Neenah plan outlines large expenses ahead, including new parking ramp, fire station

Duke Behnke, Appleton Post-Crescent
·3 min read
Neenah leaders see a need for a second downtown parking ramp by 2025.
Neenah leaders see a need for a second downtown parking ramp by 2025.

NEENAH - The city's capital improvements plan identifies nearly $100 million in projects and equipment purchases between 2024 and 2027.

The big-ticket expenses include:

  • $2.6 million to continue the development of Arrowhead Park (2024 and 2025);

  • $6 million to replace Fire Station 31 on Breezewood Lane (2025); and

  • $18 million to construct a downtown parking ramp (2025).

The parking ramp was moved back a year from the previous plan.

"Because we are still evaluating and considering the long-lasting impacts of the pandemic, this will give us the opportunity to wisely develop the best plan moving forward," Mayor Jane Lang said in a letter to the Common Council and community.

The capital improvements plan isn't a formal budget. Rather, it serves as a budgetary guide for department directors and elected officials as they prioritize spending for city projects and equipment.

Council backs plan but notes concerns with borrowing

The council unanimously approved the plan last month, but not without words of caution, particularly for 2025, which has $42.1 million in expenses.

"It's clear to me that if we look beyond next year, we can't do everything in here," council member John Skyrms said. "Some things are going to have to be cut. Some things are going to have to be moved out. We simply can't borrow that much money."

Council member Todd Stevenson was also wary of the spending spike in 2025.

"God bless those who are going to be on the council in 2025 because it's going to be a ton of work," he said.

In each year of the capital improvements plan, new debt would exceed the amount paid off.

More: Downtown Neenah plan identifies ways to accommodate bicyclists

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Cost of downtown parking ramp more than doubles

The cost of the parking ramp has risen sharply in recent years due to inflation. In 2020, the city estimated the ramp would cost $8 million. It now stands at $18 million.

Community Development Director Chris Haese said the 2020 estimate was unrealistic. The ramp would have about 600 stalls. The location hasn't been determined.

"The $8 million was not a very good number to begin with," Haese told The Post-Crescent, "but we definitely have seen increases in the cost in the last three years."

Similarly, the cost to replace the westside fire station was estimated at $2.5 million in 2020, compared with $6 million today.

South Commercial, Wisconsin Avenue slated for reconstruction

In addition to the big-ticket expenditures, the 169-page plan includes the following expenditures:

2024

  • $1.5 million to purchase property in the downtown for parking or redevelopment;

  • $1.5 million to improve and marginally expand the Southpark Industrial Center;

  • $700,000 to repaint the Oak Street bridge and replace the lighting; and

  • $250,000 to purchase vehicle barriers for public events.

2025

  • $2.2 million to pay Neenah's share of reconstructing South Commercial Street between Winneconne Avenue and Stanley Street; and

  • $1.3 million to reconstruct Bergstrom Road between Breezewood Lane and Winnebago County G.

2026

  • $1.7 million to reconstruct Wisconsin Avenue between Oak Street and Lakeshore Avenue;

  • $1.3 million to reconstruct Reed Street between Cecil and Washington streets; and

  • $1.1 million to reconstruct Elm Street between Cecil and Division streets.

2027

  • $1.3 million to reconstruct Congress Street between Cecil Street and Doty Avenue;

  • $1.3 million to pay Neenah's share of purchasing a $2.2 million fire truck. Menasha would be responsible for the balance;

  • $500,000 to develop a neighborhood park in the Homes at Freedom Meadows subdivision;

  • $350,000 to rehabilitate and preserve the Kimberly Point Lighthouse; and

  • $125,000 to build a columbarium at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DukeBehnke.

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This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Neenah plans for $18 million parking ramp, $6 million fire station