Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Several city projects and initiatives started in 2015 are still on the plate for Shawano officials going into the new year.
One initially expected to have been wrapped up months ago is a decision on the fate of the former Shawano Medical Center.
The city thought it had a deal with ThedaCare and a developer to turn the old hospital property into a medical residency training center, but that deal fell through in August.
Since then, city and ThedaCare officials have returned to the negotiating table.
“We’re evaluating options,” City Administrator Brian Knapp said.
There was no timeline for when one of those options might be agreed upon.
The hospital property has been vacant since the opening of the new ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano in September.
Meanwhile, a citizens group led by Todd Dobberstein is proposing that the Shawano Medical Center be converted into a multi-use community center.
Knapp said Dobberstein has contacted a developer about the proposal.
The city has not expressed any opinion about the idea.
“We would need time to evaluate that,” Knapp said.
One of the first orders of business in the new year will be the possible expansion of TIF (Tax Incremental Funding) District 6, which runs along East Green Bay Street, to include the Shawano Plaza.
It would allow the city to provide a grant and low-interest loan for remodeling of the former Kmart property at the plaza and some parking lot improvements.
Sporting goods chain Dunham’s Sports is looking to move into roughly a third of the 87,000 square-foot space, but that hinges on the property owner getting some financial assistance for the remodeling.
Also high on the city’s list of priorities in 2016 is reconstituting the redevelopment authority, with the aim of addressing vacant and blighted properties in the city with options that could include the use of eminent domain.
The Shawano Industrial and Commercial Development Committee voted in November to support re-creating the RDA.
Knapp said the city is currently looking for people interested on serving on the RDA board.
He said those interested can contact the mayor’s office.
Also lingering into the new year are contract negotiations with the Shawano Professional Police Association.
The contract that covers Shawano police officers expired on Thursday.
Knapp said there is a letter of agreement that has been passed back and forth a few times with some changes in language, but a final agreement should be coming soon.
Officers had been working with a two-year contract, but a one-year contract is being discussed, according to Police Chief Mark Kohl.
He said that’s because there is a proposal being made for officers to go to 12-hour shifts, with a sunset clause after one year.
Work will continue under the terms of the old contract until a new one is finalized, Kohl said.
“I foresee it happening soon,” he said.