APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – What’s old may be new again in Outagamie County.
County Executive Tom Nelson vetoed a county board decision to use eminent domain to obtain a property at 3030 E. Goodland Drive on Appleton’s northeast side for a new sheriff’s department headquarters in July.
At the time, Appleton city leaders argued the county’s call to use eminent domain would take the property off the tax rolls and make local officials look like they’re anti-business. Fond du Lac-based JF Ahern intended to purchase the property in order to expand its operations in Appleton.
Following the veto, county officials turned its attention to a location in Grand Chute near the corner of Highway 15 and Casaloma Boulevard. In fact, the county board approved a $5.5 million plan to move the sheriff’s department there.
But on Thursday, Outagamie County officials announced that JF Ahern was no longer interested in the Goodland Drive property. The fire protection equipment manufacturer said it was too small to meet unexpected customer demand.
JF Ahern says it will look for a larger property elsewhere in Appleton and agreed to a deal with the county to buy the property.
“I am pleased we kept a dialogue open with the Ahern Company after we originally tried to acquire the property this past summer,” county board chairman Jeff Nooyen said in a news release. “I am so grateful to them for giving the county the first opportunity to purchase the building. They have been extremely cooperative and fair throughout the entire negotiation process. This agreement allows us to move the sheriff’s facility much sooner than planned which will expedite our downtown remodeling project, improve short term parking issues, and enhance our ability to deliver the finished project in a more fiscally responsible manner.”
“This is an all-around win,” Nelson said in the same statement. “First and foremost, we help a local business prosper. Second, we bolster public safety by locating our law enforcement division where it wants to be. Third, we free up our Casaloma property for future sale. Finally, we save the taxpayers of Outagamie County more than $4 million. Everybody wins.”
Outagamie County’s Property, Airport, Recreation and Economic Development and Public Safety committees are expected to discuss the plan at a special meeting Monday. The plan would then need to be approved by the full county board and the Appleton Common Council.
