LETTER: Concrete plant would be ‘good neighbor’ to town resdients

To Ozaukee Press:

The staff-written editorial in last week’s Ozaukee Press, “The concrete crusher next door,” used inflammatory language to misrepresent the details of a request for a conditional use permit in the Town of Grafton by Hoffman Construction Co. The hearing held by the Plan Commission on Sept. 1 was well attended by residents of nearby subdivisions who would be impacted by operation of the proposed concrete plant. Many took time to express their concerns or opposition to the proposed temporary use. Unfortunately, some of these people left the meeting prior to discussion between members of the plan commission and representatives of Hoffman Construction.

Here is some information they may have missed: Concrete crushing comprises less than 1% of the intended use for the site. In fact, most of the concrete in the construction zone will be crushed in place on the highway and reused for road base. Heavy usage of the site will be three months of the year during paving operations.

Hoffman is willing to put up a 12-foot berm to hide equipment and help with noise; furthermore, they must meet extensive regulations concerning air quality, runoff, water table, sound and lighting.

The editorial also compared this conditional use permit to a 2018 proposal for an industrial development on the same property. While some of the concerns raised in 2018 are valid for a permanent project like an industrial park, this permit is for a temporary use. Hoffman is not seeking a permanent concrete mixing plant, such as already exists less than a half mile west of where this site is located. The contractor will return the site to its original state upon the completion of the work on I-43.

The editorial also suggested that the impact of the proposed temporary use is “wholly negative” and “counterproductive.” Have you driven I-43 between Grafton and Milwaukee? Certainly, the many people who rely on I-43 every day are looking forward to a smoother, safer highway. This is a state project for the good of all people that use and benefit from I-43. There are businesses in the Town of Grafton that depend on I-43 for their customer base. These businesses make significant contribution to the town tax base, keeping residential taxes lower.

Hoffman Construction is a family-owned business that wants to be a good neighbor by keeping disturbances as minimal as possible while I-43 construction takes place.  They have worked hard to win the bid for this portion of construction to secure work for their employees.

Perhaps the author of the editorial was merely unaware of the facts, rather than trying to misrepresent the truth to sway public opinion.

Melissa Meier
Town of Grafton

Editor’s note: The Ozaukee Press editorial board stands by the entire content of the editorial. Facts concerning the use of the property and the nearly five-year duration of that use were derived from information provided to the Town of Grafton by Hoffman Construction Co. and first published in a news story in the Aug. 26 issue of Ozaukee Press. A news story on the Grafton community page of this issue reports on the Sept.1 Plan Commission hearing at which the application for a conditional use permit was tabled. The reconstruction of I-43 is not dependent on the use of Town of Grafton land by one of the project’s contractors and will go ahead as schduled whether or not the permit is granted.