It was just what they wanted. The price was right, location ideal. It was the perfect size for a small family.
Betty Bickel said the home she purchased with her boyfriend in December was just right. In February, they moved into the brown and tan brick, one-story home on Jefferson Street in Oconto.
Now, seven months later, Bickel said she is ready to sell.
A county committee has renewed its interest in building a law enforcement center next to the courthouse and has asked 14 property owners, including Bickel, if they are willing to sell their homes to make room for it.
“We are going to say yes, and we talked to other neighbors around, and they’re going to say yes, too,” she said.
In a survey mailed Aug. 28, the county questioned owners of property one block north of the courthouse if they would be willing to sell their homes at fair market price within the next year.
Bickel said she purchased the home for less than fair market value, and it needs updating, making her willingness to sell an easy decision.
Oconto County Administrative Coordinator Kevin Hamann said the survey is meant to gauge the interest of the neighborhood.
“If all 14 say yes, then we might proceed a little farther. If all 14 say no, then it might change the committee’s decision on how they want to proceed,” he said.
Hamann will also meet with a representative of Holy Trinity Church, located one block farther north; the county may be interested in its lot as well, he said.
Across the street from the courthouse, at R.L. Hall Land and Title Company, David Hall said he is also willing to listen.
“We’d certainly entertain offers. We’d move if we had to, but we’re happy here,” he said.
R.L. Hall moved out of the basement of the courthouse in 1973 to a building at 221 Adams St. Because the company works closely with county records, proximity to the courthouse is essential, he said.
Dixie Kaszinski, a caretaker for handicapped individuals living at a home on Jefferson Street, spoke against selling the property.
“I want a new jail in Oconto, but not in this block,” she said. “This is their home.”
The Law Enforcement/Judiciary Committee, which has endorsed a site in the town of Little River, is studying other options following the town’s decision regarding a voter referendum to approve funding for the $25 million project.
An annexation agreement between Little River and the city of Oconto gives the city right-of-way access to the proposed center’s site. The agreement would have required the passage of a referendum before Little River received $8,000 from the city as compensation for the town’s anticipated loss of state transportation aid on the section of road leading to the center. The $8,000 was a secondary issue for town leaders, whose desire for a referendum outweighed the compensation issue.
The County Board is scheduled to decide Sept. 19 if it will fund the project itself and bypass a referendum. With a supermajority vote (24 of 31 supervisors) the county could issue the bonds itself, avoiding a referendum that county officials fear will fail.
On Sept. 19, the County Board is scheduled to review the results of the surveys from homeowners before the vote.
The land north of the courthouse is among several sites considered for a new jail, 9-1-1 center and Sheriff’s Department offices. This site has an advantage over others because of its proximity to the courthouse. Prisoners will be steps away from court appearances, instead of miles, which will save taxpayer money for transportation.
This is the second time the county has sought input from the neighbors. Hamann said about 10 years ago, property owners were split 50/50 on whether they would sell. Several properties have changed hands since then.
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