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Trustees hear update on FlowerSource calls; demolition still awaits funding and plan
Summary
Staff reported 61 police calls to the former FlowerSource site since January 2024, mostly property checks; trustees were told a WEDC draft grant application has been circulated and a county Brownfields asbestos check grant has been secured, but demolition is delayed because a redevelopment plan and TID funding remain unresolved.
Trustees received an update on police activity, grant work and demolition prospects for the former FlowerSource property in Germantown.
Police Chief Martin said that since January 2024 officers recorded 61 calls to the site, 44 of which were property checks rather than criminal incidents. Of the 61 calls, Martin said five were suspicious or trespass-related and that there was one arrest and one earlier instance where officers found a sleeping area inside the building in spring 2024.
"Out of the 61, there were 5 suspicious calls involving trespassing," Chief Martin said. "There was a sleeping area that was found in there." He added that most recent activity has been property checks and that vandalism reports were more common before the village boarded the building.
Village staff told trustees they submitted a draft grant application to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) and had also received a smaller county Brownfields grant to complete an asbestos check required before demolition. The administrator said the WEDC contact had additional questions and staff responded; a final application or decision is pending.
Trustees noted previous board approval to set aside funds for demolition as part of a TID (tax increment district) project plan, but staff said the TID creation process is on hold and that authorization existed without available funds. Staff described an option for the board: direct staff to use village funds for demolition now, or continue to pursue grant funding and procurement once a plan is finalized.
Trustee Baum asked staff to return with a status update and for the matter to be placed on the next agenda as discussion or action. President Soderbergh, present in the room, agreed to follow up with the administrator.
No demolition contract was awarded at the meeting. Staff said they had obtained demolition vendor quotes previously and planned to reconfirm them if grant funding is secured.
