Friday, September 29th, 2006
Two business likely to build in Bremen
By Margie Wuebker
NEW BREMEN - The first of two businesses looking to set up shop in the Bunker Hill Industrial Park received approval for its proposed plat when the New Bremen Planning Commission met Thursday night.
Developer Larry Leffel plans to construct an 80-by-75-foot building to house a nationally known industrial supply operation. Initially, plans call for a 6,000-square-foot facility, with the possibility of doubling the size at some point in the future.
Leffel did not reveal the name of the tenant, but explained it is a solid company that is listed on NASDAQ and serves numerous companies in the area.
No more than 10 parking spots will be needed as on-site retail activity accounts for only 15 to 20 percent of the business, according to Leffel. Plans call for a loading dock at the side and any future development would come at the rear of the structure.
Planning commission members cleared the way for plat approval by splitting an existing lot into two tracts of 0.95 of an acre each with the proposed sale of Lot 19 to be handled by the Community Action Commission at its Tuesday meeting.
The lots lay between a township cemetery and the former Tranco Building. Both would share a main driveway off West Monroe Street (state Route 274) at the west edge of the village.
Village Administrator Wayne York expects action soon in regard to the sale of approximately 20.2 acres in the southwest corner of the industrial park.
"They want to start moving ground by November," he added. "So things should start moving quickly."
He described the unnamed company as a domestic firm currently doing business in two locations. The goal is to combine the operation under one roof. The 100 employees would have no problem commuting from the current facilities located in the "general vicinity" of New Bremen, according to York.
"This is a major story ready to come out of the box in 30 to 40 days," he said smiling broadly. "We've had things ready for sometime, and it's nice to see things happening."
The village purchased 71.44 acres of land, known as the Komminsk Tract, two years ago for industrial park purposes. Considerable work has been done to make sure land is ready and available when prospective companies express interest.
A major portion of a vacant spec building is being filled today by Millennium Tire. The business, which formerly operated in Minster, makes tires for industrial use.
The assembly and warehouse operation, headquartered in Gardenia, Calif., will occupy 6,000 square feet in the building owned by Heyne Construction of Minster. There is remaining space for another tenant.
