Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Scott Williams R&R Recycling at 123 E. Elizabeth St. has been battling with the city for several years. Owner Rich Belongia says he is willing to sell his property to the city but wants to move elsewhere.
The owner of a Shawano recycling business who has been fencing with the city for several years — including over the issue of a fence — said this week he is looking to sell his property and move outside the city limits.
Rich Belongia, owner of R&R Recycling at 123 E. Elizabeth St., recently turned downed an offer from the city to purchase the property and relocate the business to the Shawano industrial park.
Belongia said he wants to move, but not within the city limits.
“I don’t want to give any tax base to the city of Shawano,” he said. “We’re not appreciated in the city of Shawano.”
The city had offered to purchase the property for $40,000 — a “relocation incentive” that would have been funded through the city’s Tax Incremental Finance district.
In exchange, R&R Recycling would have been given a parcel of up to 3 acres in the industrial park at no cost, and would put up a facility that would constitute roughly $500,000 in improvements to the site.
The terms were actually a counter-offer to Belongia, who first approached the city to see if there was any interest in purchasing his property, according to city officials.
Belongia, who unsuccessfully ran for Shawano mayor earlier this year, said he has gone through two years of “harassment” by the city.
“I’ve worn out my welcome,” he said. “Enough is enough.”
The main issue of contention with the city had been fencing.
City codes require recyclable materials to be kept out of sight, either stored in a building or fenced off from public view.
City officials say that was one of the conditions imposed when Belongia was granted a conditional use permit.
Belongia said he was given contradictory information regarding fencing requirements that changed after building inspector Brian Bunke took over the job from former inspector Mike Miller.
City Administrator Brian Knapp said nothing changed between the two administrations. He said the rule was always that recyclables needed to be kept out of sight, and if they couldn’t be stored in the building, a fence was required.
Bunke said the issue was resolved earlier this year after Belongia put up the required fence.
It was initially erected over the property line and had to be moved back, Bunke said, but the business is now in compliance with the city code.
Belongia said there have been other issues, however, including stones placed by the city to separate R&R parking from the city’s adjacent parking lot, making it difficult for his customers to make use of city parking when dropping off recyclables.
He said the city also installed a camera in the parking lot to keep watch on his property.
Knapp said Thursday that Belongia was aware of the camera being installed and had agreed to it.
He said the intent was to keep people from dumping recyclables in the city’s parking lot and to identify those who do.
“We put up signs and barriers so they don’t treat it as if this is all his property,” Knapp said.
He said Belongia “seemed to be in agreement with that.”
Knapp said people dumping recyclables at the property while the business was closed had become a problem.
Knapp said Belongia’s conditional use permit was granted when the property was in a general industrial zoning district.
The city has since updated its zoning code and the property is now in what is intended to be a “redevelopment district,” Knapp said.
He said Belongia approached the city to see whether there was interest in purchasing the property, which was considered by the Industrial and Commercial Development Commission, and a counter-offer was made that would have helped the business move to the industrial park.
Knapp said the commission felt a use could be found for the Elizabeth Street property that is “more appropriate for the downtown area.”
Belongia said he is still willing to sell his property to the city, but only for its full value, which he placed at $70,000 to $80,000, and will not relocate anywhere within the city afterward.
He said he has been looking at several locations outside the city limits.
Belongia said he is working with a local Realtor on an exclusive listing of the property, but the city still has the first crack at buying it.
He said the city would have 60 days to make a decision.
Knapp said he was not aware the property was being listed and he has not been contacted by a Realtor about the property.
He said he couldn’t say whether the city would be interested.
“It’s not on the agenda for anybody to consider at this point,” he said.