HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1131 (2)Homer Hobbs (opponent) said he had lived in Cool Springs for 30 years. He
said the project would change the business from an agro-service business to industrial.
Mr. Hobb's said the project would tum out to be a "Pandora's Box" when the business
started developing and numerous other counties wanted to send their "bones to it to be
ground and cooked." He said the company provided a service to the farmers, but the
community would be "turned around" if industrial development were allowed.
Jim Dobson (advocate) a farmer, said he was Chairman of the Farmland
Preservation Board and a member of the Farm Service Bureau Board of Directors.
Dobson acknowledged that he was not a resident of the Cool Springs community, but he
said that he resided in the county. Mr. Dobson said that speaking on behalf of the
referenced boards, that Mr. Lea provided an essential service to the agricultural
community by assisting in the prompt removal and disposal of deceased livestock. He
said in addition, this helped to eliminate ground water contamination and odors from
carcasses left unattended. Mr. Dobson said several board members had traveled to the
site, studied the plans, questioned the company's owners, and they had received
satisfactory answers. He said the Preservation Board, and the Farm Bureau, endorsed
the proposal in principle, as presented.
(Chairman Tice called for a break at 8:20 P.M.)
County Planner Richard McHargue said the first contact with Mr. Lea was in the
fall of 2005, and the first drawing was presented at that time. He said the drawing was
revised, and it was intended to be an attached building on the west side of the main
building. McHargue said the initial drawing changed, because Mr. Lea was advised that
he had to have an "attached" building. (This was in response to Attorney Bateman's
earlier statement.)
Chairman Tice stated, for the audience, that the drawing in the commissioners'
packets had an attached building.
Attorney Bateman said he didn't want to mislead the commissioners, but under
the Freedom of Information Act, the entire contents of the planning department's file on
this application had been requested. He said that if the planning department had a
revised map or drawing, it had not been provided upon request.
Randy Jenkins (opponent), said he was a local business owner (RV Park &
Campground) about a mile from the proposed project, and he had concerns about the
impact on the whole county. He said I-40 and I-77 allowed numerous visitors and
travelers to travel through the county on a daily business. Jenkins mentioned the
elementary school about a mile from the facility and the impact the proposed "industry"
would have on the children. (He relinquished his remaining time to Mr. Bateman.)
Attorney Bateman said the issue was not whether the LeaWay Company would
remain open and continue to provide a service to the community, but rather the issue
was whether the company would be allowed to add an additional process to increase its
profits. Bateman said the owner had not offered any testimony indicating a facility
shutdown if the project failed.
Jeff McNeely (advocate) said he was a member of the Iredell County Planning
Board, and that he ran G & M Milling Company. He said the planning board
understood Mr. Lea would operate his business Monday through Friday -- 8 to 5 -- no
nights -- no weekends -- plus the project would actually be a safer facility with cooking
or sterilization. McNeely said that with BSE, more cows would probably wind up
going to the facility. He said that only a few people lived near the company. McNeely
said the planning board looked at the four criteria and made a decision to approve the
project. He said that as a member of the agricultural community, Mr. Lea provided a
valuable service. He said small businesses were feeling the "crunch" of high fuel prices
and agriculture was related to this economy. McNeely said the LeaWay Company was
also feeling this "crunch," especially with so much of the product being transported