After passing a year-long moratorium on new data centers in August, county leaders this week started the process to develop an ordinance aimed at them.
Members of the Marathon County Environmental Resources Committee started discussion about what an ordinance could include.
The discussion covered water and electricity demand, backup generators, noise, lighting, construction traffic, emergency response and compatibility with neighboring properties. Members asked for expert information to help them craft an ordinace that addresses some of those issues.
Another consideration is whether to distinguish between large data centers and small server facilities.
And one committee member, County Board Supervisor John Robinson, said the county could consider some sort of notification if a data center were interested in an area in the county outside of its zoning jurisdiction.
County staff told the committee they’ve had one inquiry about general data-center rules, but not a specific project proposal.
Kronenwetter leaders might have exceeded their authority when they released records, the village’s former clerk argues. The law appears to agree.
Did Kronenwetter release the Davel investigation outside of its authority?
We published our follow-up story recently about the investigation into Kronenwetter Administrator James Davel and its unusual fallout.
Plenty of fights, including at the Wisconsin Valley Fair, a beer con, an attempt to slip the cops and much more in our regular Wausau Tavern Report feature:
The battle of midway | Wausau Tavern Report
Multiple officers responded to a report of a fight on the midway during the Wisconsin Valley Fair last month.
And our paid subscribers get an early look at the week ahead in our Three things to start your week feature.
What else in Wausau?
Committee expects to revisit tavern report in October: Members of the Public Health and Safety Committee Monday said they expected to revisit the August tavern report, which included one bar receiving 100 demerit points, at October’s meeting. That’s because no one from the police department was available to appear at the meeting to discuss the report. In the tavern report, which The Wausonian reported on Saturday, M&R Station was assessed 100 demerit points for failure to maintain orderly premises, with a firearm enhancement, following an Aug. 2 shooting in its parking lot that police say staff never reported. Wausau Police Chief Matt Barnes told The Wausonian there was confusion about the meeting date since it had been postponed, which is why no one from the police department was present at the meeting.
Firefighter apprentices start as vacancies persist: Nine new apprentices started in the Wausau Fire Department Monday as part of the department’s new apprenticeship program. But those apprentices start as the department still has vacancies. The FD is still missing six firefighter-paramedics, Deputy Fire Chief Justin Pluess told the city’s Police and Fire Commission this week. Two candidates out of seven recently interviewed are likely to advance to the commission for approval next month, Pluess says. And on the police side, Chief Matt Barnes says a recent statewide social media campaign led to the department receiving 40 new applicants, calling them the best candidate pool they’ve seen.
Wausau School District elementary consolidation garners statewide attention: Multiple school districts have reached out to the Wausau School District to learn more about the district’s consolidation of its elementary schools, Wausau Schools Superintendent Cale Bushman says. The district recently closed three of its elementary schools and repurposed a fourth in the consolidation plan as enrollments continued to decline. Bushman says this school year is the first that the elementary consolidation isn’t its main focus. But, Bushman says, declining enrollment alongside population growth within the district is leading to more enrollment discrepancies. “While not an immediate challenge, this will be something that the district will need to consider as we move into the future,” Bushman says.
Around the metro
Mosinee unveils new ebike rules: The Mosinee City Council recently passed a new ebike ordinance. The rules include speeds no higher than 15 miles per hour in parks and on trails, no additional passengers and riders of class 3 ebikes must be 16 years old or older. Ebikes are allowed on sidewalks where regular bicycles are allowed, but not “high-powered” ones.
County tax rate to drop slightly: Marathon County’s tax rate is slated to drop very slightly — as in one cent, to $3.48 per $1,000 of equalized value — in the current version of the proposed budget. Net new construction and closing TIF districts increased the county’s levy capacity. Impact on actual tax bills will vary though, county leaders warn, because property values in relation to other county properties impact the actual bill. The Wausonian plans to dive deeper into the budget later this week.
Weston looking at facility evaluation in the face of repairs: Weston’s Parks Committee this week voted in favor of an evaluation of the village’s aquatic center. That came in the face of the village having spent or committed more than $200,000 on leak detection and repair, and motor and valve replacement. Weston hopes to have the contractor begin the repair work in early October, before staff winterize the facility.
Farmers market working out better at Kennedy Park, but complicates future planning: The village’s parks committee this week approved a survey asking residents and vendors about their experience with the Kennedy Park farmers market location this year. Residents early on in the season raised concerns about parking and traffic at the spot, but staff says that improved throughout the season. The market is staying at Kennedy Park next year, but its longer-term location could complicate plans for another baseball diamond and a proposed indoor hockey facility.
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Business
Makers market open storefront next to Cobblery: A new shop opened earlier this month on Third Street, next to the building that once housed The Cobblery. The business, called Kailey’s Makers Market, features locally sourced goods and a variety of items including gifts, home decor, homemade goods, clothing, crafts and more. The business is located at 325 N. Third Street.
Entertainment
The fall activities continue this weekend with Wausau Events’ Harvest Fest. And we have a couple of Oktoberfests on the docket as well, plus a new original local blues band, a book reading event, a program about civility in politics and so much more. All in Your Wausome Weekend Guide.
Harvest Fest brings the pumpkins | Your Wausome Weekend Guide
The fall activities continue this weekend with Wausau Events’ Harvest Fest. And we have a couple of Oktoberfests on the docket as well, plus a new original local blues band, a book reading event, a program about civility in politics and so much more. All in Your Wausome Weekend Guide.
Sports
Football: Friday was a rough one for Wausau area football teams. D.C. Everest lost to Hudson 43-19 and Wausau West lost to Marshfield 26-21.
Volleyball: D.C. Everest is tied for first after a win on Thursday. The Evergreens defeated Wisconsin Rapids in three games to tie with SPASH and Marshfield for the top conference spot. Wausau West also defeated crosstown rivals Wausau East in three games. The Warriors are now one game behind D.C. Everest.
Boys soccer: D.C. Everest pulled out to the top conference spot after a Tuesday shutout of SPASH. The Evergreens won 3-0 in the clean sheet victory. They’ll take on 2-2 Wausau West today (Thursday).
Girls tennis: Wausau West is now sharing the top conference spot after losing its first Wisconsin Valley Conference match to Marshfield Thursday. The Warriors are tied with Marshfield and SPASH at 4-1 in the conference table.
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