Upgrades approved for New View Industries warehouse

Oconto County is investing in a natural gas line and radiant heating for a warehouse used to store inventory for its New View Industries facilities in Gillett.

New View Industries is the county-owned and operated facility that serves people with disabilities and is administered as part of the Health and Human Services Department.

The 4,800-square-foot warehouse is unheated and unusable for several months during the year for some of its products and work materials, New View Industries director Will Kline told the Oconto County Board on Jan. 23.

“If it’s 10 degrees outside, it’s 10 degrees in there,” Kline said. “During the winter, we have to move inventory and materials to our actual workspace. So we’re kind of rearranging some of our work floor and our assembly areas, and we’re not able to have as much inventory on the floor.”

Condensation during spring weather can also affect products and materials as well as making the floor slippery, he said.

Energy Control and Design can install radiant heaters and ventilation for $18,314, and WE Energies will install the gas line for $5,293.90, according to the resolution that passed the county board unanimously.

No county property tax dollars will be used for the project, which is being funded by federal COVID-19 relief funds procured by New View Industries, Kline said.