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Revised article after audit fixes
Summary
Following the audit, the article was revised to correct and clarify statutory citation, note transcript inconsistencies in facility naming and addresses, and avoid attributing unverifiable details to the committee; the committee approved minutes, entered closed session under Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(e), and later declined public action pending further due diligence, returning Aug. 26.
The Portage County ad hoc committee charged with advising on potential buyers for the county healthcare center voted to enter closed session to discuss negotiation strategy after a resident accused officials of hiding documents and beginning marketing before the committee’s formation.
Nancy Rob, a resident who identified herself during public comment, said she obtained documents through Freedom of Information Act requests that, she said, show marketing activity beginning Jan. 22, 2025, before the committee’s first meeting and ahead of a March broker presentation and an April listing agreement. “If you’ve got nothing to hide, hide nothing,” Rob told the committee.
The chair read the committee’s charge and cited the statutory authority for closing part of the meeting under Wisconsin law for deliberating or negotiating the purchase of public properties (Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(e)). The committee described its role as reviewing proposals and negotiating terms associated with letters of intent for a possible sale of the Portage County Healthcare Center in Stevens Point. The transcript contains inconsistent references to the facility (including an earlier reference to “Saluda Healthcare Center”) and lists different street addresses; the committee did not resolve those discrepancies in open session.
Committee members approved prior meeting minutes after a motion and second recorded in the meeting comments as moved by Rakowski and seconded by Scott. The committee then voted to convene in closed session under Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(e) to protect competitive and bargaining interests while reviewing proposals and negotiating terms. The motion was recorded in the meeting as moved by Scott and seconded by Rakowski and was approved.
After closed-session deliberations, the committee returned to open session and decided not to take public action at this meeting. The chair said the committee would pursue additional due diligence and requested staff and counsel gather more details about potential buyers; the committee set a follow-up meeting for Aug. 26 to revisit letters of intent.
The public comment included specific timeline claims drawn from FOIA disclosures (committee established Dec. 3, 2024; marketing began Jan. 22, 2025; broker presentation March 27; listing agreement April 30). Those claims were not corroborated in open session. The committee’s actions at this meeting were limited to approving minutes, voting to enter closed session, and requesting further due diligence before any public decision.
