Durand, for his part, said they hadn't gotten down to talking about specific numbers yet. That would be the second phase of the EDP study.

"There are financing options out there the village has that I don't," Durand said. "There are zero interest loans. They can get government grants for economic developments.

"There’s a price tag with all this stuff, but it can be handled with financing mechanisms available to a municipality."

Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict and lack of reassurance from the board about keeping the slaughterhouse in town meant that first, the USDA pulled its guarantee on a $1.3 million loan from the Bank of New Glarus, a business loan Durand said was for his mortgage, equipment purchases and operating expenses. After six months with no reassurance from the village, the bank pulled its loan as well, and Durand said he had no choice but to close.

"By forcing me out without paying, they’re making the value of the business disappear," Durand said. "I was up to 47 employees, with a business ready to take off, investors interested, banks interested. They're suddenly taking away the engine that drives the whole thing.

"Most of the people in the village have been very supportive of us. A few neighbors are not."