MARINETTE — Marinette County Administrator John Lefebvre wants to give the UW-Green Bay, Marinette Campus property to the City of Marinette, with stipulations. The city isn’t prepared for that to happen, according to Mayor Steve Genisot.
UWGB recently announced that it will suspend all in-class learning in Marinette at the end of the current semester. That decision has triggered discussions on what will happen with the county-owned property. A listening session took place last week at the Herbert L. Williams Theatre. More than 15 people spoke and most talked about the rich history and beauty of the campus, along with the desire to keep it public.
Lefebvre spoke about the matter Tuesday during his monthly report to the County Board, which held its meeting in the theatre. He said he attended a special Marinette Common Council meeting Monday and he came away believing the city is interested in the property.
“They didn’t vote, but what I took away from the council meeting is there is an entity that is interested in owning, operating and managing the facility — that’s the city of Marinette,” Lefebvre said. “That’s what I got out of yesterday’s council meeting. So, the city of Marinette is definitely a player in this whole process. They are interested in acquiring from the county, this property that we’re currently sitting in, the building, Runnoe Park and, I believe the (Max E. Peterson) fieldhouse.”
Genisot, contacted Wednesday morning, said the city’s only interest right now is Runnoe Park. The council voted to request that the county turn over the park, located across from the campus on the bay of Green Bay, to the city.
“We, as a council, formally requested to the county at least to preserve Runnoe Park and turn it over to the city,” he said. “I think they want to get rid of everything. The city is in no position at this point to take on everything, nor has the council made any decision.”
Genisot said the fieldhouse will not be part of any discussion. “That’s a separate building,” he said. “I think you’ve got an active group in there. River Cities (Community Pool Association) has told me that they want to continue to use that and maintain it. We don’t want to step on their toes, nor should we.”
Two Marinette alderman spoke during public comment about Runnoe Park.
Alderman Doug Oitzinger said each campus asset requires its own solution.
“Selling off Runnoe Park to build condos is not what I think most people want,” he said. “Preserving it as a park makes the main campus land more desirable, not less, and it is the right thing to do.”
Alderman Mike Wolfe said he went fishing and swam in the bay off of Runnoe Park as a youth.
“As stewards, the city of Marinette is more than willing ... it was an unanimous vote that we would like to get involved with this,” he said. “To think that it would possibly become basically a rich person’s playground and the view would be of the back of their condominiums is abhorring to me. I hope that you will vote your conscious and I hope you will preserve it for future generations.”
Lefebvre said the county can’t act on the city’s request because the UW lease on the property runs through June.
“It would be my recommendation that the county actually give the city of Marinette this property, which would include the fieldhouse and Runnoe Park, with a couple of stipulations,” he said.
Those stipulations include:
• Reimbursement for the installation of $163,000 for a sewer line. Lefebvre said that could come from Aurora, a developer on the former hospital site or from the city.
• The city takes all the property, including the 5-acre Runnoe Park, the 17-acre main campus and the 18-acre fieldhouse.
• If the city sells any portion or all of the property, any profits (minus the city’s costs) go to the county.
Lefebvre said talks should begin now because the UWGB lease has to be renegotiated by July 1. He said he would prefer to get the city involved if it may eventually own the property.
Genisot said, “Frankly, If the city is not the end party that owns it, the county still would negotiate that lease and make it assignable.”
He said the city does not know all of the holding costs, expect for utilities estimated at $170,000 to $200,000 annually. “We don’t know the condition of the buildings,” he said. “We don’t know if the space meets our needs. The city is open to continue the discussion. We have made no decision whether we would take part, all or any of it, until our due diligence is done.”
Supervisor Tim Pelzek suggested an appraisal be done on the property and then sold. “Why not try to get some money out of it,” he said.
Supervisor Trygve Rhude said selling the property as a “one off” is not the way to go as it may benefit the county for a year or two, but not long term.
Lefebvre said selling the property may not be as lucrative as some believe.
“I don’t think you could go out and market these properties and get as much money as you think,” he said. “I believe the council should be the one to make the decisions as the closest entity. I don’t want to be the one slicing this property up.”
He said the county has invested about $600,000 to the campus fine arts center and $750,000 to the fieldhouse in the last decade.
“That’s a lot of money with the intent that they would stay open for the community,” he said.
Some supervisors suggested having listening sessions in other areas of the county. Lefebvre said he’s open to that, and he also said supervisors can get on the agendas at town meetings. He said he would attend those meetings when available.
“Let’s not just turn it over to the city when the entire county has been paying (taxes) for all these years,” supervisor Stan Gruszynski said.
Lefebvre said the board needs to be assertive.
“If you believe a property is worth something, then just proceed along those lines and make a decision and move on,” he said. “Sell the property to whatever you want. If you want it to be for the community, back out, give it to the city of Marinette and they will make it for the community.”
A couple of supervisors asked if the campus could be a site in the National Estuarine Research Reserve system (NERR). Lefebvre said he wouldn’t hang onto that hope as he believes it will end up at UWGB or that area.
Genisot said he went to the campus Tuesday and spoke with some supervisors and Lefebvre.
“We talked about some options,” he said. “There’s a lot being thrown down right away and with UW vacating, everybody is scrambling to figure it out. No decisions are imminent in the future until there is a lot more due diligence.”
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