Minocqua board says yes to Wal-Mart SuperCenter

The Minocqua Town Board voted 3-0 Tuesday at a special meeting to recommend to the county that Wal-Mart be allowed to build a SuperCenter in Minocqua.

The Planning and Zoning Committee takes up the conditional use permit (CUP) request next Wednesday and will forward its recommendation to the county board for a final decision. The CUP allows the town and county to attach conditions governing such things as water run-off, noise and lighting that the company must abide by if it wants to build.

Only three members of the town board were present for the 90-minute Wal-Mart discussion and vote.

Supervisors Mark Hartzheim and Bryan Jennings were absent for the special meeting. Both said afterwards they believed they had a potential conflict of interest: Jennings, because he owns property along Highway 70 West which would increase in value if a SuperCenter was built; Hartzheim, because he is employed by a developer who is negotiating with Wal-Mart on a land deal.

Much of the discussion at the special meeting had been heard before at the town's Planning Commission meetings. The board did impose a condition that the former Wal-Mart store be demolished within six months after the SuperCenter is built.

Nearly 100 people attended the special meeting. Those from Minocqua township were allowed to speak to the SuperCenter issue. Everyone, however, had a chance to mark their opinion pro or con on a slip of paper. Results were: Minocqua - In support, 17; opposed, 2; out-of-town residents: In support, 14; opposed, 16.

Town Chairman Joe Handrick, who said he's no fan of Wal-Mart, could find no solid reasons to reject the CUP request. Wal-Mart's SuperCenter proposal meets the legal requirements for a CUP. It also fits the area, which now has a large grocery store (the Trig's shopping center) in addition to a Wal-Mart store.

Noting that he's a "free market Republican," Handrick said the SuperCenter will add another grocery store "but government doesn't have a (right) to oppose it."

More importantly, he said, about three-fourths of the townspeople who responded to a survey he sent out favors a SuperCenter.

"You pretty much said it," agreed Supervisor John Thompson. Supervisor Dave Huber said the Planning Commission "covered everything" possible in its review of the CUP request and made the motion to send it to the county.