The 37-acre abandoned landfill had accepted municipal and paper mill wastes from the 1950s to the 1980s. By stating financial hardship, the former owner was not complying with the DNR permit to monitor and maintain the landfill. The DNR referred the case to the Department of Justice (DOJ), who filed a lawsuit. The owner retained Drake to assist in negotiations with the DNR and DOJ in order to avoid significant fines and penalties.

Following those negotiations, the owner did not wish to proceed with any further work and asked if Caleb would consider taking ownership of the property and responsibility of the abandoned landfill. In 2002, Caleb decided to acquire the landfill and implement a program to bring the landfill into compliance with the DNR, which resulted in substantially reduced fines for the former owner.

Caleb worked with the Town of Buchanan to have the property annexed into the City of Kaukauna, and negotiated an agreement with the City of Kaukauna to establish an Environmental Remediation Tax Incremental Financing (ERTIF) district on the property.

The ERTIF was approved based on a development plan that called for reclaiming about 11 acres of the landfill for commercial and residential lots, while converting the remaining 26 acres into a park. Following city approval, Caleb decided to facilitate the development of the 11-acres with 58 single-story, duplex style condominiums.

Drake completed an investigation of the soil and groundwater conditions, as well as the existing methane collection and monitoring system installed by the previous owner. The results of the investigation were used to develop a compliance program suitable to the DNR, and the landfill was brought into compliance within the required timeframe. Drake also negotiated a plan with the DNR to excavate approximately 120,000 cubic yards of waste, reconstruct the landfill cap, construct approximately 1,200 of leachate and methane cutoff trenches, and establish a 20-year monitoring program. The 10.5-acres were subsequently cleared of all wastes and backfilled with engineered soils, and then subdivided from the larger parcel that contains the landfill.

The first phase of construction has been completed, with the installation of the infrastructure and construction of six condominium units. Additional units will be constructed based on demand. Depending on the residential market, Caleb has also discussed with the city the possibility of alternative uses for some of the improved land, including self storage and business bungalows.

Drake also worked with the city to secure a DNR Green Space Grant to assist in the creation of the 26-acre park, which will include walking paths, picnic areas, and butterfly gardens.

The DNR, City of Kaukauna and the Town of Buchanan are all pleased with the restoration project. The new 11-acre development will have a total property value that has increased from $12,000 to an estimated $10 million.