August 2005 Bay View Compass Editorial

At our last County Board Meeting on Thursday July 28, 2005 the County Board approved policy regarding the future of the Courthouse Annex Parking Structure. After months of deliberation, the County Board adopted the Courthouse Annex Task Force's recommendation to demolish the annex. There were five alternatives presented to the County Board and this was the best one because it included the replacement of parking equivalent to what is now available for jurors, employees, and courthouse users. About 450 people currently park in the annex. Alternative three has an estimated cost of $9.3 million, this includes the demolition, re-surfacing of the footprint of the annex, re-surfacing of the west parcel of the Museum's parking lot and relocation to existing parking facilities. The option of maintaining the annex would cost up to $20 million to maintain the current structure which needs extensive repair work.

Demolition is scheduled to begin in May of 2006. Through an amendment which I supported, the County Superintendent of Transportation is instructed to secure an agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to seek a commitment on behalf of the State for approval to use the Federal Highway Administration's share of the Park East land sales to offset the expenses to the county for removal and relocation of the annex. The county will use General Obligation Bonds, as used in most capital improvements projects for this project. If the State agrees to the use of the Park East land sales funds this would help make these debt payments.

The County Board is in recess during the month of August and will meet again in September for our normal legislative cycle. The County Executive's office is putting together the Executive's Recommended Budget for 2006, which he will present to the County board in October. I anticipate this year's budget will be one full of very difficult decisions and would appreciate your input. I will be hosting several listening sessions to solicit your participation soon.