City eyes eastern location for possible new DPW, additional firehouse
By Brandi Makuski
Plan commissioners this week gave the city permission to acquire five unaddressed parcels at Old Highway 18 and Brilowski Rd. on the city’s east side.
Leaders in Stevens Point have negotiated a price of $1,719,000 to purchase the 83.8 acres, much of which is currently located in the town of Hull. Financing and other considerations will be dealt with at the city’s March 13 committee meetings.
Community Development Director Ryan Kernosky said the city has, for a number of years, been looking at ways to control future land use on the east side, particularly along the Hwy. 10 East corridor. The parcels were identified as the most suitable for a possible new location of the city’s streets garage — currently located on Sixth St. near Bukolt Park — and another fire station to improve response times on the east side.
“Our ability to kind of control future development within this area is going to be really critical for the success of the subdivision out in this part of town,” Kernosky said, referencing the nearby Hunter Oaks Subdivision.
While Kernosky included contextual information in the meeting packet indicating that the land was considered as the best option for a future location of a new department of public works building and an additional fire station, Mayor Mike Wiza was insistent that the possible future use of the land wasn’t germane to the Plan Commission’s decision.
“I want to be very clear on that; we’re not talking about putting the fire station on here, we’re not talking about putting the streets garage on here,” Wiza said. “That may or may not happen in the future. The purview of this body is acquisition or not acquisition of this property, regardless of the use.”
Commissioner Jeff Schuler said while he understood the limitations of what the Commission was allowed to consider, he added “it’s difficult without context to give a very strong opinion about whether something is worthwhile in our city.”
Commissioner Pete Arntsen expressed concerns that the acquisition would create “islands of Hull” in Stevens Point.
“And it’s worth pointing out that a big, large garage, and emergency responses, would be inconvenient to a residential neighborhood,” Arntsen said.
Councilwoman Mary Kneebone, who represents District 7, sits on the Commission, and lives on the east side, said she would “love” to see a fire station in that area, and that the nearby assisted living facility would benefit from improved ambulance response times.
“That is very relevant, but the city attorney would like us to not talk about it,” Wiza said, adding that under state law, the possible future land use could not be considered when the Commission looks at an acquisition.
But that didn’t stop some from the audience from remarking on the issue.
“I can’t imagine being one of the people on the Commission that has to vote on buying a piece of property when they do not know what it’s for,” said Clark St. resident Carol Molepske. “Only the option of ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on a piece of property they don’t know what it’s going to be used for — it is just not common sense.”
Resident Bill Bushman, who lives nearby the land on Elmwood Ave., said he was frustrated that there hadn’t been more notification of area residents that a new fire station and streets garage could potentially be constructed in the area.
“They’re just being blindsided by this. This will devastate their housing values,” Bushman said. “I’m asking this committee, if your intention is to put the garage and the fire department there, and I believe you are, [that] we need plenty of time in advance before this comes to either a committee meeting or a Council meeting, because it’s too important. There are a lot of seniors and families out there and I don’t think they have a lot of time to go online and look at your agendas.”
The Commission approved the acquisition, with Commissioner Mark Ilton casting the only no vote.
This story will be updated following the March 13 standing committee meetings.
