METRO BRiEFS

Is a refinance on your list of resolutions?

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NMLS #649316 Insured by NCUA

Affordable housing promise

Th e city’s Economic Development Committee chose aff ordable housing in favor of a land swap

Given the choice between adding

aff ordable housing to a community that studies show desperately needs it and a swap for land the city already helped pay for, the choice didn’t take long to make.

City leaders went with housing.

Th e city’s Economic Development Committee last week voted to accept Gorman and Co.’s proposal to build an aff ordable housing complex on the site of the former Westside Battery and L&S Printing site. According to the proposal, the site would see a four-story, 50-unit apartment complex. Gorman also off ered $100,000 for the site, for which the city paid nearly $400,000 for.

Gorman was chosen over a proposal by Wausau Opportunity Zone that essentially called for the site to be razed, creating, in their words, a “sense of arrival.” Under the proposal, WOZ would have paid nothing for the land but would have swapped land in the mall redevelopment area — land the city already helped purchase when it funded $1 million of the $3 million used to purchase the mall from its previous owners. Demolition of the Westside Battery site would cost about $125,000, which WOZ would pay for.

It didn’t take the committee long to make its decision: about ten minutes passed before the committee returned to open session and voted in favor of Gorman’s proposal.

Th at vote came after questions about the potential for the land being diffi cult to develop. A sewer line, storm drain and power line needs to be moved in order to develop the site.

But, Trent Claybaugh of Gorman told the committee the company had built enough of a contingency into its fi nancial planning to make the project work, even with the extra diffi culties of developing the site.

Two previous proposals for the site, both restaurants, fell through. Urban Street Bistro proposed a restaurant but that fell through when the owner couldn’t secure the fi nancing; and Sixth Street Filling Station proposed a new restaurant on the site, but had to pull back when the pandemic hit.

Rents at the new apartment complex range from $375 for a single-bedroom apartment at the lowest income range, to $1,147 for a three-bedroom apartment on the upper level of income allowed, according to Gorman’s proposal.

Gorman and Co. is currently renovating the Landmark apartments in downtown Wausau. Th ose will also become aff ordable housing, and have income requirements of those who rent them.

Th e complex is expected to cost $14 million to build, and will generate $2.2 million of annual tax base for the city.

Posy Patch Greenhouse

Christmas Open House - Nov. 19 & 20, 2021 The store is totally redecorated for the holidays!

Evergreen Wreaths Porch Pots, House Plants Cactus Gardens Evergreen Garlands

Loads of gift items!

Fresh Baked Goods, Home Made Candy, Canned Goods

• Fresh Cheese • Locally Made Apple Cider • Winter Squash

Be sure to check it out!

Candles, and Holiday Décor! Homemade Donuts; Cookies; Bread; Dinner Rolls etc.

Pre-order your pies for Thanksgiving!

Free Coffee and Sugar Cookies!

N11839 St. Hwy. 73, Owen • 715-267-7644

(7 miles South of Withee - 6 miles North of Greenwood)

We Accept:

The city’s Plan Commission Tuesday approved a zoning change that would allow for the complex.

Wausau Pilot and Review facing defamation suit

The online news website Wausau Pilot and Review is facing a defamation lawsuit over a story that arose out of the A Community for All debate.

Local businessman Cory Tomczyk filed the suit in Marathon County Court Nov. 5. In the suit, Tomczyk, owner of IROW recycling service, claims a story in the Pilot falsely accused him of calling another speaker in attendance at a county meeting a threelettered derogatory term for a homosexual person. That came during a county meeting about the controversial “A Community for All” resolution.

The suit asks the Pilot to provide proof of him saying it, or retract the story. Both stories are still live on the website.

Wausau Pilot and Review Editor Shereen Siewert told City Pages that the paper’s attorneys, Godfrey and Kahn, took service of the suit and are preparing a response. The paper has 45 days in which to respond, Siewert says.

“Wausau Pilot & Review is aware of Mr. Tomczyk’s allegations,” Siewert told City Pages. “We are vigorously defending our publication in this lawsuit, which we see as a solid argument for anti-SLAPP legislation in Wisconsin.”

