By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
SUAMICO – The village board directed staff earlier this month to solicit quotes for a wetland delineation study of approximately 30 acres of property owned by the village’s sanitary district on Mink Ranch Road.
Village Administrator Alex Kaker recommended conducting a study in the event the board wants to sell the property for development in the future.
“If there’s no interest from the board to develop that property, there’s no need for a delineation study,” he said.
Kaker said estimates he received from two firms for a wetland delineation study ranged from $3,500 to $8,000.
“I just won’t know (the exact cost) until we get proposals,” he said.
Trustee Michelle Eckert said the village could sell the property, but there was no pressing need to do so now.
“I don’t think the land’s going down in value,” she said. “I don’t think it will hurt for us to hold onto it.”
Kaker said an assured wetland delineation study would be good for five years, and no documentation could be found to show there ever was one conducted on the property.
He said the study could be funded from the sewer fund’s engineering services line item, in which about $4,000 was budgeted this year and has not yet used.
Zoning Administrator Steve Dunks said the longer the village waits to conduct the study, the more likely wetland plants would be growing on the property.
“I don’t think you’re going to see the (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) loosening their regulations on the wetlands,” he said. “The advantage to doing the delineation now and putting it on the market is the condition of this property.”
Dunks said there is a need for residential lots in Suamico, and now would be the time to do the study and put the property on the market.
“The sooner you do that, not only does the sewer district gain those funds, but you’re going to gain the tax value on whatever (the property) improvements are,” he said.
Trustee Dan Roddan said the property is not doing the village any good by holding onto and doesn’t help the sanitary district.
“If we’re able to sell it, any development still has to come before this board for final approvals,” he said.
Roddan said the study would determine the salability of the property.
“We need to know the marketability before we do anything, and this (study) is step one of the marketability of it,” he said. “I’m in favor of at least getting quotes and finding out what it’s going to cost us (to do the study).”
Kaker said money raised from the property’s sale would go to the sewer utility.
Bids will be brought back to the board at a future meeting.
Road vacation
In other action, the board agreed to vacate all of Johns Court, also known as James Court, and a portion of Chambers Crossing Drive.
Dunks said requested road vacations were discussed as part of the preliminary planned development the board approved in May 2020.
“The vacation of Johns Court – which on four of the five pages of the original plat were James Court, which is why there’s a little confusion on that – would result in one less lot,” he said. “The cost of constructing that short little cul-de-sac (for a single additional lot) just wasn’t financially feasible, which is why that was eliminated.”
Dunks said the portion of Chambers Crossing Drive being vacated will become a private driveway and allow the submittal of a condominium plat as part of the final planned development.
Park sign
The board approved a proposal of $8,998 from Jones Sign for a new 4×8-foot sign at Vickery-Docter Park.
Funding for the sign will come from Tax Incremental District No. 2.