Michels Corp. eyes town for temporary plant

The impact of the data center campus being built in the City of Port Washington that abuts the Town of Belgium’s border may be felt through construction.

Michels Corp. talked with Town Supervisors Bill Janeshek and Tom Bichler about putting a temporary asphalt plant somewhere in the town that would support building the center.

“My feeling was we weren’t saying no and we weren’t saying yes, but I was very adamant that the Town of Belgium is not going to be doing anything for free,” Janeshek said at Monday’s Town Board meeting.

“I said we’re at a time of town budgets where we’re probably as tight as we’ve ever been, and if we do consider this there’s going to be some kind of a tipping fee or something that’s going to be involved in it. I just wanted to be up front with them right away so they knew what’s happening.”

Janeshek said he was told that Michels is looking for a spot in the town instead of inside the data center campus because Port Washington has an ordinance that prohibits temporary construction plants in the city.

But, Janeshek said, in a second conversation with Michels he learned that the company is making progress with the city on putting the plant inside the data center campus.

Janeshek and Bichler told Michels that if the company wants to put a plant in the town, it would have to go through the Plan Commission first in a multiple-step approval process.

Janeshek said he asked about the amount of tonnage, given his 40-year career with the Ozaukee County Highway Department, and wasn’t given an answer.

“We don’t know any details,” he said.

If the plant would be approved, Janeshek said, he would prefer it be on a county highway rather than a town road, despite Michels’ commitment to fix any damage it would cause to roadways.

“Until they come to the Plan Commission officially, we really don’t have an answer for anybody. We just want to make sure we’re here to let you know what we know, and that’s what we know at this point,” Janeshek said.

“It’s all speculation so far,” Bichler said.

Zoning Administrator Charlie Parks read the ordinance that would apply to a temporary asphalt plant:

“Temporary uses may be allowed provided that such uses are of a temporary nature, do not involve the erection of a substantial or permanent structure and are compatible with neighboring uses.”

“That’s as close as they can come with their application,” Parks said, “and the Plan Commission will decide if it meets those parameters or not.”

Parks said he hasn’t received any paperwork from Michels.

Residents asked how long a temporary plant would be able to operate and about  daily hours of operation, especially given Port recently extended its allowance for construction of the center to 24 hours a day, five days a week, plus time on weekends.

“That’s a good question,” Parks said.

Bichler said he was told work hours would be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. five days per week.

Parks said he thinks Port will eventually allow the plant to be placed inside the data center campus.

“Port’s changing all their rules to make it happen. They’re going to change the rule to make this work,” he said.

Resident Donny Feyereisen said the town should turn Michels down.

“You should just tell them flat no right away,” he said.