VILLAGE OF WHITING, WI (WSAU) – A longtime auto salvage yard near Stevens Point is set to close its doors this week after a draw out dispute with the state DOT over the expansion of Business Highway 51, also known as Post Road.
McDill Auto Wrecking, Inc. announced on Monday that they’ve begun liquating their assets and will close their doors by Saturday, December 9th after the state made their final compensation offer on October 12th for a section of McDill’s property that would be needed to complete the highway project.
The DOT maintains the land in question has always been property of the state, and not owned by the company. That takeover would leave McDill’s without enough room to properly operate their business. “They’ve effectively squeezed us out,” said McDill’s Vice President Kurt Glenzer, who expressed frustration over the way the DOT has handled the negotiation process for the land. “They’ve basically told us if you don’t like what we are offering take us to court.”
In addition to a portion of the driveway, Glenzer says the state would also be taking over a section of the parking lot and salvage yard across the street from the main office. “The state is of the position that the land that our parking lot is situated on is already part of state right-of-way. Therefore, they don’t have to compensate us for loss of access, the loss of the land, or the ability to get into and out of our building.” Glenzer added that he and his brother Laurence Glenzer Jr have requested meetings with state decision makers that are in a position to further discuss and negotiate a settlement, however those requests were stonewalled.
Glenzer says the company has sued the state over who owns the access points to their business, however that case won’t be heard until the June of 2018, which is after the shovels are set to go in the ground on the highway reconstruction project. Depending on the outcome of that trial Glenzer says there is a chance they could re-open the business under a different configuration at the corner of Highway 51/Post road and Water Street.
“They [the DOT] are interested in protecting the taxpayer. I’m sure that they feel they can’t just write a blank check to pay for whatever number we pick out of the air. We would just like to be able to get enough to relocate or re-establish ourselves,” said Glenzer. “We’re going to hold our licenses open as long as we can, in hopes that the DOT will show some good faith.”
McDill Auto Wrecking was opened in 1937 by the Glenzer’s grandfather. Laurence and Kurt took the company over from their father in 1987 and have been operating it ever since.
