MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV) – We’re getting a better idea of what the future of the UW Oshkosh Fox Cities campus will look like, but not everybody loves what they’re hearing.
On Tuesday night, Winnebago County supervisors approved a resolution to buy Outagamie County’s share of the UWO Fox Cities campus. The two counties have jointly operated the campus for decades, but the imminent closure of the campus for higher education purposes has created lots of uncertainty.
Under the terms of the new agreement, Winnebago County must use the campus for a “public use” for two years. The Barlow Planetarium, performing arts center, childcare center, and other assets would continue to operate on campus.
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Winnebago County officials will buy Outagamie County’s share of the campus for $1.
“Looking at the number of cultural assets that there are and the division of them, we’re coming out way farther ahead than I thought we were going to,” said Winnebago County supervisor John Hinz.
Outagamie County would take control of the Weis Earth Science Museum and move it inside the History Museum at the Castle in downtown Appleton. It’s this part of the agreement that many people don’t like.
“The residents of the Fox Valley and Winnebago County aren’t served by sequestering the contents of the earth science museum into a museum of history,” said Cindy Duckert during the public comment section of the meeting.
“I believe its current configuration and setup are best served for the community around that area,” said UWO geology student Jonah Habeck. “To move it would be harmful to that process, which I think is quite unnecessary.”
Weis Earth Science Museum officials have a petition filled with hundreds of signatures from people who also oppose this move. They have also received dozens of letters from other geology museums and higher education geology programs expressing support for the Weis Earth Science Museum staying put.
Weis Earth Science Museum officials said the museum has thrived in its current location. They also believe that being next to the Barlow Planetarium is important because the close proximity helps draw visitors who want to hit two spots on the same day.
History Museum at the Castle officials assure residents that they will take good care of the Weis Earth Science Museum exhibits.
“I understand those concerns, change is always hard,” said History Museum at the Castle executive director Dustin Mack. “The reason we got involved was to offer a path forward for the Weis.”
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“I think the whole thing is ridiculous, we shouldn’t be in this situation,” said Don Mikulic, who is a curator for the Weis Earth Science Museum. “These are plans that were developed in secret. Outagamie County last week had a secret meeting. If they were interested in the benefit of the community and what’s fair and reasonable behavior, they would have involved people immediately.”
Outagamie County supervisors will have to approve the terms of the agreement at a future meeting for this to become official.
Outagamie County executive Tom Nelson released the following statement:
“My thanks and gratitude to the Winnebago County board for their overwhelming vote (28-5-1) in support of the UW Fox sale proposal last night.
“The agreement is a product of many voices and stakeholders who have had only one goal in mind: how best to serve the people of Winnebago and Outagamie. It affords Winnebago the time to develop the campus for a public purpose on their terms and it ensures the Weis collection will remain in our community. We are fortunate to be part of such a warm and caring community that puts the public interest above all else.”
The proposal now goes to the Outagamie County board for final action. In order for the sale to go through, the contract must be adopted in its current form.”
-Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson
