METRO BRiEFS
by B.C. Kowalski
FILTERING dissent
Residents are asking for filter replacements — turns out the city already has some
Residents received filters in April to filter out PFAS from the city water.
Residents have been asking city officials about getting more filters to help filter PFAS from city water — but now city officials say they’ve already got some left over from residents not claiming theirs. The city’s Finance Committee directed staff to separate filters from some 2,000 pitchers that haven’t been claimed by city residents from the initial order. More than 4,000 people did claim their pitchers. The city used pandemic relief dollars to purchase pitchers and filters for residents as a temporary way to filter PFAS from city water. The city announced in January that all six of the city’s wells tested higher than 20 parts per trillion in PFAS, which is the new recommendation from the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Health Services. Finance Committee Chair Lisa Rasmussen says the latest news from Public Works is that the new drinking water facility will filter out PFAS to levels below 20 parts per trillion, meeting new recommendations from the state. PFAS can have harmful effects on human health. But not so fast, says City Council President Becky McElhaney. Many residents have contacted her saying they haven’t gotten their pitchers, waiting months for them. Many of the emails apparently have gone to spam folders, and some residents who don’t use the internet aren’t sure how they’re supposed to be notified at all, McElhaney says. City leaders should be working on reaching out again to residents to get filters. In the meantime,
From the Attorney’s Desk by Jason Krautkramer, J.D.
ECKERT & KRAUTKRAMER, LLC N. 4th St.,Suite Wausau, 54403 WI 325630 N. 1st Ave., 1 •WI Wausau, 715-842-0907 • jason@eckertlawllc.com
Trust Funding: Real Estate For your residence or other real estate and associated property interests such as mineral or timber rights, you should enlist the help of an attorney to properly identify the interests and prepare, sign, and record deeds that transfer those interests into your trust. It is crucial you fully understand any property tax or other legal implications that may result from such a transfer. Generally speaking, the property insurance should be retitled in the name of the Trust. If your property is encumbered by a mortgage, you may need the lender’s approval. Some lenders might not agree to a new loan on property in a trust. If rental property is conveyed to your Trust, all future rental payments should be made to the Trustee of the Trust. You should check your next tax bill and any documentation regarding exemptions you receive to ensure that any previously granted exemptions still apply.
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June 9-16, 2022
residents received a spare filter with their pitchers and those filters will be separated to be used as replacement filters for those who need it. The city can order more, and Finance Director Maryanne Groat says new ones could be ordered and delivered pretty quickly.
Affordable housing project delayed after tax credit falls through Gorman and Company’s proposal for an affordable housing complex on the city-owned Westside Battery property has been delayed, city officials announced last week. The reason? Tax credits. Gorman and Company needed the tax credits to make the finances behind the project work. The company proposed last year to build a 50-unit, four-story building on the property. Gorman’s proposal was chosen over one from mall redevelopment company Wausau Opportunity Zone, which proposed to leave the property empty. The city announced earlier this year that Gorman would receive $1.75 million as part of the state’s Neighborhood Investment Fund (the Community Partners Campus would get $1.5 million, according to that same announcement). City Community Development Director Liz Brodek says Gorman started applying too late in the game because of the timing of the RFP, so they weren’t able to get the tax credit from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority they needed to make the project work. Gorman will apply again in September, and expects with more time they will be able to get the credits. Developing the Westside Battery and former L&S Printing site has been a challenge for the city. A plan to turn it into a restaurant for food truck business Urban Street Bistro fell through because of financing, and a plan by the owners of Sixth Street Filling Station was withdrawn because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The city has owned the property since 2016.
City approves loans for two west side projects City leaders last week approved rehabilitation loans for two different projects — one an improvement of a near west-side pub and another for a neighborhood transformation. Wausau’s Economic Development Committee last week approved an $82,000 commercial rehabilitation project for 101 Pub. Owner Matt Brewer, whose new ownership of the pub and plans for it were covered in City Pages last year, plans a patio/beer garden area outside the pub. The
loan represents about 14% of the project. The committee also approved a $114,000 loan for a neighborhood rehabilitation area along Third Avenue. Project developer Tyler Vogt, owner of Malarkey’s Pub, has been working on the former cafe at the site for years, and plans improvements in that area as well. Replacing the brickwork is part of that redevelopment. The building will also have rooftop seating, Vogt told the committee. The city hasn’t had an application for a commercial rehabilitation loan for three years, says Community Development Manager Tammy Stratz. The program is a revolving loan fund, so borrowers pay back with interest, which grows the fund for future projects to borrow from. Committee Member Lisa Rasmussen says that means it doesn’t use any new money from the tax levy.
Marathon County tourism rebounded in 2021 It might not be much of a surprise considering the previous year was the start of COVID-19 pandemic, but tourism and the economy rebounded in Marathon County, according to a report from the state’s tourism arm. Marathon County visitor spending grew 20.5% in 2021 compared to 2020, according to the State Department of Tourism’s 2021 Economic Impact Report. That lagged the state, which saw a 31.1% increase in tourist spending. The county saw only a 3% increase in jobs, compared to the state’s 12.9% increase, and a 12.9% increase in labor income, slightly outpacing the state’s increase of 12.7%. Sauk County saw the biggest visitor spending increase, 54.4% over 2020. Sauk County has the Wisconsin Dells and Baraboo, with a major hiking/rock climbing destination. The smallest increase was in Rusk County, which saw a 14% increase. Portage County increased 21% year over year, Lincoln County increased 21.2% and Wood County increased 21.9%. The Central Wisconsin Convention and Visitors Bureau went most of 2021 without a director and without contracts in place with area municipalities. Those contracts were restored after the CVB hired its new director, Tim White.
Mall developer releases further details on first development, still no timeline Mall developer Wausau Opportunity Zone released further details about the first mall development, but not on when construction would start. WOZ says the first development in
