I received the following comments from Mr. Jerry Rogers with the request that I share it with you. I hope you will comment and share your opinion on the meat packing plant that is proposed for the County Farm site after the jail moves into the new Justice Center.
I ATTENDED THE MEETING LAST NIGHT (Public Hearing Monday, August 16) ON THE PROPOSED PACKING PLANT. I WAS TRULY AMAZED AT WHAT WENT ON.
I MOVED TO HAYWOOD IN 1972 AND AM MOST LIKELY STILL LOOKED AT AS AN OUTSIDER.
I FEEL THAT THE COUNTY HAS DECLINED DRAMATICALLY.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CATTLE INDUSTRY SINCE 1975.
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY TO GAIN A COMPANY TO COME TO THE COUNTY. IT COULD ALSO BRING IN SOME NEEDED REVENUE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING OTHER ASSOCIATED COMPANIES. IT COULD ALSO BRING PEOPLE FROM MEMPHIS, JACKSON AND OTHER PLACES INTO BROWNSVILLE THAT WOULD NOT COME TO OUR COMMUNITY. THIS INCREASED TRAFFIC WOULD IMPACT OTHER BUSINESS IN TOWN FROM SHOPPING AT OTHER
BUSINESS. THE INCREASED JOBS WOULD BENEFIT THE LOCAL ECONOMY WITH A STARTING WAGE OF $12.00 AN HOUR.
THE EMPLOYEES WOULD BE TRAINED AND HIRED FROM THE LOCAL WORKFORCE. THE BUILDING WOULD BE SET BACK OFF ROAD WITH A TURN LANE THAT WOULD NOT IMPEDE TRAFFIC ON HWY 70. THE BUILDING WILL BE A METAL BUILDING WITH A DOOR AND TWO WINDOWS FACING HWY 70. CATTLE WOULD NOT BE VISIBLE FROM HWY 70 OR THE ROAD TO THE EAST.
ADDRESSING THE COMPLAINTS OF OTHERS, THERE ARE ALREADY CATTLE AND HOGS AT THIS LOCATION. THE CATTLE COMING IN HERE WOULD COME IN THE MORNING AND BE PROCESSED BY NOON. ALL BYPRODUCTS FROM THE OPERATION WOULD BE HANDLED ON SITE IN A SEPTIC TANK ON THE PREMISE. PRODUCTS THAT COULD BE SOLD WOULD BE STORED IN A REFRIGERATOR ROOM IN SEALED METAL DRUMS. THIS IS A LOGICAL LOCATION DUE TO THE UTILITIES NEEDED ARE AT THE SITE ALREADY. MOVING LOCATION TO THE OTHER INDUSTRIAL SITE WOULD REQUIRE THE COUNTY TO EXPEND FUNDS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY, OR ANYTIME IN NEAR FUTURE, AVAILABLE.
I DO NOT RECALL ANY OBJECTION TO THE GIN AND THE OLD SALE BARN THAT BROUGHT MORE TRAFFIC AND SMELL TO THE AREA.
SUMMING UP THIS IS A PLUS FOR THE COUNTY IN ALL RESPECTS.
JERRY C. ROGERS
12 years ago
This company has been introduced to us as a meat processing plant. Since I didn't go to the meeting (and have not heard a true definition) I don't know what that entails. But I am guessing that instead of a processing plant, it is a slaughter house. I am all for more jobs. I am all for more sales tax revenue. I am all for bringing people from other counties to our county. And I don't mind giving up a few acres to put that improved real estate back on the tax rolls. My only concern is the environmental smell created by such "processing." I can remember going to Union City on business about 10 years ago and eating at a McDonald's next door to the Reelfoot "Packing" plant. And the smell was horrendous. If they can address that issue, I don't see any concerns that should warrant concern.
ReplyDeleteI have heard that they are getting the land for free is this true?
ReplyDeleteI did not get to attend the public hearing, but did hear the Lenagar's talk at Rotary the week before. It is my understanding that because of USDA regulations, everything will be inside and no smell or noise will come from the building.
ReplyDeleteI think the land is free, but with stipulations that the land reverts back to the County if these stipulations are not met.
I did not go to the meeting, but I do believe that it will bring some jobs that we so badly need and revenue to the county and to the city. Meat processing is done differently than it was 30 years ago and I don't believe it will hurt.
