Chemworks cancels informational meeting set for Thursday

MENOMONEE FALLS (WITI) -- Advanced Waste Services -- the parent company of Chemworks has announced the cancellation of informational meetings for the public -- particularly, residents of Menomonee Falls.

Chemworks has caused controversy primarily among Menomonee Falls residents who don't want the waste water treatment company moving in.

About 350 people showed up to the Menomonee Falls Village Hall back on January 20th to voice opposition to the company's moving to Menomonee Falls.

Chemworks cleans industrial waste, but it has made headlines in the past for environmental fines and foul odors escaping its Milwaukee plant.

In September, Chemworks received all the necessary permits to move to a 21-acre site near a Menomonee Falls neighborhood.

A company spokesman says a modern sanitary sewer system and a bio filter at the new location will help to solve old problems.

Due to the controversy over the company's moving to Menomonee Falls, on January 20th, it was announced that the first informational meeting between Advanced Waste Services/Chemworks and Menomonee Falls residents would be held this Thursday, January 30th.

Now, Mike Malatesta, the President of Advanced Waste Serivces/Chemworks says the informational meetings are cancelled for now.

In a statement to FOX6 News, Malatesta says:

"After careful consideration and discussions with Village staff, we have decided to postpone Thursday’s information meetings until an official determination has been made by the Village of Menomonee Falls regarding our company’s move.

The purpose of our information meetings is to educate residents about our company, our operations and how we can make a valuable contribution to the community. We believe it would be more productive to hold those meetings in the context of a final decision on the matter.

We have maintained from the beginning that we followed all rules and procedures of the Village when we applied to relocate. We have been issued an occupancy permit, which confirms our legal right to operate our business on the property, and which also confirms that our proposed use of the site is in compliance with the Village’s zoning ordinance.

To begin to inform residents, we’ve posted more information about our Menomonee Falls facility, our operations and answers to questions we know people have on our website, at www.advancedwasteservices.com.

In addition, we are offering tours of our Milwaukee treatment facility to any Menomonee Falls resident interested in learning more about our company and the work we do. To schedule a tour, please call (414) 847-7100."