By Tim Robertson, Pilot News Staff Writer
ARGOS - A new ethanol plant is on the horizon for Argos. After an hour-long public hearing, the Argos Town Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the rezoning of 250 acres of land southeast of town between Juniper and Ironwood roads, clearing the way for Rochester-based Indiana Renewable Fuels (IRF) to build the new biorefinery.
Representatives from IRF and from Advanced BioEnergy, a company that owns IRF, attended the hearing. During their pursuit of town approval, company officials have said the plant will be economically beneficial to Argos and the rest of Marshall County. Ethanol is a fuel made from grains. The plant proposed for Argos would make ethanol from corn. IRF President Glen Bode said the plant will use approximately 36,000 bushels of corn each year, boosting local grain prices and giving farmers a new market for their crops.
Several farmers spoke Wednesday on behalf of the proposed plant.
"To me, this is a farmer's dream to have a market close by for corn," said Merl Hayn, of Argos. "Whether people recognize it or not, this is an agriculture-based community."
According to officials from IRF and Advanced BioEnergy, the new plant will employ 45 with salaries ranging from $12-$25 per hour and could contribute as much as $1.7 million in annual taxes and fees to the community.
Argos resident and local attorney Ted Ummel is opposed to the new plant. At Wednesday's hearing, Ummel presented four proposed commitments he suggested the council include as conditions of granting the rezoning. One of Ummel's commitments included a stipulation that IRF and Advanced BioEnergy would not apply for or receive benefit from any tax abatements of tax increment fund (TIF) district which would result in more than half of the new tax revenue created by the plant be taken out of the general funds benefiting the town of Argos and Argos schools. "I guess I'm resigned to the fact the board will approve this rezoning request," said Ummel. "But, let's be sure we get some tax benefit."
Several area residents voiced concerns about increased truck traffic, pollution, fire hazards, decreasing property values, security issues and water supply problems they said will come with the new plant.
Audrey Downey lives on 18th Road, near the site for the plant. "The proposed plant is going right smack in my back yard," Downey told the council. "This is going to have a profound effect on my property. I'm a widow. That's all I have. There are other ways to make the town grow."
Barney Beers, of Argos, has been an outspoken opponent of the proposed ethanol plant at several public hearings. He said he feels the town council made the wrong decision. "I don't think these people understand what they've voted for," said Beers. "This is where small town values lose to 21st century corporate muscle."
Shawn Harley, of Argos, was happy with the board's approval. "The fact is Argos doesn't have any industry," Harley said. "Something's got to be done. Let's get our plant built and let's give Argos a start."
Advanced BioEnergy CEO Revis Stephenson said preliminary engineering work for the plant is underway. Stephenson said he expects construction to begin this spring; the facility will take between 12 and 14 months to complete. Advanced BioEnergy President and Chief Operating Officer Don Gales said the plant will begin hiring about six months before construction is finished.