tied to prior-owner claims and tax-recovery amounts.
Closing: the motion to re-advertise passed on a committee voice vote and the matter will be tracked in follow-up staff reports.
