Noting that the good news is there were “no mosquitoes riding in on these snowflakes,” Congressman Fred Upton’s District Manager Mike Ryan joked about the good word being done by Mosquito Squad of Southwest Michigan as owner Julie Wuerfel and her team conducted formal groundbreaking ceremonies today in Benton Township on a new, larger home for the business enterprise.
Contractors from CPM Construction have been moving some dirt already as they hope to get the new 6,000 square foot building underway alongside Kent Records Management at 1966 Plaza Drive, behind the Fairplain Plaza. Architect Chris Brooks designed the concept for Wuerfel’s new building which will allow them to relocate from their far-too-small current home in the Scottdale Triangle of Royalton Township next spring.
Julie told the Cornerstone Chamber members gathered at the site that the project will be on a very aggressive schedule this winter because her team’s busy season begins in April and they want to be settled and ready to roll for a seamless transition.
The new building will feature several large overhead doors to allow the Mosquito Squad fleet of service vehicles to be parked indoors, under cover. Brooks says that the building will feature not only a large utilitarian space for the gear and products used in the eradication of mosquitoes, but also office space both on the ground floor and in a small mezzanine overhead. It will also employ retention devices to prevent any chemical spill from seeping into the groundwater of the area.
Benton Township Treasurer Debbie Boothby welcomed Mosquito Squad to the township’s business community, saying, “It’s really an exciting time in Benton Charter Township as well as throughout Southwest Michigan. Businesses are popping up on Plaza Drive, they’re popping up all around the township. We have new homes being built, and new things are coming.” She told Wuerfel and those looking on, “We’re really excited to be a part of it, and we’d like to thank Cornerstone for our marketing partnership which has been very, very successful. I welcome Mosquito Squad. I see our friends from CPM Construction, and so many other community businesses partnering in the township. We’re available to help if there’s anything we can do for you, that’s how we roll.”
State Senator John Proos’ protege Adam Mensinger thanked Wuerfel for “being here, continuing to grow here, and your decision to stay here in Michigan’s Great Southwest,” adding, “I look forward to returning hopefully with Senator Proos with a tribute from the state of Michigan helping you to celebrate your ribbon cutting when its warmer.” Upton aide Ryan thanked Wuerful “for investing in this building and this community. It will be a great addition to Michigan’s Great Southwest, and we look forward to touring your new building when its all over.”
Wuerfel, who launched the business several years ago with her late husband Ken, told the crowd today, “We are trying to move very quickly this winter. We’re hoping to really get going on the project in the next day or so, where we’re getting a good base put down and all of that.”
She thanked her Architect Brooks, the CPM Construction team, the public officials, her staff and Patrick Swem and the crew at Honor Credit Union who is financing the new project.
Just ahead of tossing some dirt from the golden shovels, Wuerful concluded, “We’re excited about this building, we’re hoping to be in in April, but I’ll need some help from the elected officials. April is the start of our season, so that’s our goal. All of our fleet will be able to be stored inside, and we’re very excited about it.”
Brooks indicated that the appeal to local officials stems from issues from the Berrien County Drain Commissioner which they hope to resolve soon to get the project fully moving. Stay tuned.
Here’s an architectural rendering of the new building getting underway:
