Price County United Limited (PCUL) purchased the former Lionite property on April 1, 2024. While the majority of the parking lot is owned by PCUL, the City of Phillips maintains the entire parking lot for use by the public to access the park and lake.
On April 26, 2024, the attorney for the City of Phillips, Bryce Schoenborn, sent an e-mail to PCUL expressing an interest in obtaining the parking lot by Elk Lake Park.
The body of the e-mail reads:
"Now that the transfer of the Lionite property to Price County United Limited appears to be complete, the City would like to initiate discussions regarding the parking lot for the Elk Lake Park. I am enclosing a printout from the Price County Beacon website, which shows that a good portion of that parking lot is owned by PCUL.
Image by: Beacon
"As you know, the City has traditionally maintained the entire parking lot, including graveling, grading, and plowing. The parking lot is used by the park visitors and other guests to the area. Obviously, the City would prefer to have legal title to the parking lot, in the event that a potential future owner of the Lionite property should attempt to restrict public access in any way. That would also reduce any liability exposure to PCUL for the parking lot or the general public’s use of the parking lot.
"Please give this matter some thought and contact me at your convenience. Thank you!"
Later that day, Lynda "Lyn" Ludwig replied stating, "PCUL is not interested in selling at this time."
At a meeting in June 2024, the topic was discussed in closed session. Bryce explained, "After that meeting, a letter was sent by e-mail to PCUL requesting that the City and PCUL engage in a constructive dialogue about coming to an agreement rather than pursuing eminent domain. PCUL was given a couple of weeks to reply."
The body of the June 12, 2024 e-mail reads:
"I had reached out to you on behalf of the City of Phillips regarding a potential land swap with the City for the Elk Lake Park parking lot about a week ago. I have not yet heard back from you.
"The City Council met again last night, on June 11, 2024. The City believes that it is critical to the public interest that the parking lot be owned by the municipality. However, the City would much rather prefer engaging in a constructive dialogue and attempting to come to an agreement, rather than pursuing eminent domain. That being said, the City Council has decided that if no response is received by June 25, 2024, it will have no other option but to proceed accordingly.
"Please let me know if this proposal is of interest to you. Thank you for your time and attention."
On June 19, 2024, PCUL's attorney, Jonathan Sopha, sent a reply to the city, as follows:
"I am writing to you on behalf of my client, Price County United Limited (“PCUL”). As you likely know, PCUL is a non-profit entity focused on community issues that impact the City of Phillips (“City”) and Price County. PCUL recently acquired the former Lionite Wood Products plant in the City, along with associated real property (“Lionite Property”). I am responding to your recent communications on behalf of the City regarding its interest in acquiring a portion of the Lionite Property.
"I want to be clear that PCUL is not in a legal position to entertain any sale, exchange, or partition affecting the Lionite Property due to agreements and property restrictions that prohibit such transactions. Additionally, the Lionite Property is part of a remediation and redevelopment plan with the EPA and is included in various PCUL grant applications relating to community development in the City. Based on your prior correspondence to Lyn Ludwig, it appears that the City is keenly interested in owning the portion of the Lionite Property located adjacent to Elk Lake Park. I think it would be beneficial for the City to consider how PCUL’s grant applications and redevelopment efforts could provide much more value to the City than it would gain through acquiring a portion of a gravel parking lot.
"I understand that the portion of the Lionite Property you are inquiring about has been made available for use by the City and the public for vehicle and boat trailer parking for multiple years. PCUL currently allows public parking on this portion of the Lionite Property, and is agreeable to entering into a written agreement with the City as needed to memorialize the public use. Since the public need for parking seems to be addressed, I am curious to know what critical public interest is served through the City’s ownership of this portion of the Lionite Property, rather than simply continuing public use of it. An attempt by the City to take any of PCUL’s property through eminent domain would result in a protracted and expensive legal process. The Lionite Property is part of multiple multi-million-dollar grant awards and applications, and an attempted taking could result in significant financial harm to PCUL and the public if these grants are put at risk."
As of the time of publication, no agreement has been made by PCUL and the City of Phillips regarding this piece of land.
According to City of Phillips Clerk Shelby Kosmer, "There was no set price offered for the land. The chunk of land that was discussed as a land swap with was a portion of Tax ID 25373, the blue section; this is off County Road H, where there was the bridge to the fairgrounds."
