Posted on June 21, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
Starke County government officials want to wait on an upgrade to a road in the North Judson Industrial Park proposed by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation.
Their request for an appropriation from the County Economic Development Income Tax, or CEDIT, fund included $75,000 to repave the main road through the North Judson Industrial Park with hot mix asphalt to withstand heavy truck traffic.
The council discussed the benefit of doing so, seeing as how there are only 11 available acres in the landlocked park on the east end of town. They generally agreed any future heavy industrial development in North Judson will occur west of town on State Road 10 due to the proximity to U.S. 421.
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler pointed out the county can spend between $50 and $75,000 to pave 300 East from MPI north to State Road 8 in the Knox Industrial Park thanks to available matching funds from the state.
He adds the county can always upgrade the road through the North Judson Industrial Park later if a need to do so arises. Meanwhile, Ritzler says the chip seal surface will last between five and six years.
The council did approve the remaining $195,000 in CEDIT appropriations sought by the SCEDF. All but $15,000 of that money will be allocated to the foundation’s economic development consulting contract. The remainder will pay for the Hamlet fire well and industrial park projects.
Showing posts with label North Judson Industrial Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North Judson Industrial Park. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Metro Recycling Cancels North Judson Transfer Station Project
Posted on November 16, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Metro Recycling has decided not to add a facility in the North Judson Industrial Park, after all. Complaints raised by a number of residents during last week’s North Judson Town Council meeting appear to have been successful in causing the company to reconsider its proposal to add a recycling transfer station, just outside the town limits.
Metro Recycling CEO Neil Samahon says that while the company attended the meeting to provide information, they also went to take input. “We heard what the folks were saying and assessed the situation and decided to cancel the project as it stands,” he says. “We’ll take a look and see in the future if we’ll remain looking within Starke County. We like that area, as far as what we’re looking to do. But right now, there’s no firm plans and there isn’t another site per se that we’ve identified, but we’ll continue to review that.”
While he believes the actual facility would have eliminated the concerns residents had, he conceded they raised some important questions. “Certainly, some of the truck traffic, if that was a concern. I mean, yeah, we’ve got to get the garbage out of there, and that might have been more than what they wanted,” Samahon says. “Honestly, it is an industrial park and to think whether it’s us or someone else, that isn’t going to require to go in and out of there with truck traffic, then I question why is there an industrial park there. But that’s not for me to assess or try to determine.”
The cancellation of the project also raises the question of what happens to the piece of land in the North Judson Industrial Park that Metro Recycling already purchased. Samahon says the company plans to work with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation to find a potential buyer, but he also doesn’t rule out keeping the property and using it for other purposes. “I mean, the reality is we have the ability to put in a recycling yard, just as we do at any of our other facilities, non-garbage. For us to have a transfer station there, that requires an [Indiana Department of Environmental Management] permit,” he explains. “But as far as putting in a retail buyback center that would handle metal or put in a facility that recycles cars or trucks or whatever the case may be, that does not require any additional permitting.” However, he acknowledges that it would be difficult to add any operation there without the community’s support.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver says the organization is saddened by Metro Recycling’s decision not to proceed with the transfer station. “We understand why they did that, and they heard what the people had to say. It’s just unfortunate because this is a needed facility for this community, this county community,” he says. “There were several benefits not only because of the recycling and the transfer station, but with the transfer station, we could have generated enough money to the Environmental Management to do curbside recycling out in the county.”
As for the future of the North Judson Industrial Park, Weaver says area roads are sufficient to handle the weight of the trucks. He adds that the site of the park was chosen by North Judson officials, and that the area has been industrial for over 100 years.
We will air the public comment portion from last week’s North Judson Town Council meeting this Sunday at noon on Kankakee Valley Viewpoints.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Metro Recycling has decided not to add a facility in the North Judson Industrial Park, after all. Complaints raised by a number of residents during last week’s North Judson Town Council meeting appear to have been successful in causing the company to reconsider its proposal to add a recycling transfer station, just outside the town limits.
Metro Recycling CEO Neil Samahon says that while the company attended the meeting to provide information, they also went to take input. “We heard what the folks were saying and assessed the situation and decided to cancel the project as it stands,” he says. “We’ll take a look and see in the future if we’ll remain looking within Starke County. We like that area, as far as what we’re looking to do. But right now, there’s no firm plans and there isn’t another site per se that we’ve identified, but we’ll continue to review that.”