ReplyDeleteUnless those cows are brought to the site in sound-proof, air-contained trucks, there will be noise and odors. Unless they are herded through tunnels into completely-walled-in holding pens, there will be noise and odors. Unless the highest care is taken with the slaughtering, processing, cleaning, and disposing of the cows, there will be noise and odors...and possible pollution, water contamination, and disease. Not to mention the coyotes and possums and rats who will get wind of this new enterprise! Think about it, people...if you wouldn't want this business next door to your home, across the street, or in the lot behind you...you shouldn't want it, period.
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ReplyDeleteDear Blog Administrator,
ReplyDeleteMr. Lenagar made himself vulnerable to ridicule when he stated in his video that he "prays for every cow...and for every man, woman and child who eat them". I'm sorry but I found the idea of him praying for the 3000+ head of cattle he plans to process, and the countless number of consumers, quite amusing. Don't you think that amazing amount of praying will keep him very busy!!!
I might not have as many objections to the proposed slaughter house if it were being located in some remote, isolated corner of the county. I can't help but commiserate with the people who live near the old jail site. If I wouldn't welcome such a business close to me, how could I wish it upon my fellow citizens?
ReplyDeleteThere have been a lot of comments made to those that oppose the slaughterhouse being on Hwy. 70 east in my community regarding the fact we didn't complain about the gin , sale barn, and beer store. Yes ,there have been complaints about all these but the gin has been in the community for over 75yrs, the poor house later jail since 1868. The beer store and sale barn were put in by community members that owned the land. So, that is one reason the citizens in this commuhity don't want the slaughterhouuse [ we have had one of those also],once it is built your complaints usually wouldn't improve the matter.The other comment we get is " you already have cows everywhere out there". That is true but they are in an open pasture and there is not a lot of smell in that situation as it is in small feed lots. As for the septic system for waste ,as of a week ago the correct people to approve such facilities had not been contacted. It is not even known if such a facility can be put on this area. We also have been told a turn lane had been approved then we where told a few days later it had not been approved. Mr Lenagar said there was a potters field on this land that he would take care of. There sure is a grave yard on it that has already been disturbed and it has been there since 1868. There were 25 people buried there between 1935 and 1948, so there is surely many more there. This graveyard needs to be mapped to determine where the graves are.I have done a lot of research on this and even "state of the art" slaughterhouses should not be built in populated areas. They do develop smell as there will very likely be a lagoon treatment area and when things are not perfect there will be smell. Have you been through Bells lately. I lived four miles from Bells and had the pleasuure of smelling the lagoon.There is also a lot of people in Haywood that think the old jail bldg. is going to be used for this new slaughterhouse. That is not the case folks. We are going to give the Lenegars 25 acres to build another eyesore beside the old jail.
ReplyDeleteAlmost 500 people put their names on paper declaring their opposition to the slaughterhouse. Residents of the area pleaded for their community to be spared. But the county commissioners turned deaf ears to their pleas and voted for the slaughterhouse. For the sake of a mere 25 jobs, our leaders chose to ignore their neighbors and friends who live near the proposed site, chose to take any and all risks that come with such a business, chose to invite and encourage and support the Lenagar family over the protests of our native families. I'm not very proud of the 16 commissioners who voted yes.
ReplyDeleteI hope all of the commissioners who voted yes to the Lenagars Slaughterhouse, and all of the people who agree with them, will take a good look at the many USDA processing plants that get into trouble, get fined and shut down, for neglect and illegally ignoring industry standards. How about the chicken farm that is right now in such trouble with salmonella? Listen to all the laws that owner broke! And do you think it can't happen here in Brownsville?
ReplyDelete3 Questions should be answered:
ReplyDelete1) How are you going to dispose of waste without smell? If the answer is a lagoon, then you're going to have smell. If the answer is a septic tank, please tell me how you can establish that type of processing without constant issues.
2) What happens to the land? Is it deeded to the Slaughterhouse where they can borrow money against it immediately? And if the company goes belly up, what happens to the land? Does the county get the land back or does the county get boondoggled?
3) Can you explain to me the benefit of giving someone 26 acres of land to create 25 jobs? (I realize that there will be an increase coming from the improvement in the real estate and that real estate taxes will be collected, but the county won't get rich on taxes on a metal building. And please spare any comments on increased traffic and job creation in related industry. That's a bunch of malarky (sp??))
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