Menomonee Falls residents packed a village board meeting Monday night to object to West Allis-based Advanced Waste Services Inc.’s plans to move its ChemWorks division treatment facility from Milwaukee to Menomonee Falls.
In addition, Advanced Waste Services eventually plans to move its corporate headquarters from West Allis to the Menomonee Falls site, according to a letter from company president Mike Malatesta to the village board.
“Purchasing the Lilly Road property and beginning the renovations to move our Milwaukee facility there is only the first step in our commitment to the community,” Malatesta said in the letter. “Over time, we will add great-paying jobs and move our corporate offices to the village.”
The ChemWorks facility is currently located at 3801 W. McKinley Ave. on the west side of Milwaukee. ChemWorks treats industrial waste water, typically from manufacturers.
Advanced Waste Services plans to move those operations to a 21.6-acre site at W140 N5998 Lilly Road in Menomonee Falls, and plans to use the existing building on the site, according to information submitted to the village. An affiliate of Advanced Waste Services purchased the property in September.
The property would be used for operations including: waste water treatment, solid waste processing, used oil processing and storage, a transportation terminal, truck and equipment storage and offices, according to information submitted to the village.
Residents at Monday’s village board meeting expressed concerns about odors, health issues and the impact on property values from the operations, according to a report by WISN-TV Channel 12, a media partner of BizTimes Milwaukee.
Advanced Waste will host an informational meeting about its plans on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 2 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m. at Davians conference center, N56 W16300 Silver Spring Dr., Menomonee Falls.
In his letter to the village board, Malatesta said a number of “false or inaccurate claims” have been made about his company and its plans for Menomonee Falls.
“I understand that there are some who, based on what they’ve heard about us, may not want us in the village,” Malatesta said in his letter to the village board. “And I know that we may not win everyone over, at least for awhile. However, I am 100 percent confident that as the residents of Menomonee Falls get to know us and better understand our business, they will recognize us as a well-respected contributor to the village community. We will treat all our neighbors as if they are our most important client, and we will make sure that we do not do anything that will impede on anyone’s quality of life, nor on the quality of the environment, which we are dedicated to preserving.”
