Wausau Current: Foundry on 3rd construction start date, high norovirus levels and school superintendent search update
Wausau Current is a regular column in the Wausau Daily Herald by Service Journalism Reporter Erik Pfantz that will cover a range of topics in city and county governments and local school districts to highlight the many items that flow past our local decision-makers.
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Start date in sight for Foundry on 3rd
Nick Patterson, the project manager for Foundry on 3rd, told Wausau's Economic Development Committee Feb. 6 that "we're right on track to start construction by May 15." That date is a little more than two weeks before the project’s agreed commencement date of June 1.
The five-story, 154-unit apartment and retail complex project at the site of the former Wausau Center mall received an amended start date in October after broader economic forces and an extended permitting process prevented developer T. Wall Enterprises LLC from meeting the original start date.
The committee also gave its approval to an addendum to Foundry on 3rd's plan, which will enable the construction of balconies off of the building and a skywalk to the parking garage on the corner of Forest Street and North Fifth Street.
Kronenwetter candidate forums planned
Kronenwetter's Committee for Civil Discourse will hold “issue forums” for candidates for village trustee and the District 15 Marathon County Board seat. Both races have a primary on Feb. 20. The top six candidates for village trustee will move on to the spring election ballot and the top two for the County Board seat.
Village board incumbents Ken Charneski, Sean Dumais and Timothy J. Shaw will face challenges from former board members Joel Straub and Kim Tapper and new candidates Cindy Lee Buchkowski-Hoffman, Scott R. Dauel, Ryan T. Leff and Aaron Myszka.
County Board incumbent Joel Straub will face a challenge from former Board member Randy Fifrick. Alexander Vedvik, a third candidate for the seat, told the Wausau Daily Herald he was withdrawing from the race.
The village trustee forum will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 8 and the County Board supervisor forum will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 14, both at the Kronenwetter Village Hall.
High norovirus levels in Wausau wastewater
The city of Wausau has among the highest concentrations of norovirus in wastewater in the United States, according to a Jan. 30 news release from the Marathon County Health Department.
Norovirus symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain and typically last between one to three days, though people can still spread the disease for a few days after, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is highly contagious.
“It’s important for people to remember that it only takes a few virus particles to make someone sick. That’s why it is critical for people to wash their hands well and often,” Laura Scudiere, Marathon County health officer, said in the release.
Wastewater Scan, a philanthropically funded partnership between scientists at Stanford University and Emory University to monitor wastewater for public health data, collects data from almost 200 locations around the United States and publishes on its website, wastewaterscan.org. Wausau is the only participating city in Wisconsin.
Wausau Schools continue superintendent search
The Wausau School District launched a survey to aid in its search for a new superintendent. The School Board hired the Wisconsin Association of School Boards to assist in the search, which was held Jan. 26 through Feb. 8. Survey responses may be used to identify desired skills and characteristics of the next superintendent and provide guidance on questions that will be used during interviews.
The survey can be found at wausauschools.org or by calling the Superintendent’s Office at 715-261-0505.
The search process is expected to take three months, and the new superintendent is expected to take over the role on July 1.
Local special education teacher receives recognition
Kelly Kapitz, special education director at Marathon County Special Education, a consortium of six rural school districts, was selected as the 2023 Special Education Director of the Year by both the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and the Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services.
Kapitz began her career with Marathon County Special Education − which serves Abbotsford, Athens, Edgar, Marathon, Rosholt and Spencer school districts − in 1988. She served as a school psychologist in Wittenberg-Birnamwood for a few years before returning to Marathon County to serve in her current role.
Kapitz has consistently demonstrated leadership and advocacy for students with disabilities. Her commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment has earned her the respect of colleagues and community members alike, according to a news release. She also served on the United Way Early Years Coalition, played a pivotal role in bringing countywide medical director services to the area, chaired the Life Report Education Committee and contributed to several work groups for WCASS and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
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Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA-TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Reach him at epfantz@gannett.com or connect with him on X (formerly Twitter) @ErikPfantz.
This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: Wausau Current: Foundry on 3rd, norovirus, school superintendent search
