KEWASKUM — Kewaskum held a smashing celebration on Friday, demolishing the old municipal building and breaking ground for a new one.
This project has been in the works for a while now, with discussions of a new Village Hall dating back to 2019. Now, after 5 years, the project can finally begin. The new building will contain both the village’s police department and library.
Village Administrator Adam Gitter thanked the public for attending the ceremony and supporting the village in this venture.
"As village administrator, I am filled with pride and excitement to witness the transformation of this site where our former police, village hall and library once stood into a symbol of progress and community development," said Gitter. "This day signifies the beginning of a new chapter for the village, a chapter characterized by innovation, progress, and unity."
He said the new government center will be a hub for civic engagement and administration, fostering a stronger connection between the government and the people it serves.
Village President Fuzz Martin said the new building was necessary. He noted that the current facility is small, and it lacks various essential amenities, like a dedicated evidence processing area and locker rooms. Martin celebrated the building for the services it had provided in its time, but also acknowledged that it is time to move on.
"This building has served us well for 75 years, and we’re ready for a new building that will represent this community and serve for another 75 years," said Martin. "It will be rightsized for this community in a way that will make people proud to call this their home."
Police Chief Tom Bishop shared his gratitude for the new facilities as well as to reiterate that the existing facilities were no longer sufficient for the department to provide the best service to the community.
"Anybody who’s been inside our police department here knows that we need a new one," said Bishop. "We’ve outgrown the space, and we don’t have adequate facilities for our officers to use."
Also present were Don Loest from C.D. Smith Construction and Kallie Ogi of Excel Engineering, who are responsible for this project. Both expressed gratitude to be part of a project that helps move Kewaskum forward.
The event closed with a ceremonial groundbreaking by Village Board members and other village representatives, marking the beginning of the demolition/reconstruction process.