MINOCQUA – Having purchased an older one-story house on a downtown lot, the Minocqua town board is now seeking bids from the public to buy it. If it doesn’t sell, then it likely will be torched by the local fire department.
Electors at last November’s special town meeting authorized the town to purchase the property at 408 E. Chicago Avenue at a cost of $150,000. The town board wants to remove the house – either through a sale or demolition – and turn the property into a parking lot. Downtown parking is at a premium during major community celebrations, such as the 4th of July and Beef-A-Rama.
At that time, it was thought demolition costs would be about $7,500 with about $15,250 needed to pave the 75-by-125 foot lot. The municipal block where it’s located currently houses the community center, library, police station, two parking lots and two privately owned residential lots.
The other option the board may consider is to let the Minocqua Volunteer Fire Department use it for a practice burn, said town chairman Mark Hartzheim. At the meeting Fire Chief Luke Taylor said the department’s officers toured the site and consider a burn “doable.” He pointed out some concerns, including that it’s adjacent to the northbound lane of U.S. Highway 51, likely incurring some opposition by residents and businesses worried about smoke and odor, and nearby powerlines. They might consider doing more than one practice burn to limit the smoke and to give additional training to crews from local and area fire departments.
Supervisor Bill Stengl wondered if it would be suitable to rent as a quasi-government purpose such as a domestic violence shelter or perhaps as low-income housing. However, others on the board were against sticking any money into the building. While it needs some “cosmetic” work, the house has “good bones,” one official said. There is a garage that’s also in good shape. The town will advertise for bids. More information is available from the town office.
Truck needs costly repairs
In an unrelated matter, the board directed public works director Mark Pertile to go ahead with $11,000 in repairs needed for a 2000 model year dump truck. The vehicle has 120,000 miles on it. Pertile questioned whether it was worthwhile to get the repairs done, or sell it as is, possibly getting $15,000 to $20,000. The repairs needed are for a rear seal on the engine and for an oil leak on a high-pressure pump. Nor is there any guarantee that an engine failure wouldn’t occur on the truck with that number of miles, he said. An engine overhaul would likely cost $10,000.
If it was sold, then the town should consider buying a new 5-yard dump truck, which, depending on the type, would cost either in the range of $200,000 or $240,000, he said. They would order it next year with delivery and payment in 2022. The board was reluctant to spend that much money with the economy still in dire straits and opted for the repairs with crossed fingers that it would last through two more winters.