While he believes the actual facility would have eliminated the concerns residents had, he conceded they raised some important questions. “Certainly, some of the truck traffic, if that was a concern. I mean, yeah, we’ve got to get the garbage out of there, and that might have been more than what they wanted,” Samahon says. “Honestly, it is an industrial park and to think whether it’s us or someone else, that isn’t going to require to go in and out of there with truck traffic, then I question why is there an industrial park there. But that’s not for me to assess or try to determine.”
The cancellation of the project also raises the question of what happens to the piece of land in the North Judson Industrial Park that Metro Recycling already purchased. Samahon says the company plans to work with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation to find a potential buyer, but he also doesn’t rule out keeping the property and using it for other purposes. “I mean, the reality is we have the ability to put in a recycling yard, just as we do at any of our other facilities, non-garbage. For us to have a transfer station there, that requires an [Indiana Department of Environmental Management] permit,” he explains. “But as far as putting in a retail buyback center that would handle metal or put in a facility that recycles cars or trucks or whatever the case may be, that does not require any additional permitting.” However, he acknowledges that it would be difficult to add any operation there without the community’s support.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver says the organization is saddened by Metro Recycling’s decision not to proceed with the transfer station. “We understand why they did that, and they heard what the people had to say. It’s just unfortunate because this is a needed facility for this community, this county community,” he says. “There were several benefits not only because of the recycling and the transfer station, but with the transfer station, we could have generated enough money to the Environmental Management to do curbside recycling out in the county.”
As for the future of the North Judson Industrial Park, Weaver says area roads are sufficient to handle the weight of the trucks. He adds that the site of the park was chosen by North Judson officials, and that the area has been industrial for over 100 years.
We will air the public comment portion from last week’s North Judson Town Council meeting this Sunday at noon on Kankakee Valley Viewpoints.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Recycling Transfer Station Discussion Draws Crowd During North Judson Council Meeting
Posted on November 8, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
A proposed recycling transfer station in the North Judson Industrial Park drew several complaints from residents during a contentious North Judson Town Council meeting Monday. The planned by Metro Recycling facility would handle municipal solid waste, as well as construction debris like concrete and untreated wood.
Charlie Weaver with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation and Brian Moench, the engineer designing the facility, attended Monday’s meeting in an attempt to explain the project. But residents repeatedly voiced their concerns about truck traffic, noise, odors, and other issues.
The proposed site on Oakwood Street northeast of town would make it difficult for trucks to reach the site, according to some residents, with the only options being to travel on county roads or through North Judson itself. Moench said Metro Recycling has been working with Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler on a solution. “We have proactively reached out to the county highway superintendent to have dedicated truck routes to move material in and out of this industrial park,” Moench said. “So at the discretion of the County Highway [Department] who has jurisdiction over these roadways, we are proactively working with them on defining a truck route, for the appropriate pavement sections, so on, and so forth, to get trucks in and out of this industrial park.” Residents questioned why the facility couldn’t be placed in a location with better highway infrastructure, such as Hamlet.
Concerns were also raised about the noise level of the portable concrete crushing equipment that would be used at the facility. Moench estimated it would be in the 70-to-90-decibel range. He also said the equipment would only be used on an as-needed basis, and that the company would be open to limiting concrete crushing to daytime hours.
But many residents were even more concerned about why they hadn’t heard about the project before the past couple weeks. Weaver said he had been in contact with county and local officials and that the project had been discussed in several public meetings. Many of those attending Monday’s meeting did not feel their concerns were being addressed adequately, and audience members interrupted speakers at several points during the meeting. Complicating matters is the fact that the site in the industrial park is located outside of the North Judson town limits and out of the town council’s jurisdiction.
San Pierre resident and former North Judson Town Attorney Cassandra Hine called for a meeting to be held at the county level to better address residents’ concerns. “We’ve had several comments made about meetings with the county highway superintendent,” she said. “We’ve had numerous comments about ‘This isn’t the town of North Judson; this is the county.’ So when is this all going to be addressed at the county level?”
However, County Commissioner Kathy Norem said that while the commissioners knew the Starke County Economic Development Foundation was in discussions with a recycling company, they didn’t know the details until the last few weeks. “We did not recruit them,” she said. “We did not negotiate anything with them.”
