October 15, 2006
QUESTIONS
ASKED ABOUT MUNITIONS PLANT
Following is
the article from the Monticello News (10/12/06) concerning
the Munitions Plant hearing at the City Council meeting.
TWG has obtained a “fact sheet” that had been
distributed to select groups and individuals. The
public has been unaware of exactly who, when, where, why,
and what. Information from this fact sheet has been added
to the article below and noted by **.
City
Council Reviews Munition Plant Application, Susan
Jacobs, Monticello News
Monticello City Council spent a considerable amount of time
discussing details, though taking no action, concerning
a special exception for the possible relocation of Polywad,
a munitions assembly plant, to the Monticello Industrial
Park. **You can find out more
about Polywad at www.polywad.com.
**
In addition
to providing council members Mayor Susan Holmes, Glenn Newsome,
Bryan Standifer and Scott Sauls with an informational packet,
Economic Development Authority Chairman Rusty Bullard said
that the shotgun shell manufacturing plant will measure
about 1,300 square feet and be located at least 160 feet
away from any other structures. **The
fact sheet says the facility will be 12,000 sq.ft. (not
1300 sq ft). The facility will include an indoor firing
range. The facility will need 5-6 acres. The EDA will build
the building at an estimated cost of $86,00 with a lease
purchase proposed between the company and EDA.**
Endorsing the
relocation of the plant to Monticello, Mr. Bullard emphasized
that the Dept. of Defense, an intended buyer of the manufacturer's
goods, has specific guidelines that the project must meet
before beginning production. **Sources
say that the plant is now located in Monroe County, GA.
The company is 21 years old.**
The EDA chairman
also shared a letter of endorsement from Emergency Management
Services Director Ed Westbrook regarding the company's safety
plan. **The plant is not required
to report to EPD because the products have no environmental
problems.**
David Dyer gave
a presentation displaying the type of shell casings that
would be produced at the plant. He shared with council that
he has known of the company and known its owner for more
than a decade. **The company produces
a special higher performance shotshell for Special Operations
Command and supplies all the weapons and cartridges to the
various elite military special units—SEALS, Rangers, Delta
Force, etc. The products are NOT explosives; they are a
fast-burning propellant that is non-toxic. **
During the public
hearing prior to the business meeting, Charles Forsythe
advocated for increased public information about the proposal.
He spoke of safety concerns about the explosives to be manufactured
and asked council to postpone action on the zoning application
until further information was provided.
Mr. Newsome
said that he was not opposed to the project but wanted to
proceed with "an abundance of caution." He inquired
as to whether any research of the state regulations regarding
placing such a facility near a school—in this case Griffin
Tech— had been reviewed. The councilman urged those involved
to inquire with the state regulatory commission about the
issue.
**The indoor firing range
will be designed for safety and noise reduction so that
no stray shells can escape and noise will not be heard past
100 feet of the building.**
Mr. Standifer
also requested a copy of the material data sheet from the
manufacturer. **The data sheet
should be published in the Monticello News for all citizens
to read. **
**Nothing was said in the
news article about jobs. The plant will add ten (10) jobs
for our county starting with $7/hr for unskilled labor and
up to $20/hr for skilled labor.
City manager Hugh King informed council that another public
hearing on the issue would need to be scheduled in order
to meet the requirements necessary to take action on the
proposal.
A
called meeting for Monday, Oct. 30 was set to conduct the
public hearing and take a vote.
If you are interested, have questions, or if you have concerns,
please attend the meeting. The TWG has attempted to put
forth more information about this new proposed industry
then seems to be forthcoming from the EDA or the City.
TWG
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Mission
Statement:
** To keep the taxpayers of Jasper County, Georgia informed
as to where and how their tax dollars are being spent.
** To keep the taxpayers abreast of local policies and
laws being discussed and enacted.
** We advocate more open government, less government spending,
and lower property taxes.
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