Bethesda Lutheran Communities is a step closer to taking over the former South Park School on South Pelham St.
The Rhinelander city council Monday approved a zoning change needed for the organization to consolidate it's functions into the school vacated by the Rhinelander School District.
In June, school district electors approved the offer made by Bethesda. The original listing price in March was $250,000. Bethesda's bid of $139,000 was approved.
Bethesda petitioned to change the zoning to consolidate its services into the building, as Mayor Dick Johns describes...
".....for the purpose of locating Bethesda's Community and Life Center, regional offices and signage for the property to be located at 511 South Pelham Street. That issue was before the Planning Commission and it is the recommendation of the Planning Commission to approve this...."
Bethesda has an employment service on highway "G" south of Nicolet College and another office off Kemp street which will move into the South Pelham building. They hope to have the services operating in the new building next spring.
In other action, the council rejected an offer to fix a bathroom that was to be installed at the new boat ramp under construction on Boyce Drive. The action is due to a mishap in late July, when construction crews accidentally dropped a prefabricated bathroom as it was being placed in position. The council rejected fixing the bathroom and asked for a new building to be built and installed.
