Town to raze one house, authorities to repair another

onday approved a contract with Dave’s Excavation and Grading to tear down the dilapidated house next door to Town Hall on Highland Drive.

At the same time, the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office is working to repair damage to the neighboring house done during a recent training exercise when percussion grenades caused windows to crack and break, town officials said.

Town Chairman Jim Melichar said Monday the incident occurred about two weeks ago when the Sheriff’s Office was training with Milwaukee County officials.

The windshield of the car owned by the family renting the house from the town was also broken, Supr. Mike Didier said.

“(Ozaukee County Sheriff’s) Lt. Cory McCormick called and said, ‘I’ve never had to make this call before,’” Town Clerk Heather Krueger said. 

“They are taking care of it.”

Town officials on Monday agreed to spend $5,045 to raze the adjoining house at 3709 Highland Dr., plus another $2,075 to remove the holding tank and fill in the hole.

The bid was one of two submitted for the project. The other was from Karrels Excavating for $8,500, which included topsoil for the site — something that was not required in the bid documents, officials said.

The property will be used to expand the town’s recycling operation, which is at the Town Hall property. 

The house must be removed by the end of June, town officials said. 

Dave Bley told the board that the job will probably take two days to complete.

The work can be done in rainy weather when he can’t get to other projects, he said, so the house could come down soon.

Last year, the town purchased two parcels adjoining the Town Hall, aiming to expand its recycling operations on the parcel at 3709 Highland and continue renting the house at 3703 Highland.

Ultimately, officials said, they want to sell that parcel for development, something that likely won’t occur until after the City of Port Washington extends sewer and water services to the area.

Since the town took ownership of the properties, the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office and the Port Washington Fire Department have used the house for training.