City council members on Tuesday narrowly approved a deal that would spend nearly $1 million on a former industrial site along the Wisconsin River.
The council by a vote of 6-4 passed a resolution to buy 201 N. First Avenue. The purchase will allow the city to complete the River’s Edge Trail on the west side of the river. And, it will open up the land for a non-industrial use. Some council members suggested housing as an option on Tuesday.
But several council members balked at the price tag. The cost to purchase is $900,000, plus there are expected environmental cleanup costs. But city staff members say the TIF district that includes the property could absorb most of the costs of the purchase and they intend to apply for grants for the cleanup.
The purchase also takes out a contributor to the district, meaning that much less revenue will come into the district to help make it whole.
New York Bagels in Wausau? This cafe in the Dudley Tower is doing just that:
The Tower Cafe has a pretty unique idea, in a pretty unique place
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly listed the company Bodenheimer worked for.
Last month’s tavern report was a little sparse on details. So we dug into the cases ourselves, and found some surprising incidents, including a fight that spanned two cities:
A fight that spanned cities | The Wausau Tavern Report
We think Wausau gets pretty interesting after dark. Here are the significant police calls to Wausau taverns for the last month, plus information about liquor licenses and other bar-related matters.
Plus we looked at UWSP - Wausau moving to NTC and leaving its campus behind, a story that got a shockingly small amount of coverage in the rest of the press:
UWSP Wausau is leaving its nearly empty campus
At the end of the year 2026, the UWSP Wausau campus will be empty of students, faculty and equipment.
What else in Wausau?
Wyatt Street deal approved: The Wausau City Council Tuesday approved a deal to sell city-owned Wyatt Street. The move comes after city leaders nearly sold the property to a 17-year-old resident. The Wausonian obtained emails from the situation and will publish a story on this soon. The Wyatt Street deal would sell the land to Troy Engman for $3,500 to build a house on it. The previous deal would have sold the land for $1,000, but one city council member, Terry Kilian, wanted to see the land sold to the current proposer for $19,000. But the property also comes with, as a memo in the packet has it, “environmental concerns.”
Wausau resident and former Badger/Packer Bill Ferrario dies: A Wausau resident and former Wisconsin Badger and Green Bay Packer Bill Ferrario is dead at 47, the Scranton Times reports. Ferrario, a Scranton native, was a standout at West Scranton High, and played as a guard for the Badgers and later the Packers among other NFL teams. After his football career, he’d transitioned to becoming a content creator, including hosting his own show on YouTube. He died Wednesday, apparently only a couple of days after turning 47.
Around the metro
Marathon County appoints new supervisor to replace Gisselman: The Marathon County Board voted to appoint a new member to the board to replace the seat left open after the death of long-time local politician Gary Gisselman. The board appointed Aaron Griner, an organic farmer, carpenter and current employee of the Marathon County Historical Society, to the seat last week.
Marathon County approves septic tank fee in tight vote: The County Board last week approved a new fee to help cover the costs of the state’s septic tank inspection program that the county operates. The measure imposes a $6 fee for septic tank owners to cover the fee. Many county board members voted against it, saying another fee is already adding to major costs with maintaining a system and saying it would likely increase in the future. But others said it wasn’t fair that Marathon County residents without septic fees have to cover the whole cost of the program when they aren’t benefiting from it. County Board Chair Kurt Gibbs said the county must start looking at more fees because right now the tax levy can only be increased by net new construction - and that amount was eaten up by a 6.5% increase in insurance premium costs. The measure, pulled separately from a larger zoning resolution, narrowly passed 16-14.
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This week in Data
The county is planning on potentially taking 78 tax delinquent properties through tax deed unless they pay by the date of an upcoming hearing. Here is how they break down (there were only 75 actionable parcels listed in the meeting materials):
Entertainment
A pair of country/folk singers come to Lamplight Sessions, A Blues Fest regular comes to Cheeks, the Cyclones kick off their home opener and more in your Wausome Weekend Guide:
Sports
Football: D.C. Everest has so far proved unstoppable as it blasted past Marshfield 37-15 Friday to remain undefeated in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. The undefeated Evergreens will head to Eau Claire North (1-1) this Friday.
Volleyball: Wausau West remains the top area volleyball team at 2-1 after its first conference loss of the season to SPASH last Thursday. The Warriors host crosstown rival Wausau East (1-2) today (Thursday).
Boys soccer: D.C. Everest remains undefeated but finally gave up its first goal of the season in a 1-1 tie against Wisconsin Rapids Tuesday. That leaves the Evergreens at 3-0-1 and at the top of the Wisconsin Valley Conference.
Girls tennis: Wausau West defeated crosstown rival Wausau East to remain undefeated in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. The Warriors sent the Lumberjacks packing with a 6-1 win Tuesday, improving to 3-0. Wausau West will head to 3-1 Marshfield today (Thursday).
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