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Council authorizes staff to pursue county RFP to study moving Wausau Police to UWSP Marathon campus
Summary
After a presentation and debate on building condition, partners and cost uncertainty, the Committee of the Whole voted to direct staff to prepare a response to the county RFP to explore relocating the police department to the UW‑Stevens Point Marathon campus; the motion passed 9–1.
Wausau’s police chief and staff presented a proposal to explore relocating the police department to the vacant UW–Stevens Point Marathon campus, saying the site could house police operations, training facilities and shared community spaces if feasibility work shows it is practical and cost‑effective.
Chief Barnes briefed the committee on the opportunity, saying the police facility is currently at capacity and that the county campus (North/South Hall, field house, auditorium and other buildings) could potentially be repurposed. He described potential partnerships with the school district and community organizations and noted space for evidence storage, training, and an auditorium for public engagement.
Barnes framed the ask as a preliminary study: the city could commission architectural and facilities assessments to determine renovation costs and operational trade‑offs. He said an initial design study from FGM Architects could cost about $25,000 (a reduced quote) and recommended a not‑to‑exceed study budget of $50,000 to cover additional unknowns. “That cost is $25,000, which is a reduction by 50% on the 1st quote,” he said; later he added, “I think it’s gonna cost us about $50,000 to get the answers to make good decisions.”
Council members raised several concerns: some asked whether older dormitories and shared heating/utility systems would make renovation impractical; others said the city should not neglect the fleet facility and other deferred capital needs. Councilors and staff discussed annual utility costs for the campus (staff noted roughly $300,000 per year in utilities), the timing of the county RFP (end of August), and a possible $2 million state set‑aside for two‑year UW campuses that might help fund modifications.
Motion and vote: After discussion Alders Trueblood and Neal moved and seconded a recommendation directing staff to pursue the county RFP and prepare a response; the chair announced the motion passed 9 to 1. Staff clarified that any budget modification would be considered in finance committee and returned to council for approval.
Why it matters: The proposal could save the city money compared with building new facilities and could consolidate storage and training needs, but it requires a cost‑benefit analysis and careful planning to weigh long‑term maintenance and operating costs against capital savings and broader community use.
Next steps: Staff were directed to prepare an RFP response and to bring detailed cost and feasibility information back through the appropriate committees; a budget modification for design or due‑diligence work would be handled through finance prior to any purchase or renovation authorization.
