UW-Green Bay Marinette Campus. PC: Fox 11 Online
MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — While the future of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Marinette campus is in limbo, Marinette County is still exploring what’s possible.
The county, which owns the campus, says multiple entities are interested in parts of the campus.
County Administrator John Lefebvre says the Marinette-Menominee YMCA has shown interest in taking on the Fieldhouse, which is just down the street from the main campus buildings.
“It’s researching the feasibility of moving its campus to the fieldhouse location and has asked the county to complete a phase one environmental study,” said Lefebvre.
“I think if you can find a way to make utilization of that property for what it was intended to which was recreational stuff because that was basketball and soccer and all that stuff, I think go for it,” said county board member Mark Anderson.
Lefebvre also said the Marinette Menominee Youth Soccer Association has expressed interest in purchasing the soccer fields on that property.
On Monday, the city of Marinette voted unanimously to continue exploring the possibility of acquiring the campus library, administrative building, as well as Runnoe Park along the shore of Green Bay.
The city is looking into moving city services inside those two buildings, like city hall and the police department.
“That’s what our interest is possibly for reuse of those,” said Mayor Steve Genisot on Monday. “One portion of the entire campus.”
The county and UW-Green Bay have a lease agreement for the property which runs into 2042.
Administrator Lefebvre says there’s been no indication the university plans on terminating that lease for at least the next year.
He added that the university has asked the county to consider renegotiating the current lease, or create a new one.
“We’re going to end up maintaining buildings for them, under the lease, okay, whether they use the buildings or not. Or they partially use the buildings,” said Lefebvre.
The county is also looking into obtaining funds from a bill that would provide state money to redevelop properties no longer used by UW campuses.
However, with UW-Green Bay still looking to operate out of the space, the county questions if it would be eligible for the money.
“If we don’t modify the lease, aren’t interested in changing the lease, are we even eligible for those funds,” said Lefebvre.
In previous stories, UW-Green Bay has emphasized their commitment to the area, and more specifically, the Herbert L. Williams Theatre.
Tuesday, county board members agreed they need to take a long, methodical look at all options to figure out how to best move forward.
“I feel that we need to shift focus right now on getting the $2 million grant so that we can come up with our options, fund what’s going on and not make any hasty decisions,” said county board member Christopher Norton.
UW-Green Bay has plans on keeping classrooms with streaming capabilities active for courses taught at Marinette for the 2024 fall semester.
Earlier this month marked the end of classes taught exclusively in-person at the branch campus.
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