Image by: Beacon
My Price County asked what might happen to the Elk Lake Park parking lot if the proposed 132 housing units or commercial development was placed in that area. Perhaps the park's parking lot would get used for parking at the residential units or business properties. Shelby said, "This property is currently zoned as industrial so there would be some zoning changes that would need to be applied for and occur prior to any housing units being put on the property or commercial development. I would believe a parking solution would be addressed prior to that."
When asked why the city added PCUL's plans to their 2024 comprehensive plan if PCUL is not willing to swap or sell the parking lot, Shelby replied, "The city wants to work with all parties interested in positively impacting our city and are dedicated to fostering an environment that encourages innovative ideas and initiatives no matter who is submitting the plans, collaborating is an important part in this process; however, I do not have a direct response as it relates to them not working with the city regarding the parking lot acquisition."
PCUL stated in their September 2024 meeting that only an approximately 9-acre portion is in their EPA grant application and that they portion off acreage for each application which lends to the question of which, if any, grant application is the parking lot included. According to the city clerk, "The city has not been supplied the grant application, so at this point in time I am unsure of what portions of the acreage is included as the city was advised the full acreage of the entire Lionite property, parking lot included, was part of the grant application."
According to Bryce and Shelby, this is a developing situation, and there may be more information later this month after city meetings.
PCUL's board members, Lyn Ludwig, Blake Pluemer, and Cheryl Moore, did not respond to My Price County / My Northern Wisconsin's request for comments. They were asked if they had plans to do a land swap or sell the parking lot to the city; if the parking lot was covered in any grant(s), and, if so, which grant(s); and to give us any updates on the properties owned by PCUL and Lyn Ludwig in the City of Phillips. If a response is received, My Price County / My Northern Wisconsin will update this article.
See related article: MANY COMMUNITY QUESTIONS LEFT UNANSWERED BY PCUL, CURRENT "LIONITE" PROPERTY OWNER
See updated article: PCUL SEEKS $180,000 PER YEAR FROM CITY TO LEASE ELK LAKE PARK PARKING LOT
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(This post was last modified: 03-04-2025, 08:34 PM by My Northern Wisconsin.)
On April 26, 2024, the attorney for the City of Phillips, Bryce Schoenborn, sent an e-mail to PCUL expressing an interest in obtaining the parking lot by Elk Lake Park.
The body of the e-mail reads:
"Now that the transfer of the Lionite property to Price County United Limited appears to be complete, the City would like to initiate discussions regarding the parking lot for the Elk Lake Park. I am enclosing a printout from the Price County Beacon website, which shows that a good portion of that parking lot is owned by PCUL.
Image by: Beacon
"As you know, the City has traditionally maintained the entire parking lot, including graveling, grading, and plowing. The parking lot is used by the park visitors and other guests to the area. Obviously, the City would prefer to have legal title to the parking lot, in the event that a potential future owner of the Lionite property should attempt to restrict public access in any way. That would also reduce any liability exposure to PCUL for the parking lot or the general public’s use of the parking lot.
"Please give this matter some thought and contact me at your convenience. Thank you!"
Later that day, Lynda "Lyn" Ludwig replied stating, "PCUL is not interested in selling at this time."
At a meeting in June 2024, the topic was discussed in closed session. Bryce explained, "After that meeting, a letter was sent by e-mail to PCUL requesting that the City and PCUL engage in a constructive dialogue about coming to an agreement rather than pursuing eminent domain. PCUL was given a couple of weeks to reply."
The body of the June 12, 2024 e-mail reads:
"I had reached out to you on behalf of the City of Phillips regarding a potential land swap with the City for the Elk Lake Park parking lot about a week ago. I have not yet heard back from you.
"The City Council met again last night, on June 11, 2024. The City believes that it is critical to the public interest that the parking lot be owned by the municipality. However, the City would much rather prefer engaging in a constructive dialogue and attempting to come to an agreement, rather than pursuing eminent domain. That being said, the City Council has decided that if no response is received by June 25, 2024, it will have no other option but to proceed accordingly.
"Please let me know if this proposal is of interest to you. Thank you for your time and attention."
On June 19, 2024, PCUL's attorney, Jonathan Sopha, sent a reply to the city, as follows:
"I am writing to you on behalf of my client, Price County United Limited (“PCUL”). As you likely know, PCUL is a non-profit entity focused on community issues that impact the City of Phillips (“City”) and Price County. PCUL recently acquired the former Lionite Wood Products plant in the City, along with associated real property (“Lionite Property”). I am responding to your recent communications on behalf of the City regarding its interest in acquiring a portion of the Lionite Property.
