Earlier this evening, the Outagamie County Board of Supervisors voted 33-0 in favor of acquiring property for the relocation of the sheriff's law enforcement division.
Through this vote, the board authorized the purchase of property at 3030 E. Goodland Drive in Appleton's Northeast Business Park.
The property will be used to accommodate the Outagamie County Sheriff's Law Enforcement Division in an initiative to enhance operations and improve administrative efficiencies.
Tony Ahem, Executive Vice-President of Fabrication and Operations with the J.F. Ahem Company, the property's current owner, testified at the meeting and expressed eagerness to move forward with the transaction.
The county's proposal includes a deal to purchase a new county-wide Law Enforcement Records Management System, eliminating the need for a $300,000 capital project currently included in the City of Appleton's 2017 proposed budget.
That, coupled with Appleton residents' share of an expected $4 million benefit accrued by foregoing construction of a brand new Sheriff's facility on Casaloma Drive, will equate to a roughly $1.3 million benefit to Appleton taxpayers.
The proposal goes before the Appleton City Council on Wednesday, which is required due to a restrictive covenant attached to the Goodland property. Ahem was optimistic about the outcome.
"We are very sensitive to both the County's and City's needs and we look forward to continuing to work with leaders of both to reach a positive conclusion that addresses many of the concerns of each," Ahem said. "Our goal is that, in the end we come to an outcome that will also benefit all involved."
According to County Executive Tom Nelson, the deal was positive all around. "When counties, cities and local businesses work together, everybody wins," he said.
