Published: Jan. 19, 2019
Newburg officials approve Casey’s General Store site plan
Construction could cause wrinkles in fuel availability
By Nicholas Dettmann
ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043
NEWBURG — Casey’s General Store’s site plan received full
support after Thursday night’s meeting with the village’s trustees.
However, some issues linger that have officials concerned
about what to do in case of an emergency.
Late last year, Casey’s General Store purchased seven
Tri-Par gas stations in the region — Newburg, Cedarburg, Hustisford, Saukville,
Random Lake, Slinger and West Bend.
Casey’s General Store will also break ground on its Hartford
location in the spring.
On Thursday, Newburg officials approved the proposed plan
for its village after the plan commission gave it the go ahead Jan. 3.
Village President Jenny Strohmeyer said while it was sad to
see Tri-Par go, she believes Casey’s General Store will be an asset to the
community.
“I’m hoping it’ll be well received,” she said, adding she’s
confident it will be.
Casey’s General Store, which is headquartered in Ankeny,
Iowa, is a chain of convenience stores and gas stations primarily in the
Midwest. The stores offer made-from-scratch pizza, coffee, donuts, subs,
sandwiches and more. Those offerings will be an expansion to what was offered
at the smaller Tri-Par.
Strohmeyer said the reception so far has had some push back,
but likely because of Tri-Par’s longstanding tradition in the village.
“Tri-Par has been a fantastic neighbor all these years,”
said Bill Cording, village trustee. “We’ll see how it all works out.”
According to the site plan provided in the meeting agenda
packet, the site will feature a main building with five gas pump islands under
a canopy. There will be two entrances, one on Highway 33 and one on Division
Street. There will be 20 parking stalls as well, including one for handicapped
parking.
While the plan had unanimous approval both in plan
commission and village board, some concerns have been raised.
One concern was whether the gas station would have 24-hour
pumps. Yes. Another concern was Tri-Par routinely hosted brat frys for local
groups, such as the Lions Club and Vietnam Veterans. Yes. Brat frys will still
be welcomed.
“That is an important feature,” Cording said The biggest
concern comes from fuel availability.
Strohmeyer said Casey’s still has some permitting processes
that need to be completed with the state. Once those processes are complete,
construction can start. The target start for the construction is March or
April.
At that time, the station will be demolished and the site
will be rebuilt. That process will take an estimated three to five months.
During that time, the concern is where village residents can
get fuel, with the bigger concern relating to fuel access for emergency or
Department of Public Works vehicles.
“There are different options available,” Cording said. “It’s
still early in the game. As we find out more of our needs, we can go out and find
solutions.”
Among the solutions is to send vehicles to either West Bend
or Saukville to refuel. Cording said he’s not worried about cost to do that.
He’s more worried about the time it’d take to drive either direction, gas up
and drive back.
“You just have to make sure that when you put the vehicles
away they’re gassed up and ready to go,” Cording said. “You don’t want to leave
less than a full tank.”
Strohmeyer said she is happy with the relationship that’s
been built with Casey’s representatives thus far.
“They’ve been very forthcoming with us,” she said, adding
the company has been very cooperative in helping the village understand what
it’s proposing and vice-versa, the village’s needs.
“I think they’ll be a good asset to the community,” Strohmeyer
said.
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