Officials are hopeful that projects are sign local economy is moving

Village of Saukville officials are hopeful that a pair of recently approved expansion projects at Charter Steel are a sign that the weak economy’s icy grip is starting to thaw.

The largest of the two projects recently approved by the Community Development Authority is a 14,000-square-foot rolling mill office building expansion at the company’s main plant, 1658 Cold Springs Rd.

The project will entail expanding the ground level of the building and adding a second story.

The $2 million addition, which will be used for expanded administrative space, will mimic the materials and design of the company’s existing office building.

Charter officials said the added space is needed to handle expanded activity in the steel-processing business.

As a commercial building, the plans must also be approved by the state.

The CDA also approved a more modest addition at the plant, the expansion of a bag house to store materials for the steel melting operation.

Public Works Director Roy Wilhelm said the added storage capacity does not represent a significant change of operations at the sprawling plant.

“Staff reviewed the plans, and it is really just more of the same old, same old,” Wilhelm said.

In conjunction with the expansion projects, Charter officials said they also intend to upgrade the free-standing sign on Cold Springs Road.

Officials from the village and Charter agree the modest existing sign is inadequate.

After granting quick approval to the two building projects, officials spoke optimistically that there may soon be more activity on the business development front.

Village Administrator Dawn Wagner said community-development advisor Marilyn Haroldson has been meeting with representatives from existing businesses, as well as with officials from companies considering relocating into the community.

“There seems to be a lot of growing interest out there, which is great. I think that interest is reflected in the number of CDA meetings we have been holding recently,” Wagner said.

Until recently, the authority would go for months without having to hold a meeting to consider business plans.

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