July 29, 2015 - The operation of a chicken fertilizer processing plant at the property once known as Armstrong (Bruce's) was approved by the Center City Council via an amendment of a zoning ordinance at their recent meeting held on Monday, July 27, 2015.
Brett Banner, representing a chicken fertilizer processing company, spoke with the council about the strong roots of poultry business in Shelby County over the past 65 years. He described how the efforts of John Moosberg, Mark Middleton, Mark Weaver and other individuals brought the industry to Shelby County and deliver $100 million input into the economy every year before the cattle and timber industries.
"These gentlemen that have come and offered to buy the property will be creating 30 to 35 jobs, I can speak to that, that's what he said but they will be injecting some capital into the facility to get it up and going again. It should increase our ad valorem tax property basis in bringing the property up to date," said Banner.
Banner feels very confident processing chicken litter and pellets is going to be very safe. He also expects the facility will drive up the price of chicken litter, which should help growers in the area, as there will be an increase in demand.
Mayor David Chadwick asked if there are similar plants in Texas to the one being proposed. Banner explained there is only one other similar plant located in the northeast part of the country. Councilman Howell Howard asked if the litter has to go through a compost process first.
"It goes through a composting process to take out the bad things that are in chicken litter, bad pathogens, wheat seed, things that irritate the farmers. So that's kind of the process with it," said Banner. "Pelletizing is no different than a feed mill; the same equipment and everything that's used in a feed mill."
Mayor Chadwick asked how the product would be shipped and Banner explained there are many forms in which the product can be shipped. Although some concerns have been voiced about an increase in flies around the facility due to the litter being in the area; however, preliminary tests have not received any complaints or shown evidence of a problem.
According to the City of Center zoning change/specific use permit application, two property owners voiced concerns over the possible facility. Cathryn Hall who owns vacant property opposite the railroad from the facility was concerned about the potential impact to her property value due to possible odor and the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas which took place in 2013 killing 15 people and wounding another 226. Ronnie Peace who owns, along with several siblings, a residence adjacent to the property mirrored the concern of Hall relating to West, Texas.
"Of course we always look for the bad, we always think of West, [Texas] when we hear fertilizer, and the damage there. By removing the ammonia is that eliminating, I don't want to say the word 'all' which I know can't be said, but does it eliminate 90%-95% chance of any kind of...," said Mayor Chadwick.
Banner provided assurances the process would be safe, "Absolutely, ammonium nitrate isn't bad, basically synthetic ammonium nitrate that has explosive capabilities. Oklahoma City, West, Texas both those had been using it. So we're the opposite end, we're going organic all natural side of things, we're going the other direction from synthetic."
The facility will accept "gunpowder" dry litter only and no litter from layer houses. Litter on site will be kept out of sunlight and moisture and is composted indoors.
During the meeting a motion carried and was approved amending the zoning ordinance relating to the property at 1100 Cotton Ford Road to Heavy Manufacturing, M-2.
City of Center Polling Places District I - Senior Citizen Center: 3580 Loop 500 East District III - First United Methodist Church: 211 N. Porter Street At-Large - Senior Citizen Center: 3580 Loop 500 East Church of Christ: 110 Hurst Street First United Methodist Church: 211 N. Porter Street Center Community House: 423 San Augustine Street Early Voting Location - Shelby County Clerk: 120 Austin Street |
Resolution 2015-22 ordering election for November 2015 was approved by motion. Up for election are the positions of Mayor, City Council District I and City Council District III. Designated as two 12-hour days for early voting are Monday, October 19, 2015 and Monday, October 26, 2015 between the hours of 8am and 8pm at the Shelby County Clerk's office. From October 19, 2015 through October 30, 2015 from 8:30am to 4:30pm. As of Monday, July 27, 2015 candidates may file their applications with the City Secretary, with the last day for filing being August 24, 2015 at 5pm. Election day November 3, 2015 voting hours will be from 7am to 7pm.
During public hearing, council was informed by Chad Nehring, City Manager, about a zoning change request made by Mike Cassell, the owner of Stump Jumper MFG, LLC. Cassell applied with the city for the zoning alteration to include a property at 810 Nacogdoches Street.
The Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission met last Thursday, July 23 and considered the application which requested changing the zoning from Commercial, C-2 to Manufacturing, M-1 to accommodate boat construction and repair. It was determined during the P&Z meeting the zoning for boat manufacturing and repair applies to fiberglass boats, and the boats Cassell manufactures are aluminum. The request was then amended to a specific use permit for metal fabrication which is allowed in a heavy commercial zoned area.
A motion carried and was approved to allow ordinance 2015-2 amending zoning ordinance 2015-5.
The meeting went into executive session and when the meeting returned to open session no motions were made resulting from the executive session. Items on the agenda receiving approval include: 1. July 13th workshop and regular meeting minutes. 2. Ordinance 2015-2 amending zoning ordinance for decision on application 2015-5 for zoning change of 810 Nacogdoches Street from Commercial, C-2 to Manufacturing, M-1 – amended to Specific Use Permit for Metal Fabrication. 3. Ordinance 2015-3 amending zoning ordinance for decision on application 2015-6 for zoning change of 1100 Cotton Ford Road from Manufacturing, M-1 to Heavy Manufacturing, M-2 with Specific Use Permit for Fertilizer Plant. 4. Resolution 2015-22 ordering election for November 2015. 5. Resolution 2015-23 TDA Community Enhancement Grant Application. 6. Resolution 2015-24 Maximum Considered Tax Rate for FY 2016 of $0.54000 per $100 valuation. 7. Contract for household waste collection event with Rineco Environmental Service and Pineywoods RC&D. Tentatively scheduled for September 19th. 8. Award airport tree removal bid to Baldwin Tree Service for $15,995. 9. Plat of CP Homes Living 17 Addition to the City of Center. 10. Annual dues for DETCOG. 11. Center Police Department Reserve Officer Robert Shannon Brazeal, giving the police department 8 reserve officers.
