By Katie Garcia - January 23 2024

 

JANESVILLE

The Woodman’s Sports & Convention Center took another step forward Monday night, as the Janesville City Council approved a $38.13 million construction bid from JP Cullen, of Janesville.

Three construction bids were on the table Monday night: from JP Cullen at $38.13 million, Miron Construction at $39 million and Pepper Construction of Wisconsin at $39.5 million.

The estimated total project cost is $50.3 million, with 37% contributed by the city.

Council member Heather Miller moved to table three items on the agenda until “a current business plan and comprehensive financial plan come[s] before the council.” Those agenda items were regarding funding for the Woodman’s Center via a $15 million state grant, a proposed room tax agreement with the Janesville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and a proposed funding agreement with the Friends of the Woodman’s Center.

Council member Paul Williams seconded the motion, but it ultimately failed as the rest of the council voted to accept those agenda items and then moved to approve the JP Cullen bid on a 5-2 vote, with Miller and Williams dissenting.

Immediate next steps include the planned demolition of a vacant Sears building, the footprint on which the Woodman’s Center will be built. Demolition could happen in February or March, city officials said.

Director of Public Works Mike Payne said that the bids were close to each other, was a positive thing.

“Sometimes we have one real little bit of cluster at the high end or vice versa and sometimes we’re wondering what does that mean, did we miss something in the documents. But this is very tight and I think it tells a good story,” he said.

Janesville resident Dan DeFore spoke on Monday night, in opoosition to building of the Woodmans Center and accused the city council of having secret meetings regarding the project.

City Council President Paul Benson and City Manager Kevin Benson in response, both denied the accusation.

Milton resident and business owner Lindsay Scheidell urged approval of the project, saying she travels to Madison or Milwaukee for conferences.

“I’d love to bring my clients to town,” Scheidell said adding that, now, “people from Milton don’t come to Janesville, and if we do, we’re going to Target on the north side.”

Janesville resident David Henke said he has recently visited the Uptown Janesville mall and he reflected on how vibrant it was in the 1980s.

“If we’re not careful we’re going to have another gigantic empty building in the city,” he said. He urged the city council to approve the Woodman’s Center so future Janesville generations can have a “vibrant, growing, shopping and sports center in town.”

View Article Here.