| Big Meeting tonite with the zoning board on the proposed alcohol plant. Joe Bogner and Pete Weil had letters in the paper last week promoting the plant. Bob Wetmore in todays paper, also promoting the plant.
I agree that it would be good for our tax base, granted they don't give them "tax abatements" like they do most of the time. However, it will be "water intensive", no matter what the promoters say. Since Dodge City has to run water to Wright now, where is the water coming from? Also, there could be other problems, but the main ones that concern me are:
1) They MUST use local suppliers and local contractors, which I doubt will happen.
2) They Must hire LOCAL AMERICAN CITIZENS.
3) They Must use LOCAL companies for maintenance and operation.
As per Mr. Wetmore's comment that there will be no waste effluent, that is not true. The water leaving the plant, whether through discharge or irrigation, will be highly concentrated water containing minerals, caustics, acids, and other contaminants. The volatiles, Wetmore says 100 tons of regulated emmisions, as a "minor source"! Depends on what the emissions are composed. 100 tons is alot of anything!
The "truck traffic" issue also needs to be clarified. 1,000 commercial vehicles on Wyatt Earp are way too many now. When will we get smart and complete the bypass? Liberal and Garden City have already completed theirs, and they don't let the trucks congest the town and destroy the streets. There goes the "new street construction" on Wyatt Earp again!!
"Facts" are sometimes based on the "so called experts" rather than real, concrete information. I am not against this plant or economic development, if it does not hurt our local resources, our local businesses, our local infrastructure, or our health and quality of life. We have had things shoved down our throats too many times in this area with promises, and then found out that we got "screwed" again!
I urge any concerned citizens to attend the meeting tonite at 7 pm in the Rose Room at the Ford County Government Center.  |