Candidate Jeff Penscover prioritizes bringing manufacturing back, affordable housing and downtown redevelopment

Jeff Penscover, a Wood County Board supervisor running for Wisconsin Rapids City Council District 4, said the city’s biggest recent setback was losing the paper mill and that his top priority is to bring manufacturing back to Wisconsin Rapids to restore jobs, residents and the tax base.

"Losing the paper mill hurt four or five years ago. My main goal is to bring manufacturing back to Rapids," Penscover said, arguing that manufacturing would create "good paying jobs" and prompt people to move to town and buy houses.

Penscover described active outreach to state and federal contacts and credited the mayor and local economic-development staff for helping gather property details for redevelopment. "We—re talking to people at their level. They hear things and if they know what we—re trying to do here, they certainly can help," he said, citing meetings with state representatives and a recent call with Derek Van Horton.

The candidate listed three priorities: manufacturing, affordable housing to attract workers and continuing the downtown redevelopment plan that includes roundabouts and long-term planning. "That downtown development plan, we—re going to shape the downtown for the next three, four generations to come," he said.

On city finances, Penscover credited the finance and property committee and finance director Tim Dorsy with trimming an initial budget that came in about $800,000 over without cutting jobs, calling it "huge." He also highlighted an intermunicipal emergency services agreement negotiated with the mayor and fire chief Ben Goodro that he said will allow adding three firefighters and an ambulance "at no cost to Rapids." "That's pulling a rabbit out of a hat," Penscover said.

When asked about negotiating the paper mill property tax assessment, Penscover said he favored bringing in outside counsel and experts to make the best case: "We're going to want to bring everybody to the meeting that we can. I know they're looking at experts. Our city attorney has got her hands full... so that's I don't see no disadvantages of that whatsoever."

Penscover addressed lead-service-line replacement by saying the council passed a revised ordinance and that financing and implementation remain the difficult parts. "The ordinance is passed. As they tear up a road and they discover this stuff, it's going to have to be replaced," he said, adding that the city has time before federal requirements take full effect but must seek grant money and build a process.

He urged residents to use the mayor's communication system, volunteer for local committees and get involved in city affairs. On why voters should elect him, Penscover pointed to 20 years as a small-business owner and experience on the county board: "You just get things done... Being on the county board has made me a better alderman."

The forum moved on after Penscover's closing remarks; no formal votes or actions were recorded during his segment.