By Shereen Siewert
Wausau officials this month issued a second request for proposals for demolition and salvage services at the former Great Lakes Cheese packaging plant after the death of the former contractor, city officials confirmed on Monday.
In June, the city’s Finance Committee approved spending $210,000 to hire D&R Recycling, Rice Lake, to demolish the plant, located at 101 Devoe St. in Wausau. At the time the contract was awarded, D&R Recycling estimated that more than $96,000 in recycling revenue could be generated from the building, which would then be shared with the city.
The owner of D&R Recycling died in December before completing the project, according to an email from Wausau Public Works Director Eric Lindman. The city has paid D&R $94,500 to date for services, which included stripping the interior of the building.
All necessary abatement has been completed, Lindman said, and some salvaged pallet racking and other materials will be sold by the city.
“The contract with D&R Recycling was terminated and the remaining work was put out for bid/proposal,” Lindman said.
The deadline for proposals is 4 p.m. Monday, March 16. Bids will be opened at a future meeting of the Board of Public Works.
