Shawano County officials are in the process of authorizing spending up to $300,000 for a house that sits on land needed for a possible courthouse expansion project.
The house at 217 W. Third St., Shawano, is on the block west and south of the current courthouse. If a new courthouse and housing pod for the jail are authorized by the county board this spring, the site of the house would be needed for the project.
“The Realtor said if that would go on the market, it would be $262,000-$275,000,” said Nick Hesse, Shawano County’s facilities management director. “I started a conversation with the owner, and $275,000 is what their asking price was with the option to move in two years.”
However, if the courthouse plans are given the green light, the owners would need to move by October or November, Hesse said.
“So, to get them out in six months, we could go up to about $300,000,” he said.
The public property committee approved of the purchase Feb. 12. It was scheduled to go to the executive committee Feb. 18, with the full board to vote on it as soon as March 25, if supervisors agree at that meeting to authorize a maximum dollar amount for the building project.
Supervisor Tom Kautza suggested the full board hold off on a vote until they approve construction plans and costs.
“There’s really no use in buying the house if we’re not going to need it,” he said. “That’s a pretty steep price, I think.”
According to Shawano County online tax records, Amber Hetzer owns the Third Street property, which has an assessed value of $82,400 and an estimated fair market value of $96,700.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
