The Oneida County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve a resolution conveying the county-owned building at 1991 W. Winnebago St. to Decorah Properties, LLC. The nearly 9.6-acre property houses Koinonia, a residential substance abuse treatment center for adults that has operated out of the building for years under a yearly lease with the county.
Purchase terms
Decorah Properties submitted an offer to purchase the property for $718,000. A county-ordered appraisal valued the property between $725,000 and $740,000; under county code, the board has authority to waive the appraised value and accept a lesser amount, which it did. Supervisors said during discussion that the reduced price reflects the estimated cost of replacing damaged basement carpeting, an expense the county opted to offset rather than complete the repair itself before selling.
The signed purchase offer lists a closing date of on or before Dec. 31, 2026, and identifies the property’s use going forward as continuing “to provide services as [a] Residential Substance Abuse Center for adults,” stating the building’s services will not change while under Decorah Properties’ ownership. The Land Records Committee’s resolution echoes that commitment but does not impose a permanent deed restriction requiring the treatment-center use continue indefinitely — only for as long as Decorah Properties owns the building.
Board discussion
Supervisor Mary Roth Burns raised concerns about relying on that arrangement rather than a binding, permanent commitment, calling Koinonia “such an important resource for this county” given the number of court-ordered treatment referrals that rely on it. She noted new development along the Winnebago Street corridor and said the building could change hands again after this sale, potentially without the same commitment to continued treatment services.
Board Chair Scott Holewinski noted the county currently rents the building to Koinonia on a yearly basis and that the treatment center is a private business, not a tax-funded county operation — meaning the county could lose the tenant at the end of any lease term regardless of who owns the building.
Bruce Decorah, who signed the purchase offer on behalf of Decorah Properties and addressed the board directly, said his wife — a credentialed therapist — plans to continue running the facility for at least another decade, and that the couple eventually intends to pass the business to a niece currently completing a master’s degree related to substance abuse treatment. Decorah also raised concerns about the building’s physical condition, citing pest and mold issues he said should have been addressed by the county as landlord.
The board then voted to enter closed session to discuss the county’s position on the sale, citing competitive bargaining concerns tied to the offer to purchase. After returning to open session, the board voted to finalze the sale.
New supervisor sworn in
In other business, Matthew Campbell was sworn in as Oneida County Supervisor for District 1, filling a previously vacant seat. The board confirmed his appointment by roll call, and he then took the oath of office, pledging to support the U.S. and Wisconsin constitutions and to “faithfully and impartially discharge the duties” of the office. Campbell went on to cast votes on the remainder of the day’s agenda, including the Winnebago Street building resolution.
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