The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

Want to have your say on the proposed Minocqua Wal-Mart SuperCenter?

A public hearing on the controversial project will be held in Minocqua August 23 starting at 6 p.m. in the Lakeland High School gymnasium.

This will be the second public hearing held on the project, which involves the construction of a 155,000 square foot store on Highway 70.

On June 28, the county planning and zoning committee spent four hours listening to testimony on the project but ultimately delayed a decision on the conditional use permit due to “unanswered questions.”

Oneida County Planning and Zoning Director Karl Jennrich said this week the store's conditional use permit application is complete and a second public hearing can now be held.

“I know some people aren't happy but I have deemed the application complete,” he said, alluding to opponents of the SuperCenter who believe Wal-Mart officials haven't given the committee enough information to make a decision on the permit application.

Prior to the public hearing, the committee will tour the site.

Tell us what you think...

Comments »

Liz Cole wrote on May 23, 2008 5:21 PM:

" If the people of the local area really want to know how well the Wal-mart Super Center will affect there area and also the treatment of there employees then they need to visit the Better Business Bureau website and other web sites that give information on past issues against the company.

Competition is good for every business locally, but when a business is based on an monopoloy philosophy and hurts their own people in there pocket book then the business Ceo's are only concerned about his or her profits no matter how they get it and does not care who suffers on the bottom.

It is a shame, because if it were not for the little people down below then their would never be a successful business of any kind any where. "

Steve Grosklaus wrote on Aug 19, 2006 8:50 PM:

" Why should Trigs have the monopoly on the grocery business? Minocqua's downtown is safe, it is for the tourists not the locals. The towntown offers very little for those who live in the northwoods year-round. Wal-mart has been in town since 1996 and look, the downtown is still there. Many tax dollars are generated by Wal-Mart "

Staci Peterson wrote on Aug 19, 2006 2:11 PM:

" Great -this should elimintate all those Northern customers coming to Rhinelander! "

Dick Powers wrote on Aug 19, 2006 11:49 AM:

" Minocqua has a vibrant downtown area. Wal-Mart does not treat its employees well, and destroys vibrant downtowns. Just take a look at what happened to Rhinelander when Wal-Mart opened. They brought in low-income jobs and downtown is dead. "

David Gwidt wrote on Aug 18, 2006 9:28 PM:

" For years the Minocqua merchants have gotten rich off of the public due to lack of real competition. Please bring in Wal-Mart and let free enterprise work. Give the consumer a break!!! "

The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.