Ashland Council Approves Land Sale To C.W.O.
The Ashland City Council approved Tuesday night the sale of land in the city's industrial park to C.W.O. Auto & Scrap Removal, LLC, despite concerns raised by neighbors about a scrap yard potentially harming the value of nearby properties.
The council voted 6-4 to sell vacant land at 719 Sum Road, while attaching several conditions to the deal. The council held a special joint meeting with the Ashland Planning Commission, which also voted Tuesday night in favor of selling the property to C.W.O.
During four hours of deliberation, C.W.O. owner Chris O'Connell pleaded repeatedly with city officials to approve the sale in an effort to allow him to remain in business. O'Connell said he needs to move some of his scrap yard operations from its current location on Holmes Road because weight restrictions on County Highway A prevent him from moving materials during certain times of the year.
“What would you do if you were in my shoes?” O'Connell said. “I'm desperate.”
Some neighbors, including the manager of the Larson-Juhl plant, said a scrap yard was a poor fit for the area and could significantly harm property values.
“I do object, and the company objects, to having that type of company located across the street from us,” said Phil Wesner, of Larson-Juhl.
The Larson-Juhl plant is assessed at $2.8 million and generates $69,127 in property tax revenue, according to a city staff report about the C.W.O. proposal.
Declines in property values could outweigh any benefits created by C.W.O. operating at the site, Councilor Carl Doersch said. "It might be a net loss in property taxes. I'm wondering about that," Doersch said. Along with Doersch, councilors Jerry Teague, Pat Kinney, and Dick Pufall voted against the sale. Councilors Linda Scott, Bill Schneeberger, Joyce Kabasa, Rick Dowd, Kelly Westlund, and Councilor President Rollie Peterson voted for the sale.
O'Connell attempted to move his scrap yard business into the industrial park last year, but a legal dispute over the site's proposed location, near Chicago Iron & Supply, prevented a land sale. On Tuesday night, he said he's been trying to find a new location for three years without success.
Peterson said the city has worked against O'Connell's efforts to relocate and questioned whether “Ashland is open for business,” playing on a phrase often used by Gov. Scott Walker. “It seems to me that every obstacle that could be thrown at the man has been thrown at him,” Peterson said.
But in the end, both planning commission members and councilors expressed a desire to find a way to help O'Connell move to Sum Road, though O'Connell must still receive other approvals, including a conditional use permit, before he can develop the site.
The conditions approved Tuesday night include a timeline for constructing a building to process salvage materials indoors. C.W.O. will also need to work with city officials and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to ensure storm water runoff is contained and nearby wetlands are protected.
Due to the lateness of the hour Tuesday night, the council agreed to table some items until the council's next meeting. The council did not take action on a proposal to require the City of Ashland to pay a greater share of the mayor's health insurance premiums. The council also agreed to delay a vote on a proposal to eliminate prayer at meetings and to start meetings with a moment of silence.