There are some significant items on Monday’s common council agenda in West Bend.
The Board of Public works will ask permission to advertise for Bids to raze the former Gehl Engineering building.
This is a story http://www.washingtoncountyinsider.com broke in January when county officials confirmed they were moving ahead with demolition of the Washington County Annex II and the Senior Center.
The city wanted to tag in on that action and bid out the project adding its Gehl building on Forest Avenue into the mix.
The thought was the city and county could save taxpayer money by using the same contractor on all three projects.
The other big item up for a vote is the property to the south of the Museum of Wisconsin Art.
The West Bend Finance Committee will adjourn into closed session to discuss the sale of city property, TIF No. 5 and 9.
That 1.2-acre parcel to the south of the Museum of Wisconsin Art has been vacant for 10 years. In mid-2015 the city found itself with two offers on the same grassy space within a two-week time span.
One offer was from the Thomas J. Rolfs Foundation, Inc. and the other Bob Bach, Project Manager at P2 Development Company LLC in Saukville. He proposed a $5 million housing development.
That housing proposal rankled some folks in the community, especially those that questioned the city’s long-term vision.
Over the past few months there have been some intense discussions regarding finances and how to lay the groundwork for a positive and fun downtown in the future.
At the time District 3 alderman Ed Duquaine echoed Mayor Kraig Sadownikow’s thoughts on keeping the parcel green. “It would be nice but the financial aspect is a serious one,” he said. “To keep it green the financials will play a huge role.”
District 7 alderman Adam Williquette was all about the money.
“Right now the debt in TIF No. 5 and No. 9 is $12,621,667 and the whole point of the TIF is to pay that back,” he said. “Obviously it would be nice to see it stays green but green that pays us $125,000 a year forever.”
This evening the council will make a final decision on the future of the parcel.