Oct. 31—FOXBORO — Douglas County is getting a helping hand from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to clean up suspected contaminants at a former gas station at 272 E. County Highway B.
The DNR announced Tuesday, Oct. 28, that the 0.7-acre site is among three locations selected to benefit from the DNR’s Wisconsin Assessment Monies programs.
Under the program, the DNR provides contractor services to communities to assess environmental conditions at eligible brownfield sites. A brownfield is a property where expansion, redevelopment or reuse is complicated by real or potential contamination.
Douglas County acquired the former Dave’s Place in Foxboro as a tax-delinquent property. The site once held a store, post office and gas station. The buildings had collapsed by 2023. The county had two
underground tanks removed
that year.
Contamination from petroleum products is suspected.
“The DNR is proud to work in partnership with local governments to assess and address potential contamination,” said Jodie Thistle, DNR brownfield, policy and outreach section manager, in a prepared statement. “These awards allow the communities to take an important step in transforming underused properties into assets that benefit residents, local economies and the environment.”
According to a letter announcing that Douglas County was selected, the DNR provides a grant manager and project manager to perform on-site environmental assessments to investigate the nature, degree and extent of the contamination to plan remedial action. A DNR contractor is also identified to handle the remediation.
The value of the award is unknown.
“There is not a set amount for the award,” Thistle told the Telegram. “The DNR evaluates the needs for each property and hires a contractor to complete the work. The cost varies based on the particular needs for that property.”
Once the work is complete, Thistle said the cost of the project is posted in a DNR database.
Since 2009, the Wisconsin Assessments Monies program has provided over $3.3 million in services and grant funds to over 70 communities to help clean up and redevelop underused properties.
