Resolutions address parking needs at LEC

More than 400 parking spaces will be available in the vicinity of a proposed law enforcement center, set to be constructed north of the courthouse in Oconto in 2015 and 2016. The Oconto County Board on Thursday approved the purchase of the U.S. Department of Agriculture building at 111 Arbutus Ave., Oconto, which will be removed to make way for 39 parking spaces. With a unanimous vote, the board agreed to purchase property from Gerald Crozier, who leases the building to the USDA. The purchase price is $192,700. The USDA lease expires on May 31, and the building is scheduled to be torn down in the spring. The USDA plans to relocate its offices to the village of Lena, although an exact location hasn’t been determined. According to Lena Clerk Charlene Meier, the federal government is reviewing bid packets but hasn’t awarded a contract. The County Board, with a unanimous vote, also entered into a 50-year lease with Holy Trinity Catholic Church, which will provide land for the county to build a parking lot for another 89 vehicles. The county estimates the parking lot, to be built within a year, will cost approximately $98,690. No monthly or annual lease payments will be made to Holy Trinity as part of the agreement. “The cost for us to use it for the next 50 years will be to pay almost $100,000 to put in a parking lot, and we will maintain it,” Oconto County Administrative Coordinator Kevin Hamann said. Terms of the lease are to be reviewed every 10 years. The parking lot will be built on Arbutus Avenue where a Catholic school was torn down previously. According to Oconto City Administrator Sara Perrizo, the city is requesting adequate parking around the LEC to relieve the street parking congestion occurring now. With additional parking areas at the courthouse and LEC, 404 parking spaces will be available near the courthouse when all construction is done. Hamann said on a normal day, he doesn’t expect the Holy Trinity lot to be used. However, space will be available if a trial, meeting or event attracts a large audience. The County Board met in closed session to discuss the agreements with Holy Trinity and Crozier, and no discussion occurred during open session.