Ashland County committee hears proposal for small pressure‑treating post facility in White River area
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Summary
A local resident, Paul 'Pablo' Beachy, told the Zoning and Land Committee he wants county clearance to open a small, enclosed facility to pressure‑treat fence posts with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). Members urged coordination with DATCP and the DNR and flagged storage, disposal and forestry supply questions.
Paul “Pablo” Beachy said he is seeking Ashland County clearance to establish a small pressure‑treating operation to preserve red‑pine fence posts near White River.
Beachy described a process in which peeled red‑pine posts would be loaded into a sealed pressure chamber, treated with a preservative chemical, vacuum‑dried and stored indoors until ready for shipment. “It’s all contained within a building,” he said, adding he had a safety data sheet and that any drips would be recycled.
Committee members pressed Beachy on environmental and supply questions. Pat Kenny, who said he raised recent Department of Health Services guidance in online research, noted studies showing rainwater can wash CCA from treated wood and leave a residue on surfaces that can be handled, increasing exposure risk. Kenny urged Beachy to ensure treated posts are kept dry and covered in storage and to consult the county forester and land‑and‑water conservation staff about siting and runoff protections.
George Busse, a county board supervisor attending the meeting, recommended Beachy check worker‑safety and local health‑and‑human‑services staff and to coordinate with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Other members noted alternative, newer treatment chemistries (for example, ACQ) have lower toxicity profiles but shorter market histories; Beachy said some customers prefer CCA because it’s a long‑established product and he wants posts to last 20–30 years.
Staff and members also discussed practical operations: Beachy said peelings would be produced by a peeler and that a used pressure‑treating vessel he has considered holds roughly 10,000 gallons and is about 32 feet long by 5 feet in diameter; most water in the system would be recycled with only the amount absorbed by wood being consumed each load. He acknowledged waste from scraping the chamber would require proper chemical‑waste disposal.
Committee members and staff repeatedly urged Beachy to pursue required state permits and certifications, noting the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) regulates chemical use and mixing and that the DNR and other state agencies would need to sign off. Unnamed staff summarized that if Beachy operates under state rules, the county would likely be supportive but emphasized that clearances and licensing must be obtained before construction or operations proceed.
The committee did not take any formal vote on the proposal; members framed their input as preliminary advice and requested Beachy return with documentation of required state permits and additional plans for storage, waste disposal and worker safety.
The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 17; staff and members suggested Beachy follow up with the county forester and DNR and present permit and facility plans at a future meeting.