OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Oshkosh Common Council voted to sell part of the Lakeshore Golf Course to Oshkosh Corporation to build its new headquarters.
The council voted 6-0 Wednesday night.
Earlier in the meeting the council discussed selling 35 acres of the golf course to the company for $3.5 million, also giving the company $6 million in tax breaks.
Those who oppose the deal say there are plenty of other locations the corporation could move to in Oshkosh. They also cite concerns about what will happen to the other 70 acres of the course.
Dave Schuhart spoke to FOX 11. He grew up at Lakeshore Golf Course.
“My grandfather and my father were superintendents out there for 60 years.”
He was there when the city council voted to sell part of the course to Oshkosh Corporation.
Schuhart and others who oppose the sale told us it’s a mistake that will take away one of the city’s gems.
“I have nothing against Oshkosh Corp. I just wish it would’ve been a different location.”
Council members like Tom Pech Junior, who voted for the sale, said it wasn’t easy for them either.
“I first started playing golf at Lakeshore Municipal Golf Course. I played golf there with my dad who passed away in 1976. I still have the putter out of his golf bag. So there was definitely some emotion there. You think with your heart, but you make the decision with your head.”
For Pech, it came down to the economic impact. This move is expected to create at least 200 jobs and save even more.
“Engineers, accountant, marketing people. These are the high-paying jobs that people all talk about and to lose 450 of them would just be devastating.”
17 people spoke at Wednesday’s council meeting, all in favor of the deal.
“Our community tonight is taking an important step forward, economic growth and prosperity, recreational opportunities and enhanced quality of life for all Oshkosh citizens,” said Jason White with the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation.
But the deal is not done yet.
Oshkosh Corporation’s board still has to sign on. The company is considering other offers.
The company is supposed to make its decision by next month.
If the sale goes through there will be abot 70 acres left of the golf course.
The city says there is the potential to turn that into a park with recreation fields and maybe even a nine-hole golf course.
