Winnebago County Board 6/16/26

The Winnebago County Board meeting held on June 16, 2026, included extensive discussions on local development projects and strategic planning. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the proposed 50-year ground lease agreement with Valari Hangers at Oshkosh LLC for 47 acres at the Aviation Business Park at Whitman Regional Airport. The board reviewed the history of the park's development, infrastructure investments including a $1 million land purchase and a $450,000 taxiway extension, and the anticipated $100 million private investment by Valari. The project aims to build approximately 600,000 square feet of hangar space with modern amenities, targeting private aviation growth. The lease terms, potential infrastructure needs, environmental considerations such as stormwater management and lead pollution, and economic impacts were discussed. The board approved the lease agreement by vote. Additionally, the meeting addressed a proposed 12-month moratorium on data center development to allow for regulatory review, though no data centers are currently planned for the county. The county executive also outlined plans to update the county's strategic plan with public and stakeholder input to guide future budgeting and priorities. No other procurement actions were noted.