"I want to be clear that PCUL is not in a legal position to entertain any sale, exchange, or partition affecting the Lionite Property due to agreements and property restrictions that prohibit such transactions. Additionally, the Lionite Property is part of a remediation and redevelopment plan with the EPA and is included in various PCUL grant applications relating to community development in the City. Based on your prior correspondence to Lyn Ludwig, it appears that the City is keenly interested in owning the portion of the Lionite Property located adjacent to Elk Lake Park. I think it would be beneficial for the City to consider how PCUL’s grant applications and redevelopment efforts could provide much more value to the City than it would gain through acquiring a portion of a gravel parking lot.
"I understand that the portion of the Lionite Property you are inquiring about has been made available for use by the City and the public for vehicle and boat trailer parking for multiple years. PCUL currently allows public parking on this portion of the Lionite Property, and is agreeable to entering into a written agreement with the City as needed to memorialize the public use. Since the public need for parking seems to be addressed, I am curious to know what critical public interest is served through the City’s ownership of this portion of the Lionite Property, rather than simply continuing public use of it. An attempt by the City to take any of PCUL’s property through eminent domain would result in a protracted and expensive legal process. The Lionite Property is part of multiple multi-million-dollar grant awards and applications, and an attempted taking could result in significant financial harm to PCUL and the public if these grants are put at risk."
As of the time of publication, no agreement has been made by PCUL and the City of Phillips regarding this piece of land.
According to City of Phillips Clerk Shelby Kosmer, "There was no set price offered for the land. The chunk of land that was discussed as a land swap with was a portion of Tax ID 25373, the blue section; this is off County Road H, where there was the bridge to the fairgrounds."
Image by: Beacon
My Price County asked what might happen to the Elk Lake Park parking lot if the proposed 132 housing units or commercial development was placed in that area. Perhaps the park's parking lot would get used for parking at the residential units or business properties. Shelby said, "This property is currently zoned as industrial so there would be some zoning changes that would need to be applied for and occur prior to any housing units being put on the property or commercial development. I would believe a parking solution would be addressed prior to that."
When asked why the city added PCUL's plans to their 2024 comprehensive plan if PCUL is not willing to swap or sell the parking lot, Shelby replied, "The city wants to work with all parties interested in positively impacting our city and are dedicated to fostering an environment that encourages innovative ideas and initiatives no matter who is submitting the plans, collaborating is an important part in this process; however, I do not have a direct response as it relates to them not working with the city regarding the parking lot acquisition."
PCUL stated in their September 2024 meeting that only an approximately 9-acre portion is in their EPA grant application and that they portion off acreage for each application which lends to the question of which, if any, grant application is the parking lot included. According to the city clerk, "The city has not been supplied the grant application, so at this point in time I am unsure of what portions of the acreage is included as the city was advised the full acreage of the entire Lionite property, parking lot included, was part of the grant application."
According to Bryce and Shelby, this is a developing situation, and there may be more information later this month after city meetings.
PCUL's board members, Lyn Ludwig, Blake Pluemer, and Cheryl Moore, did not respond to My Price County / My Northern Wisconsin's request for comments. They were asked if they had plans to do a land swap or sell the parking lot to the city; if the parking lot was covered in any grant(s), and, if so, which grant(s); and to give us any updates on the properties owned by PCUL and Lyn Ludwig in the City of Phillips. If a response is received, My Price County / My Northern Wisconsin will update this article.
See related article: MANY COMMUNITY QUESTIONS LEFT UNANSWERED BY PCUL, CURRENT "LIONITE" PROPERTY OWNER
See updated article: PCUL SEEKS $180,000 PER YEAR FROM CITY TO LEASE ELK LAKE PARK PARKING LOT
If you have a free registered account, you can comment below if you are logged in. If you prefer to comment on Facebook or share this article on Facebook, use this link.
Forward Bank is a depositor-owned organization driven to move our communities forward. By offering free checking, great rates on loans & deposits, business services, leading edge digital services, and a Charitable Money Market Account, Forward Bank keeps our communities strong. For more information, visit Forward Bank's website.
GET FREE NEWS IN YOUR INBOX
To sign up to receive our FREE "News Highlights" e-mail, send your e-mail address with "Subscribe" in the subject line to contact@mypricecounty.com. Your privacy is important to us. We never give away or sell your e-mail address.