September 6, 2017 at 3:50 p.m.
Highway shop priorities discussed
If the opportunity presents itself, Kwik Trip might still be interested
Highway shop priorities discussed
The assessment, put together by Barrientos Design and Consulting, was to be forwarded to the capital improvement subcommittee for discussion this week.
Department head Bruce Stefonek said it's known there are deficiencies in the facility, which dates to the 1950s but has been updated over the years.
What isn't known, he said, is exactly what those deficiencies are. The assessment by Barrientos was approved last year through the bidding process.
The firm previously conducted a study of the conditions at the site in 2014 and early 2015.
During that time, La Crosse-based Kwik Trip had made an offer - $2.3 million - for the property. The county board ultimately turned down the offer in July, 2015.
The vote was 10-9.
In this assessment of the facility, Stefonek said Barrientos looked at the structural integrity of the building as well as the plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical situation.
"Then he gave us his prioritized recommendations," Stefonek said.
Those priorities as they relate to the 2018 budget, several hundred thousand dollars worth, would have to be hashed out by other committees before going to the county board for final approval.
In the meantime, at last week's public works committee meeting, chairman Robb Jensen acknowledged there would be some questions about the different priorities during the committee process.
"You did what was asked," he told Stefonek, noting that some questions that could be asked include how much more the county will want to put into the building.
"Is Kwik Trip still interested in this site?" Jensen asked. "We don't know, one way or the other."
He noted there was other information in the Barrientos assessment, including the possibility of expanding highway department operations at the current site.
"That may come up again," Jensen said. "Those are the issues that may still be discussed. Understanding, of course, we all have our certain opinion as to whether this is a good thing or not a good thing for a later date."
Committee member Ted Cushing said in his opinion, the issues the committee - and the county board - are aware of at the Rhinelander shop are being addressed.
"Let's get them taken care of," he said.
"Those are for the first year but I believe there are some for the second year that have to be addressed no matter what," committee member Scott Holewinski said, adding even if the county board eventually decides to move ahead with a new project, "that's a few years off."
"So, we have to address some of those things, no matter what," he reiterated.
Kwik Trip interest?
Friday morning, Kwik Trip's director of real estate, Hans Zietlow, said the offer the company made the county back in 2014 was "probably a little fatter than anyone else would have made."
"I was really surprised when they didn't take it but also a little relieved because we would have had to do a little development out there," he said. "The world of development is getting harder and harder. There aren't a lot of people who want to do brick and mortar retail anymore."
Since the county board turned down Kwik Trip's offer, the company has opened two stores in Rhinelander, one in Minocqua, one in Arbor Vitae, one in Tomahawk, and is in the process of having one built in Eagle River.
In July, it was announced Kwik Trip purchased PDQ convenience stores.
Still, even with all the activity, Zietlow wouldn't rule out another look at the county's Kemp Street property, if the opportunity presents itself.
"We have a lot of stuff going on and would need some lead time if they (the county) were going to make it work," he said. "Could we use another store in Rhinelander? We probably could. My guess is we'd probably take a look at it again."
Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected]
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