Left, Mickey’s Restaurant and a portion of Kent’s Service Center property could soon be razed by the city. (City-Times photo)

By Brandi Makuski

A DOT presentation on Business 51, hunting within city limits, the creation of municipal court and a possible fired transit employee: all await discussion and possible approval during Monday night’s Stevens Point committee meetings beginning at 6 PM.

The Board of Public Works will meet first and hear a much- anticipated report from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation on the Business 51 overhaul, planned to start in 2016 simultaneously with a similar project in Plover.  The board has been bombarded with objections from the public over the planned remodel of city’s main corridor from the south city limits through the I-39 exit. For months many of those concerns centered on plans to reduce sections of the roadway to a two- lane with raised median to include bike lanes.

Council Members in January requested a chance to question officials from the Department of Transportation directly on why some elements of the roadway construction are required even if the city turns down state financial aid. DOT Engineers Robin Stafford and Brian Gaber will be on hand Monday to answer questions from the alderpersons, but no public questions will be taken.

Following the Board of Public Works, the city’s Public Protection Committee will meet to approve temporary street closings for the March 1 Point Bock Run and April 11 Annual Trivia Parade. The committee will also consider three new city ordinances involving municipal court, documentation of scrap metal purchases by junk dealers and discharging certain weapons for the purposes of hunting within the city limits.

The Stevens Point Finance Committee will consider whether to fund a portion of the cost for a new EMS training manikin for use by the Stevens Point Fire Department, excising taxes on high- cost health plans for city workers and the possible creation of a new ordinance amendment limiting payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) paid to the city.

The city’s Personnel Committee with look to fill vacancies in the water and transit departments, and also enter into closed session to consider discipline and possible termination of one transit department employee.

During a special Common Council meeting at 8 PM, Stevens Point Common Council Members will in closed session negotiate selling 22 acres of city-owned airport land to Compass Properties, as well as working out details on the city’s purchase of Mickey’s and a portion of Kent’s Service Center on Second Street North, which city leaders say will allow for the widening of Maria Drive.  Service Cold Storage has also requested the city consider amending its development with the company, which last summer was the first tenant of the newly- annexed East Park Commerce Center, due to added winter costs.

The meetings will be held at Lincoln Center, 1519 Water Street and, with the exception of closed- session discussions, are open to the public.