By Shereen Siewert
WAUSAU — During a sparsely-attended public information session Thursday, officials at North Central Health Care unveiled newly revised plans for upgrades at the facility, a response to public outcry from some neighborhood residents concerned about the location of new buildings.
Marathon County in 2018 approved the master plan for the $73 million facility upgrade, which includes a new nursing home and aquatic center at its Wausau facility, 1100 Lake View Drive. Bonding for the project was approved in June. But during a standing-room-only March meeting at the Wausau Downtown Airport and a public hearing at Wausau City Hall, a group of neighbors expressed concern about the proposed location of a new adult facility and youth hospital, which would be located toward the front of the property.
Most neighbors opposed to the plan told Wausau Pilot and Review they supported additional mental health services, but objected to the proximity of the buildings to the neighborhood. Several urged NCHC to revise the plan by placing both new buildings behind the current building.
The public information session is one of two planned in response to the residents’ concerns. In addition to NCHC officials, Marathon County Board Members Katie Rosenberg, John Robinson, Romey Wagner and Rick Seefeldt attended, as did Marathon County Deputy Administrator Lance Leonard. Pat Peckham, the Wausau City Council member who represents Dist. 1, was the only city official present; Mayor Rob Mielke did not attend.
During Thursday’s meeting, Jim Tibbets, an architect for Angus-Young Associates said that while repositioning the proposed youth crisis hospital behind the current NCHC building is possible, doing so would eliminate the pedestrian path in the area, complicate privacy issues for patients, complicate snow plowing efforts in the winter months, and impact the phasing of the project.
Moving the youth hospital would also be more expensive, Tibbets said. Leonard expressed his concern that the additional cost would not be fiscally responsible for Marathon County taxpayers.
If the youth crisis center is located in the back, that portion of the project would be pushed to a later date. Moving both proposed buildings to the back of the current facility isn’t possible for space reasons, Tibbets said.
The latest iteration of the plan shows both new buildings slightly rotated from the March 21 version and a landscaped berm on the east and north sides of the two buildings. The plan also shows new walking paths around the berm connecting to the existing pathway at Ethel and Marshall Streets and at the end of the pine alley closest to the current Mount View building. The pathway will include a pergola with picnic tables.
The most significant change from the original plan moves the adult facility back from Marshall Street to 216 feet, 76 feet farther back than the original plan of 40 feet. An orange cone is in the current field that shows where the new facility will be set.
NCHC officials said they will upload the new renderings to the NCHC renovations website on Friday.
Rosenberg, the county board member who represents the district surrounding NCHC, said she is pleased that the organization is giving the community the opportunity to provide input on the project.
“The latest round of changes show that the project leaders are taking concerns from neighbors seriously,” Rosenberg said. “I hope that more people show up to the April 11 meeting so project leaders have some solid reactions to the plan.”
One resident in the audience asked about the possibility of moving both buildings back further from the street. But Leonard said that to do so would require cutting down some of the pine trees that line the current walking path, something he believes other residents will be opposed to.
Marathon County officials have offered to foot the bill for installing a pedestrian actuated crossing signal at Lakeview Drive and Alexander Park to help alleviate safety issues regarding increased contractor traffic along the route.
Rosenberg said she is optimistic about the design and landscape plans.
“Overall, I am committed to this project and support for the plan for high quality health care,” Rosenberg said. “The NCHC renovations will help the county fulfill its obligation to the community.”
NCHC has a second public input session scheduled to discuss the plan with residents. The meeting will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 11 at the NCHC Theater, 1100 Lake View Drive. Attendees should use the red flag entrance.
