Merrill, WI. Wal-Mart Plans Stall

Wal-Mart project on shelf again [Wausau Daily Herald]

A proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter project has stalled again.

Property owner Stuart Smith of Merrill recently withdrew his request that the city of Merrill annex his town of Pine River property for development of the store.

The property near the southeast corner of the highways 51 and 64 interchange was the third site Wal-Mart considered for development in the past year.

Smith said he hasn’t heard from Wal-Mart attorneys since the city, Lincoln County and the state Department of Transportation sent a Wal-Mart lawyer the requirements and related costs for developing the site in May.

Since then, the time period has passed for the city to vote on whether to annex the land. Smith said he doesn’t want the property to be annexed if Wal-Mart isn’t going to buy it.

City Administrator Tony Chladek said he hasn’t heard from Wal-Mart lawyers, either.

Residents have expressed mixed feelings about the proposed Supercenter, which would include a large grocery store.

“I think we definitely need a super Wal-Mart in Merrill,” said Michelle Pehlke, 32, of Merrill, who thinks it would be nice to have just one place to go to do her shopping. “I’ve gone to the Wal-Mart in Wausau because Merrill just doesn’t have what you’re looking for.”

On the other hand, Pehlke said she doesn’t want to see anything happen to locally owned grocery stores Dave’s County Market and Drew’s Piggly Wiggly.

Lincoln County Board member Patsy Woller of Merrill agrees on both points.

“We have two family-owned and locally owned grocery stores that take care of Merrill well,” Woller said, adding that “the money Wal-Mart takes in doesn’t stay in Merrill.”

Smith said he suspects Wal-Mart is reconsidering the purchase of his property due to the excessive cost of developing the site and opposition to the project by the town of Pine River.

The proposed Superstore would require a major overhaul of the interchange at Highway 64 and Highway 51.

Wal-Mart attorney Deborah Tomczyk did not return calls seeking comment.

Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Monday, September 17, 2007

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