Some from Hougard return to work Hougard workers were back on the job at the Kress Family Library in De Pere Tuesday (photo by H. Marc Larson). The company is still in negotiations, an attorney says By Ray Barrington News-Chronicle Workers from George M. Hougard & Sons returned to at least two construction sites Tuesday, although the lawyer for the company would not provide details on the future of the firm for now. "We have no comment other than the fact that some of the employees have begun returning speaks for itself," said Ken Calewarts, attorney for the company. He said the company was "contemplating issuing a press release later in the week" and that negotiations of an unspecified sort were continuing. The employees returned to the building site of the Kress Family Library in De Pere and Pioneer School in Ashwaubenon. "We just talked over the phone, and they said they'd be back on the job," said Dean Gazza, interim facilities director for Brown County, which is overseeing the library work. "They have some subcontractors they have to get caught up in paying. They must have got some money to get them paid, and I hope the subcontractors will stay on site and continue." Gazza said his understanding was that Hougard workers were only working on certain projects. "Basically, they said they got directions to finish the Kress Library, and I said, 'Great,'" Gazza said. "Everything ramped up really quick again. It's almost like nothing happened except for the few days delay." At Ashwaubenon, the loss of Hougard workers didn't cause any problems "other than a few gray hairs," said facilities manager Mike Beno. "They did as much as they could until school is out, and school isn't out until next week," he said. "It didn't hold anything up." Beno said company president Robert Hougard had been in touch to inform him. "They're working diligently and talking to the bonding company lawyers, making sure we have things covered," Beno said. "It sounds like they're making a real huge effort to get back on their feet. "We've worked with them in the past, and we're sorry they're having problems, not just because of this project, but because they're a good contractor and they've been around a long time." The company laid off all of its employees, numbering about 80, abruptly on May 23. The company cited unforeseen business circumstances for the move. Calewarts said last week the company was in negotiations to determine the 105-year-old company's future.