The community may get an early Christmas present within the next week. The official announcement about a new industry’s location in Adel will be made soon, sources say.
That news comes as the Adel City Council voted unanimously Monday night, Nov. 21, to approve rezoning 160.10 acres on Highway 41 south of Adel from A-U, Agricultural, to HI, Heavy Industrial, and annexing the property into the City of Adel. All the members also voted in favor of adopting a new electric guaranteed fixed base rate (GFBR) for industrial customers after a second reading of Ordinance #16-04.
The new rate would benefit an industry prospect codenamed “Project Midnight.” The industry would require half again as much power as already used by all electrical customers in the City of Adel, according to city officials. The entire City of Adel consumes approximately 22 megawatts of power. This one customer would use 10-12 megawatts. They have an extremely high load factor and will be running an estimated 95 percent of the time.
There has been no official word yet on what specific form of industry Project Midnight would be. And some local residents say that lack of information has made them very suspicious about the project.
During citizens’ comments at the Monday, Nov. 21, meeting of Adel Mayor/Council, Ron Tiveron, who has lived for 22 years on Highway 41 near the property considered for annexation, again questioned the noise pollution, air pollution, and the truck traffic issues that he says could result from a new industry opening there.
(He had spoken out previously at a Planning Commission meeting.)
He asked why property already with water and sewer infrastructure in place for industrial use was not being considered for the project. He asked what the community would do if the local government offered such incentives to the new industry, and then the company officials decided to relocate to another county or state after initially starting the industry here.
“I’m speaking for a lot of people who are not here tonight,” Tiveron said. He said some have told him they are afraid to speak out because “they are afraid of repercussions,” but he added that he is uncertain what the consequences would be. “Some were afraid to come” to the City Council meeting, he said.
Many of the people in that community are retired and live on fixed incomes, and can’t afford to move, Tiveron said. He explained that residents in the area are dealing with noise and pollution concerns with the three industries already there.
Victoria Meredith, M.D., who also has property in that area, voiced concern about the public notice and public hearing process, and how the City is moving forward on the annexation and rezoning and doesn’t seem to be taking into account opposition from residents in that area. She also wondered about why existing industrial zoned property is not being used and about the loss of “tillable soil” that would be available for local food sources in the future. She spoke about toxins such as cadmium and arsenic being spread in the soil of another community by heavy industry.
“There is a lot of suspicion and an air of secrecy” about the local project, she said. “There is a lot of confusion.” She said more information should be made available to the public, including what “tax cuts” were reportedly made to entice the new industry. “I want to know what the true plan is before I put down any more roots here,” Ms. Meredith said.
Adel Mayor Buddy Duke responded that a public hearing was held on the matter and there is “a certain amount of confidentiality that we go through.” The goal is to protect the citizens and to protect a company, too, if the corporate leadership wants to bring a new industry to Adel, he explained.
Ms. Meredith said the matter should be public and “transparent.” She noted that she can smell “the chicken plant” from her property.
Mayor Duke said the City won’t do anything detrimental to its citizens. “We’re looking out for the future of our citizens,” he said. He told Ms. Meredith, “I’m sorry you missed the public hearing.”
Ms. Meredith replied that the City’s response is “not very neighborly at all. … You’re making me your neighbor by engulfing me,” annexing the property by hers.
Mayor Duke then called for a second reading and adoption of the ordinance for annexing and rezoning the Whitehurst property. Council Member Greg Paige made a motion, seconded by Michael Purvis, to adopt the ordinance. The motion carried unanimously.
Ordinance #16-04, implementing a guaranteed fixed base rate (GFBR) for industrial customers who meet certain criteria – specifically a metered demand for the current month equal to or greater than 8,000 kilowatts – was then presented to the Council for a second reading and adoption. Council Member Purvis made a motion, seconded by Council Member Butch Fausett, to adopt the ordinance. All voted in favor.
The electric rate adopted is in the contract that was approved at the last meeting. This company will be the largest user of energy in the City.
Other business during the Monday, Nov. 21, meeting:
Advance funds to Adel Industrial Authority
With voters’ recent approval of renewing the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), the Council discussed funding up to $775,000 to the Adel Industrial Authority.
The SPLOST funds would be used to guarantee repayment with a starting interest rate of 1 percent and being variable over the life of the loan. The funds would be collected over a sixyear period with interest due every year and principal divided by years of tax.
Council Member Fausett made a motion in favor of the advance funds. Council Member Greene seconded with all in favor. The action is subject to an intergovernmental agreement.
Appointment of EDC members
The Council needed to appoint two members to the Cook County Economic Development Commission. Presently, Mayor Duke and former Mayor Richard C. Barr are listed as members. Traditionally, the mayor serves along with one council member selected by the Council. The term is for three years.
Council Member Fausett made a motion, seconded by Council Member Paige, to appoint Council Member Greene and Mayor Duke to the EDC board. All voted in favor.
Use of train depot parking lot
Chris Rivers, youth pastor at the First Baptist Church, had requested that the train depot parking lot be used for a community rally for kids on Feb. 3 and 4, 2017. Council Member Purvis made a motion to grant the request, seconded by Council Member Greene. All voted in favor.
Mayor’s comments
Mayor Duke thanked the Chamber of Commerce for what they had done to inform citizens about the uses of SPLOST. The mayor thanked everyone in the audience for their attendance and noted that the Council meetings are regularly held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 5:30 p.m., at the Adel City Hall’s Council Meeting Room.
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