By Owen Reissmann for Wausau Pilot and Review
Tuesday evening’s Marathon County Board meeting began with a presentation of the 2019 Work Plan, which includes, among other items, establishing the viability of a new pool for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at Wausau campus. One concern is whether such a facility would see sufficient use, given the continuing increase in online and non-traditional students.
Another issue is the school’s financial position and attendance rates. The county wants the college to continue as a community educational resource. Thus, the county will seek ways to increase attendance.
A few other items on the plan include expanding broadband access, especially for business development and rural areas, and the North Central Health Care Aquatic Therapy Pool reconstruction. As previously reported, half of the funds for the aquatic project were raised by private contributors.
Another pressing issue to be addressed in the plan is the lack of funding for performance-based pay increases. Department heads and the CWA board have made complaints about this problem.
Also included is a proposal to open a new regional morgue, potentially using the space where the NCHC Aquatic Therapy Pool currently resides.
A motion to approve borrowing of up to $2,295,000 for capital improvements projects met with resistance from one board member, who gave a speech about responsibility to citizens to live within our means. Another board member responded by clarifying that many of the items contained are long-standing matters that should have been repaired already. Thus, approving borrowing funds to address them now may prevent more expensive future disaster-management efforts.
The measure required a three-fourths majority. With seven board members absent, it narrowly passed, having received the exact number of affirmative votes needed.
