A proposed anhydrous ammonia storage facility takes one step forward to coming to Scott County. Tuesday night at a public hearing in front of the planning and zoning commission brought out dozens of people.
After and hour and a half of public comment and hearing from representatives of the company, the commission voted 6-1 to recommend approval.
Representatives of Crop Production Services went over more the details of the proposal to rezone 5 acres of land on 290th street off of Scott Park Road. The company wants to put a 30-thousand gallon tank there where farmers would fill up and transport the chemical to use it.
The company withdrew its request in September, but is back at it again. Officials explained to neighbors a little bit about how an operation like this runs, including safety procedures.
"We have one remote shut off, they're all hooked in a series so if anything happens you can get to anyone of them and shut the whole system down in a matter of seconds," said Rodney Foster with Crop Production Services, "We're above and beyond all standards, state and EPA standards." He also says the company has more than 600 facilities through the country.
This isn't a project sitting well with people who live nearby. Some have concerns of increased traffic, accidents, and impact on property values. "Seeing an anhydrous plant when you get up to go to work every morning is probably not good for your property values," said Dan Rebarcak who lives close to the site.
The Scott County Farm Bureau is behind it. Some area farmers say they would benefit from an additional option. "I need this competition. I need this to come in to make me more profitable or make me more competitive with other farms around us," said Robb Ewoldt, a Scott County farmer.
County Planning Director Tim Huey says the site would operate seasonally, about 120 days out of the year. There are several conditions that come with the rezoning if it's approved. They include a site plan with fencing, surrounding landscaping, and security measures like lighting. The storage facility would mean five to ten seasonal jobs right off the bat.
The planning and zoning commission's vote is a recommendation to move forward. The rezoning request will now go to the full county board with another public hearing and two readings before a vote.
