Reesman excavating and grading equipment on site ready to begin
(Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Aug. 5, 2015.)
Charles Tunkieicz farmhouse, Highway S, Village of Somers
(Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Aug 5, 2015)
Bulldozers. Graders. Excavators. Workers with hard hats.
All were present and ready for work the morning after First Industrial Realty Trust of Mt. Prospect, Illinois closed on the sale of the Charles Tunkiecz 308-acre farm on August 4, 2015. The new industrial park, located on Highway S and H, will be the first for the Village of Somers.
August 5th on-site work included the start of demolition and debris removal from designated structures and wood piles, silt fence installation on the perimeter of the property, preliminary electric work on Highway S, and the planning for the construction of sediment traps which are necessary to collect storm water from the property prior to completion of the retention pond(s).
Phase I will include the construction of the first 600,000 square foot building which will facilitate one or multi-tenants of various uses. In anticipation of the sale, on December 9, 2014, the Tunkieicz property received rezoning approval on the parcels from A-1 and A-4 to BP-1 and C-1. Additionally, the Tunkieicz parcels were annexed into the Village of Somers in June, 2015.
The Tunkieicz property currently has no access to sanitary and storm sewer, water, other utilities. The Village of Somers is required, up front, to provide utilities to the First Industrial site in order for the development to proceed. At the special Village Board Meeting of the Trustees, the vote was 7-0 to approve a Resolution approving the project plan and establishing the boundaries for and the creation of Tax Incremental District No. 1, Village of Somers, Wisconsin. A TIF is a public municipal financing tool that can be used to finance eligible expenses such as water, sanitary and storm sewer, telecommunications, financing cost, professional service costs, administration and organization costs, rail spurs, and other utilities relating to a specific boundary and project.
The new TIF District will be administered by the Village of Somers under the guidance of Mr. Jim Mann, Senior Municipal Advisor/Director of Ehlers financial advisory company who serves public sector municipal clients.
Charles Tunkieicz farm, Village of Somers
Silt fence installed on perimeter of site
View looking west on Highway S
(Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Aug. 11, 2015)
One of several sediment traps under construction. They control storm water prior to completion of retention ponds.
View looking north from Highway S. Railroad track borders the right.
(Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Au. 11, 2015)
Reesman Excavating & Grading begins site work
(Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Aug. 5, 2015)
Grading begins. View looks south toward Highway S.
(Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Aug. 11, 2015)
George Stoner, Village of Somers President; Dan Zache and Jeff Ellertson of Norway Specialized Services of Franksville, Wisconsin;
and Bob Scott of Reesman Excavating
(Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Aug. 5, 2015)
Trucks preparing to haul salvage off site
(Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Aug. 5, 2015.)
Removing wood and debris from site
(Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Aug. 5, 2015.)
George Stoner and Chris Reesman discuss project
(Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Aug. 5, 2015)
WE Energies begins preliminary work on Highway S
(Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Aug. 5, 2015)
Grading topsoil to dry field.
(Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Aug. 11, 2015)