- Target:
- City of South Milwaukee
- Region:
- United States of America
Appleton is a foundry owned and operated by a billion dollar worldwide organization EGS. http://www.emersonindustrial.com/en-US/egselectricalgroup/brands/appleton/Pages/appleton.aspx. http://start.cortera.com/company/research/k2k9ovq1n/appleton-electric-co/
The company’s shakers shake the ground, they release chemicals and soot out into the air, and extreme levels of noise are emitted from their new palsators; all of which directly affect the surrounding neighborhoods (within approximately a 3 block radius of the company). The shaking has caused potential damage to homes' foundations; and also causing continuous shaking of the home throughout the day/night practically shacking pictures off walls while the company is in operation.
The soot released into the air has caused dark buildup/residue on the homes’ windows in the neighborhoods (we also notice "Black Snow" each winter). The company was cited in 2001 by the EPA Violation # EPA-5-01-WI-23.
Furthermore, the noise levels have grown over the past two years to the extent that most residents prefer not to have their windows open as it is a nuisance as well as disruptive to sleep. Appleton should have to follow municipal code 23.08 ZONES OF QUIET.
During hearings for the approval of the Appleton expansion, that the city of South Milwaukee granted, it was agreed that the property would not only clean up the Milwaukee Street and 5th Avenue location but the Montana Ave south facing property as well. Nothing has been done in over three years since approval was granted. Notes taken during the council meeting indicated that they would sand blast the cream city brick to make the exterior more appealing. Appleton should have to adhere to municipal code 23.38 EXTERIOR PROPERTY REQUIREMENTS.
Safety has also become a concern in the last two years. In 2010, an explosion occurred at Appleton in which two workers were severely burned. The Fire Chief that responded to the scene of the fire was quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as saying, "Foundry fires are extremely dangerous," Dorangrichia said. "If you put water in the wrong place, you can cause a significant explosion." http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/97224059.html. This event caused several of us to evacuate our homes around 2am in the morning.
Shortly thereafter, the company required surrounding residents to evacuate their homes for an afternoon while they ignited dynamite to explode equipment/machinery into smaller pieces in order to remove it from their building.
Ideally, a foundry such as Appleton should not be located and/or operated in a residential neighborhood due to the safety hazards it poses to homes surrounding the plant. However, they’ve been grandfathered into the M2 zoning for being there so long. This is not a reasonable excuse especially when taxpaying residents are held to higher guidelines than a billion dollar organization.
We, the undersigned, call on the City of South Milwaukee to address Appleton’s noise nuisance (palsators), safety hazards, exterior, and shaking. Most of these issues should be able to be addressed with investments into the company (i.e. sound barriers, new palsators, new shakers, etc…). Provide proof of investigation and findings to support the operation for this company in a residentially zoned area.
The noise, soot/chemicals/fumes, and shaking issues that we are petitioning must be addressed and improved upon, if not, addressed by the city until done so. In the process, we, the undersigned, request to be fully informed of all steps the City takes to resurrect this issue (ie: meeting notes, meeting invitations, memos, etc.)
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The South Milwaukee Residents for a Safe and Quiet Neighborhood petition to City of South Milwaukee was written by Anonymous and is in the category Neighborhood Living at GoPetition.