KIMBERLY, WI (WTAQ) – Trespassing has become a problem at a Kimberly construction site.
The former NewPage Mill location between Main Street and Pine Street is being redeveloped into a mix of houses, businesses, and green space. The 90-acre mill shut down in 2008.
Fox Valley Metro Police Officer Michael Lambie notes “we’ve seen an uptick in (trespassing) recently. The word has really spread throughout the Fox Valley that there’s “cool” areas to explore here in Kimberly with the old mill site.”
Lambie says there are safety concerns.
“These buildings are being demolished, a lot of them aren’t very sturdy, we have a lot of debris that’s unsteady. (We want to) urge people this isn’t a joke. We don’t want people getting hurt in there, this is all about safety.”
Lambie notes the fences and ‘no trespassing’ signs haven’t been enough to keep people off the construction site as his department has received plenty of calls.
The Village of Kimberly owns the site, which is being cleared for demolition.
While redevelopment work should be done shortly, village leaders say the project won’t be complete until 2022.
Lambie says anyone caught trespassing on the site will receive a $187 fine.
