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Holmen’s enforcement of a junk ordinance has enraged a group of Amy Drive area business owners.
“There’s no way in hell any of us will sit still for this,” Scientific Recycling owner Mike Niles said Tuesday.
Niles and Paul’s Towing owner Paul Mahlum are unhappy the village is charging them for a junk and salvage license.
Randy Stuhr of Medary Well Drilling, Bill Happel of Holmen Portables and Gary Moe of Moe Fencing say they are mad the village is forcing them to clean up the areas around their businesses.
The group attended Tuesday’s meeting of the Village Board’s Finance and Personnel Committee but were not allowed to speak because they were not on the agenda.
The village recently began enforcement of the junk and salvage dealers, though the ordinance has been on the books a considerable time and had been overlooked.
“We are not a vigilante committee,” Trustee Rich Anderson said. “We are just trying to be fair.”
The village is trying to maintain some order and has sent out about 30 letters asking land owners to clean up. “We are in a growing village and we need to be respectful,” Trustee Nancy Proctor said.
The affected businesses are in a wellhead protection area, near one of the village water wells, so the village wants to protect the soil from oil and other toxic fluids that might drain from the businesses.
Niles said he believes his business is an environmental recycler and not a junk or salvage yard. He does business in 28 states, recycling refrigerators, air conditioners, computers and other items not wanted in landfills.
Mahlum said his towing business tries to quickly rid itself of vehicles it tows. He said it is tough, though, when he has vehicles he tows for the police that he cannot get rid of until given permission.
Stuhr, Happpel and Moe said they plan to hire an attorney to represent them against the village.
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