By SLAPP, Siewert is referring to Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, which are lawsuits intended to “chill free speech and healthy debate by targeting those who communicate with their government or speak out on issues of public interest,” according to the Public Participation Project.

In October, The Pilot’s attorneys responded to Tomczyk’s initial demand for retraction, rejecting the request. According to the letter, which Siewert provided City Pages, the boy who was called the derogatory term and his mother are willing to testify that Tomczyk did in fact say what the Pilot alleged.

Alderman sends letter of concern over bridge grant

A city alderman sent a letter of concern over a submission for a grant that would use COVID-19 relief funds to pay for a pedestrian bridge.

Tom Kilian on Nov. 9 sent a formal letter of concern to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation admonishing the potential use of COVID-19 relief funds for the project and WEDC for encouraging it.

Wausau Community Development Director Liz Brodek announced at an Economic Development Committee meeting earlier this month that the city was applying for the grant to help fund the bridge, which is part of Wausau Opportunity Zone’s redevelopment plan for the former mall site. The city applied for Neighborhood Investment Fund Program, administered by the Department of Administration. The fund uses COVID-19 relief funds under the American Rescue Plan Act to fund investments into child care, affordable housing and public improvements.

Kilian in his letter, he says “This particular application and proposal does no such thing. Instead, it simply funnels millions of COVID-related relief funds into high-end development plans.” Kilian further admonishes WEDC for usurping local control by recommending the project.

Brodek earlier had told the Economic Development Committee that projects to be considered had to be shovel ready, and only the bridge fit the bill. Brodek in an interview with City Pages before she started said child care was a top priority for her.

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Serving from Our Italian and American Menu

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Reservations Available All Nights

Open Year-Round 5:00 pm to Close Closed Mondays & Holidays · Gift Certificates Available

City council member says he won’t run in 2022

Another city council member has told City Pages he won’t run in 2022.

Pat Peckham, representing District No. 1 on the city’s southeast side, says he won’t be running for another term in 2022. All city council seats are up for re-election in April.

Peckham joins Neal, who earlier announced he won’t run for his seat next year.

Peckham told City Pages that while he enjoyed his six years on the council, he is ready to have more control over his time without feeling guilty about missing meetings. While he’s had some health issues as of late, he says he’d decided a year ago he wouldn’t run again.

Candidates can start circulating nomination papers starting Dec. 1, with paperwork due Jan. 4.

Committee recommends adding nine firefighters to cover shortages

The city’s fire department could soon see nine new firefighters, if a proposal by the city’s fire chief is ultimately approved.

The city’s Public Health and Safety Committee recommended the move Monday, sending the additional position request to the Human Resources and Finance committees.

The request came from Wausau Fire Chief Robert Barteck, who says that the increase in call volumes paired with a stagnant level of staffing has made firefighting unsafe.

Barteck presented this information first to the city council last week, but a fire call Thursday presented a case study that illustrated that need, he said to the Public Health and Safety Committee Monday. Firefighters responded to a garage fire Thursday night that threatened to spread to the house and adjacent homes on Wausau’s east side.

Two of the three ambulance crews were out on medical calls and unable to respond, and the first to arrive was a fire engine staffed by only two. Time being of the essence, a single firefighter trained the hose on the fire while the engineer operated the truck.

Everyone was out of the house, thankfully, but if they hadn’t there wouldn’t have been enough staff for some time to safely enter the building and rescue them.

Winter Bus Trips

While traveling with The Landing, you’ll grow closer to your 55-plus community and get inspired to live connected and welcome every year! Each trip includes transportation, a meal, and any necessary tickets. Get out and explore this winter with friends at The Landing!

Learn more about each trip by calling 715-200-9279 or by visiting thelandingwausau.com/travel Sun., December 5

Holiday Shopping in Appleton & Oshkosh

must register by 11/23

Wed., January 19

Starwood Farm Sleigh Rides & Dinner at Freddy’s

must register by 1/12

Thurs., February 17

Fox Cities Performing Arts Center presents HAIRSPRAY

must register by 12/15