Menomonie sells 29 acres for $1.16 million to develop distribution facility
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — The Menomonie City Council has approved selling 29 acres in the North Industrial Park to SPA Properties, LLC, for $1.16 million to construct a distribution facility.
The sale agreement is for $40,000 per acre, or a total of $1,160,000, said David Schofield, director of public works, at the Menomonie City Council’s January 21 meeting.
The parcel is located west of county Highway B at the intersection of 708th Avenue and 59th Street.
SPA Properties would build the distribution facility on behalf of a national retailer.
The plan is to build a 120,000 square-foot facility with 200 parking stalls.
Eric Atkinson, city manager, said city officials are under a non-disclosure agreement and cannot reveal the company’s name but that it would be “a very viable” business development for the community.
One city council member asked if there would be hazardous materials at the facility.
Atkinson said he had “no concerns” about hazardous materials.
The staff has done a good job, and the business will fit well in the industrial park, said Mayor Randy Knaack.
Mary Solberg, city council president and representative for Ward 8, asked about the range of salaries for employees.
The jobs available would be for entry level positions on up to managers, and the facility will create 150 jobs or more, said a representative for SPA Properties, who noted that he did not have any specific information about salaries.
Another city council member asked about a possible impact to the Red Cedar River.
The contract includes a 225-day due diligence period when the company will be completing environmental reviews, according to Schofield’s report to the city council.
The distribution center will have a minimal impact on the city’s sewer and water system and will be a perfect fit for the industrial park, Knaack said.
On a roll call vote, the Menomonie City Council unanimously approved the agreement to sell 29 acres to SPA Properties.
Voting in favor of the motion were Eric Sutherland (Ward 3), Laura McCullough (Ward 5), Leland Schwebs (Ward 6), Cody Gentz (Ward 7), Mary Solberg (Ward 8), Chad Schlough (Ward 9), Ryland Erdman (Ward 10) and Randy Sommerfeld (Ward 11).
City council members Jeff Luther (Ward 1), Matthew Crowe (Ward 2) and Gretchen Yonko (Ward 4) were absent from the meeting.
Fire inspections
The Menomonie City Council also adopted ordinance 2025-1 to amend Title 9, Chapter 3, Section 3 at the January 21 meeting to reduce the frequency of fire inspections.
The inspections have maybe been done too frequently, Atkinson said.
The fire department will be following the code requirement but will be reducing the frequency, he said.
The fire department is experiencing increased calls for service. In 2022, the fire department completed 2,300 inspections, and completed 1,700 in 2023 and 2024, Atkinson said.
A total of 1,200 inspections each year will include inspecting every business in the city one time per year rather than the previously required two times per year, he said.
The inspections that are required to be done two times per year, such as nursing homes, hospitals and schools, will continue, but the fire department does not have time to continue inspecting each business two times per year, Atkinson said.
Reducing the number of annual inspections will actually improve compliance because the fire department will have more time to work on issues with businesses that need help correcting problems, he said.
The Menomonie City Council unanimously approved waiving the first and second reading and then unanimously approved the ordinance.
Other business
In other business, the Menomonie City Council:
• Approved a three-party agreement among the City of Menomonie, Dunn County and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to clarify responsibility for maintaining street lighting, traffic signals and pedestrian signals along county, state and federal highways in the City of Menomonie.
• Approved a special event permit for Ride Across Wisconsin on July 15, 2025, contingent upon receiving certificates of insurance. The ride will begin at the Red Cedar Trail head, and 500 participants are expected.
• Reviewed a list of city council meeting dates. The Menomonie City Council usually meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. Meeting dates that will not be on the first or third Monday include March 24, 2025; September 8, 2025; and November 18, 2025 (Tuesday).
• Approved a license from January 21 to December 31, 2025, for K. Chucks Powersports & Consignments, LLC, 3206 State Road 25.
