Council takes another step toward possible new municipal complex

The City of Rhinelander is continuing its exploration into what would be a major facilities-related project — shifting the center of city government from the historic City Hall building at 135 S. Stevens Street to a new consolidated municipal building in an as yet unidentified location.

The various municipal departments currently housed in City Hall could be moved to a new building that could also be a new home for the city’s fire and police departments, according to information first presented to the alderpersons nine months ago during the panel’s May 8 meeting.

The impetus for the discussion is the condition of the building that has housed the fire and police department for decades. 

According to city administrator Patrick Reagan and fire chief Brian Tonnancour, there are major structural issues involving the garages and roof.

In  May, Tonnancour presented the panel with a proposal for design services submitted by DesignTech LLC of Rhinelander following a walk-through.

“I think it would be irresponsible of me to sit here and tell you that I need a new fire station and that’s it,” Tonnancour told the council in May. “I think the more responsible thing to do for the city is to start looking at a consolidated municipal building which would be police, fire, EMS and City Hall. This design proposal gives us an opportunity to sit down with DesignTech and figure what that need is for us, to figure out what the footprint is, to start sourcing land to look at what we need and what it would cost us to go in that direction.”

Ultimately, the council approved DesignTech’s $2,500 proposal.

On Feb. 12, the topic was back on the council’s agenda in the form of two separate but related resolutions.

The first was a proposal from DesignTech for design consultation services related to the proposal municipal complex for the sum of $1,500.

The services to be delivered include “developing criteria for future needs, assistance in the solicitation of engineers and architects, and the development of a Request for Information for distribution to potential grant research firms.”

“As you may recall, the Fire Chief informed you a few months ago that the Fire Department was having major structural issues in the garages and on the roof,” Reagan wrote in a memo to the council explaining the resolution. “The Fire Chief and I have been working to determine the feasibility of constructing a new municipal complex in the coming years — one that would house fire, police, and services found in City Hall. Brian Knutson, the representative from DesignTech, will be working to help lead the preliminary stages of this project and has already been working with city staff on design. This proposal allows Brian to keep working with us to fully flesh out this concept as we move forward.”

The council approved the resolution unanimously.

The second resolution requested approval of a proposal from the Wisconsin engineering firm Vierbicher “to perform a preliminary public funding investigation and implementation strategy as well as a pre-application funding investigation for a base charge of $3,000.”

“A new municipal complex will require funding,” Reagan explained in a memo to the council. “This will certainly mean a combination of grants and loans will be necessary. The USDA is likely a very good source of potential funding, due to a program known as ‘Facilities Grants and Loans.’ While programs like this can be quite lucrative, the application submittal and administration is quite labor intensive and hiring a third-party is the most logical step. Vierbicher has vast experience in this field. Furthermore, the base cost is $3,000 for this service, with the first steps being investigation and planning. Should the City find that this is something we wish to explore, there will be associated costs beyond the scope seen here but costs that are shown in the proposal.”

Should funding be found to be available and the Council decides that this project should move forward after a successful preliminary stage, “Vierbicher can, at an additional cost, submit grant and loan applications to various agencies for construction funding,” the resolution states.

Both DesignTech and Vierbicher’s services will paid for with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, according to the resolutions.

The public is encouraged to watch the entire discussion which is available to view at www.hodagtv.com. Both proposals are also available as part of the council meeting packet on the city website at https://www.rhinelanderwi.us/departments/city_clerk/agendas.php.

According to the cover letter included with Vierbicher’s proposal, the company previously worked with the city on the downtown streetscape project back in 2016-17.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].