It's being called the biggest single private investments in Iowa history. The Iowa Fertilizer Company has plans to build a fertilizer plant in rural Scott County, the plant would invest $1.3 billion into the community and create thousands of jobs.
But neighbors say the proposed site is a waste of prime farm land. They're scouting out 318 acres between davenport and Walcott, and the company says is the perfect spot with easy access to both the highway by US-6 and the Iowa Interstate Railroad.
Others disagree and want the plant moved elsewhere.
"This is an issue that's kind of put neighbor against neighbor." Scott County Farm Bureau President Robb Ewoldt says, "We hate to see it but everybody has their opinion, and they're very vocal about it."
Hundreds of people packed the last public hearing and the same is expected for the next one in August. Ewoldt says that's not a surprise.
"We realize this has an economic benefit to the plant coming to Scott County," Ewoldt says, "The big dividing issue is where this should be sited."
With lots of tension over the proposed site, the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce has been looking at other sites that might fit the bill, but a rep with the chamber says none of them are under serious consideration and the company is focused on the current site.
"If it was going into an industrial park, inside the city limits, I don't think we'd have near the talk going on," Ewoldt says.
No word yet on where those other options are, but Scott County planning and development director Tim Huey says the chamber is looking outside of Scott County so the pressure's on to keep this billion dollar project in the Quad Cities.
"Personally I'd like to see it in Scott County, I'd like to see it in eastern Iowa," Ewoldt says.
The farm bureau is sending out a survey to their members to see where they stand. They'll use those to make a recommendation at the next hearing.
Ewoldt says having the plant nearby would keep resources local, and a study by the chamber estimates local farmers will save $740-million each year if the plant is in Iowa.
"If the nitrogen is right here in Scott County, we're going to be able to get it when we need it," he says, "It would be nice to not have to rely on ships coming from out of the country delivering our nitrogen."
They're in the first stage of planning now, trying to get the land re-zoned as heavy industrial land. The planning and zoning commission has already recommend to turn down the permit, but the board can still say yes. If it passes, it'll move on to try and get a special use permit.
Then it's up to the company to make sure they're following DNR regulations and get all the necessary permits before breaking ground. The company hopes to start construction by the end of this year and start operations by 2015.
