Refusal of land owner to sell may kill Marshall County ethanol project

PLYMOUTH - The public hearing set for Monday, Sept. 11, regarding a proposed ethanol plant in Argos has been canceled.

According to Ralph Booker, county plan director, Indiana Renewable Fuels (IRF) has all property owners in that area ready to sell with one exception.

That one landowner, Booker said, essentially kills the project.

"This meeting Monday has been canceled because Indiana Renewable Fuels did not get permission from all landowners involved and that essentially kills the project. Without all property owners willing to sell, the whole thing is moot," Booker said.

IRF is an investor group taking charge of construct the ethanol plant. The group's president, Glen Bode, said Wednesday plans to pursue an ethanol plant in Marshall County will continue.

"We'll certainly continue to have significant interest in the Marshall County-area and at this point, we're just reviewing a couple of options and will announce our plans at some point," Bode said.

Bode said plans for a plant in Fulton County were approved through the commissioners there on Tuesday. However, he said, there are conditions that were placed on their plans.

"The previous ruling by the (Fulton County) plan commission, which was to accept our request with three additional restrictions, was reviewed by the commissioners and they voted to accept the plan commission's recommendation and put on additional conditions," Bode said.

What's next for Marshall County?

"There are a couple of issues we're trying to work through, but essentially," Bode said, "we're keeping options open at this point."