Politics & Government

Landowner Offers Biosolids Storage Information Meetings

Residents are invited to an open house about a proposed biosolid storage facility.

A day after trustees listened to hours of comments from residents who oppose a potential biosolids storage facility near I-94, landowner Dan Hintz announced he will host information meetings for neighbors next week.

"I should have had an open house before this went to a public hearing because I think once people are educated about biosolids, they'll change their minds," he said.

Information meetings will be held between 6 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at South Hills to give residents the opportunity to examine aerial photographs and ask Hintz questions.

Keith Haas, general manager of the Racine Water and Wastewater Utility, will also be on hand to answer questions. He is offering tours to residents of the Oak Creek facility the utility currently uses for storage.

"It is my understanding that Dan Hintz will be inviting all of the Golf Road residents to South Hills for informational sessions," he wrote in an email to board members. "We are also extending tours of the Oak Creek site to them as well."

Because the lease on the Oak Creek property expires at the end of the year, and the land has been sold to another developer, Haas was in the market for a new storage opportunity, which led to the potential deal with Hintz.

Hintz asked the village to change how the 2035 land use plan identifies 191.5 acres of land between Highway V and I-94 just south of Golf Road; changing it from recreational and commercial to industrial/business park. Trustees Tuesday approved this request. The South Hills golf course is included in the request.

But, the board also held over any decision on rezoning a smaller lot of 14.5 acres to heavy industrial. These acres are located in the middle of the bigger parcel, and approving the zoning then allows Hintz to put up a building for biosolid storage for the Racine Water and Wastewater Utility.

"Not all board members had the information they felt they needed to make a decision," Trustee Kevin Wanggaard told Patch Wednesday. "This gives Trustee David Prott a chance to weigh in as well."

Prott was excused from Tuesday's board meeting.

During the board meeting, residents once again voiced their vehement opposition to the storage building, telling trustees they are worried about safety with increased truck traffic and the possible contamination of their wells if there's a leak. They also questioned why the storage facility can't be located in the City of Racine.

But, Hintz pointed out that state Department of Natural Resources requires a 1,000 foot buffer between the storage facility and the closest building and a 2,000 foot buffer for wells.

"So, the City of Racine isn't really an option because of the proximity to other buildings," Hintz said. "I just think people need to understand that 20 years ago, we were talking about raw sewage, but this is a treated product that is totally different."

Biosolids would only be stored during the winter - for approximately 180 days - and then would be spread on local farm fields as free fertilizer.

The Caledonia Village Board will address the rezoning of Hintz's 14.5 acres and the conditional use permit for the storage building at the Sept. 16 meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. at the East Side Community Center, 6156 Douglas Ave.


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