The Kewaunee County Finance and Public Property Committee is giving a local couple more time to make their dream of running a small business. The committee voted 2-1 with one abstention to give Cody and Haley Gille until September 2027 to build out its proposed New Wave Campground to hold 40 campsites. After purchasing the property in the summer of 2020, the Gilles spent two years demolishing the buildings at the location on Ninth Road in Algoma in addition to other clean-up efforts. They also suffered some obstacles when they discovered the site's underground wiring was insufficient for the 800 amp service they were installing. Despite the challenges, New Wave Campground plans to open 16 sites later this summer and other improvements. The Gilles asked for the extension to allow them to build out new campsites, construct a bathhouse, drill a new well, and run a new underground power line. The Gilles requested an extension to 2026 to open the 40-site campground fully and to 2028 to pay off the promissory note to the county. The committee agreed to give him an extra year beyond the initial request, pushing the dates to 2027 and 2029. A thankful Cody Gille said that the extension does not mean he is going until the last moment to finish everything.
The committee also heard updates from Kewaunee County Finance Director Paul Kunesh and Kewaunee County Treasurer Michelle Dax as a part of the nearly hour-long meeting.
