A Madison company is a front-runner in the county’s search for a firm to oversee the acquisition of 14 properties in the neighborhood of a proposed law enforcement center.
The Oconto County Law Enforcement Committee on Jan. 16 interviewed two firms and recommended pursuing a contract with SRF Consulting of Madison.
According to Oconto County Administrative Coordinator Kevin Hamann, an agreement is being drafted. The contract will be presented for approval at the Feb. 5 committee meeting and Feb. 20 County Board meeting.
Once an agreement is in place, SRF Consulting will begin contacting the property owners north of the courthouse, where construction of a law enforcement center is planned.
The committee on Jan. 16 also interviewed three firms interested is serving as a guide for the county’s search for a designer of the center.
The committee selected the Samuels Group of Wausau and is scheduled to approve a $4,000 contract with the company on Feb. 5. Because this contract does not require County Board approval, the firm can start work shortly after committee approval. Samuels Group would help the county develop a request for proposals to be sent to design firms.
The law enforcement center is scheduled to be built on a 4.7-acre block north of the courthouse. It would replace an outdated facility in the courthouse complex that needs major repairs and has limited capacity. Construction of the $25 million center is scheduled to begin in 2015.
The city of Oconto is forming an ad hoc committee composed of residents and city leaders who will meet with county leaders regarding the aesthetics of the building, parking, utilities and other issues.
One thing will be off limits, however.
“We will not be discussing if that’s the location or not,” Hamann said.
Oconto Mayor Victoria Bostedt and members of a citizens group oppose the courthouse site, saying it was chosen in haste without proper public input and will hurt the city’s tax base. They also argue that the center doesn’t belong in a residential area, and the center plus parking won’t fit within the allotted 4.7 acres, causing the city to lose more property for the project in the future.
Hamann said that unless the County Board decides to reconsider its decision, plans for the law enforcement center will continue, despite the objections.
County Board Chairman Lee Rymer said the County Board was firmly in favor of this site.
“The vote was 29-2. We couldn’t be much more clear on where it was going to be,” he said.
“People have told me, ‘Let’s move ahead.’ We’re going the right way,” he said.
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