Two key issues before the Oneida County Board are coming to a head, and scheduling what could be some marathon meetings isn't done yet.
What to do with the Heal Creek property west of Rhinelander and how to proceed with the offer by Kwik-Trip of LaCrosse to buy the current county Highway shops are running in parallel through the process. The Heal Creek land next to the Northwood Golf Course has competing proposals to either sell all or part of the land to Hodag Sports Club or a joint proposal from the city of Rhinelander and town of Crescent.
Next month, a consulting firm hired by the county will recommend three possible options for the highway shops. Supervisor Alex Young requested the county hold a night meeting next month to discuss Heal Creek. He says there has been a large enough level of interest that the board should have an later meeting on the subject...
?
"....given that level of interest I think this item fits the bill for an item of particular public interest that would justify holding an evening meeting.....obviously every time the county talks about real estate these days it's kind of a controversial topic given the history of the county board and real estate transactions...."
?
?
But the Kwik-Trip decision also could take much time as the board will consider whether to partially remodel the current shops, fully remodel, or build a new highway shops and let Kwik-Trip buy the land on Rhinelander's west side. Some members felt a meeting with both topics at night on one agenda could be too much at one sitting.
Young's proposal to host the Heal Creek meeting was postponed until May 19. The board will take up the Kwik-Trip offer next month and possibly April, but that decision, too, might be postponed.
