Couple fights plan to build terminal

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, Sep 22, 2004 | by Schaller, John Paul

Five years ago, Daryl and Maureen Wermedal bought their first home, a quaint old farmhouse along Hwy. B between Bangor and West Salem.

After some remodeling to the home, parts of which are more than 140 years old, they appeared to be settled in nicely.

But all that changed earlier this year with the announcement that a trucking company was planning to relocate a terminal in the area.

Hot Line Freight System, which earlier looked at a 10-acre piece of land well to the east of the Wermedal property, is proposing a terminal on a 31.8-acre site that surrounds the Wermedal property on three sides.

Hot Line reached agreements to purchase land from two of the Wermedals' neighbors, and successfully petitioned the town of Bangor and the La Crosse County Planning, Resources and Development Committee to rezone the parcel from exclusive agricultural to commercial "B".

Thirty-six property owners in the area have signed a petition opposing the proposal by Hot Line, which is projecting growth from 200 employees to 352. But all that stands between the Wermedals and an unwanted neighbor is the La Crosse County Board, which will meet Thursday to act on the recommendation of its Planning, Resources and Development Committee.

"Our main concern is the quality of life and safety," said Daryl Wermedal. "We moved out there to have access to Bangor and West Salem. It's our first home. Now they're surrounding us completely, and they say they're going to be moving trucks 24 hours a day."

Hot Line Freight System account manager Bob Stein told county officials the business needs to relocate from its current site in the town of Onalaska because the property is landlocked. He said the new Hot Line development will be similar to the R & L terminal near West Salem.

The Wermedals had the opportunity to voice their objections to the development to the Bangor Town Board and at an Aug. 30 public hearing in front of the county planning committee.

Both, however, feel their concerns fell on deaf ears. "It's been a real eye-opener," Daryl Wermedal said.

The county board will consider the proposed zoning change during its 6 p.m. meeting Thursday at the county administrative center in La Crosse.