Norem said she has spoken with Ritzler about the truck routes. “What he told me this afternoon when I talked to him was that the truck routes that go through town would probably sustain the traffic,” she said. “But I’m fairly certain if there’s going to be continuing negotiations, they’re going to try to move that somewhere else, and then those roads are not going to sustain that kind of traffic. So that’s a problem that the county’s going to have to deal with if they continue to go forward.”
At the same time, Norem felt that it was up to the residents to convince Metro Recycling to locate elsewhere, not elected officials.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
A proposed recycling transfer station in the North Judson Industrial Park drew several complaints from residents during a contentious North Judson Town Council meeting Monday. The planned by Metro Recycling facility would handle municipal solid waste, as well as construction debris like concrete and untreated wood.
Charlie Weaver with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation and Brian Moench, the engineer designing the facility, attended Monday’s meeting in an attempt to explain the project. But residents repeatedly voiced their concerns about truck traffic, noise, odors, and other issues.
The proposed site on Oakwood Street northeast of town would make it difficult for trucks to reach the site, according to some residents, with the only options being to travel on county roads or through North Judson itself. Moench said Metro Recycling has been working with Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler on a solution. “We have proactively reached out to the county highway superintendent to have dedicated truck routes to move material in and out of this industrial park,” Moench said. “So at the discretion of the County Highway [Department] who has jurisdiction over these roadways, we are proactively working with them on defining a truck route, for the appropriate pavement sections, so on, and so forth, to get trucks in and out of this industrial park.” Residents questioned why the facility couldn’t be placed in a location with better highway infrastructure, such as Hamlet.
Concerns were also raised about the noise level of the portable concrete crushing equipment that would be used at the facility. Moench estimated it would be in the 70-to-90-decibel range. He also said the equipment would only be used on an as-needed basis, and that the company would be open to limiting concrete crushing to daytime hours.
But many residents were even more concerned about why they hadn’t heard about the project before the past couple weeks. Weaver said he had been in contact with county and local officials and that the project had been discussed in several public meetings. Many of those attending Monday’s meeting did not feel their concerns were being addressed adequately, and audience members interrupted speakers at several points during the meeting. Complicating matters is the fact that the site in the industrial park is located outside of the North Judson town limits and out of the town council’s jurisdiction.
San Pierre resident and former North Judson Town Attorney Cassandra Hine called for a meeting to be held at the county level to better address residents’ concerns. “We’ve had several comments made about meetings with the county highway superintendent,” she said. “We’ve had numerous comments about ‘This isn’t the town of North Judson; this is the county.’ So when is this all going to be addressed at the county level?”
However, County Commissioner Kathy Norem said that while the commissioners knew the Starke County Economic Development Foundation was in discussions with a recycling company, they didn’t know the details until the last few weeks. “We did not recruit them,” she said. “We did not negotiate anything with them.”
Norem said she has spoken with Ritzler about the truck routes. “What he told me this afternoon when I talked to him was that the truck routes that go through town would probably sustain the traffic,” she said. “But I’m fairly certain if there’s going to be continuing negotiations, they’re going to try to move that somewhere else, and then those roads are not going to sustain that kind of traffic. So that’s a problem that the county’s going to have to deal with if they continue to go forward.”
At the same time, Norem felt that it was up to the residents to convince Metro Recycling to locate elsewhere, not elected officials.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
North Judson Transfer Station Proposal Draws Concerns from Residents
Posted on October 27, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The planned addition of a recycling transfer station in the North Judson Industrial Park has some residents organizing a protest. Metro Recycling currently operates three facilities in Northwest Indiana and one in Illinois.
The one the company’s planning for the North Judson area would be similar to those, according to Starke County Economic Development Foundation Special Projects Coordinator Ron Gifford. “A group of folks from Starke County, I believe from maybe the County Plan Commission, went to one of their other Indiana facilities to take a look at that facility and came back and said it was very well-run and clean and no issues.” He says the company is currently wrapping up a lengthy permitting process with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, which could pave the way for construction to start in the spring.
However, some residents say they’re concerned with issues of noise and pollution, as well as a potential decline in property values that may result. They say the proposed transfer station has been a “well kept secret” by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, the Starke County Plan Commission, and the Town of North Judson, something Gifford disputes. “On our particular organization, there are probably about five people from North Judson that have been kept advised of this as it’s gone on,” he said. “The Town of North Judson has a member on our board that has been fully aware of all this process. And the Starke County Planning Commission sent a team over to look at once of their other facilities, and apparently, they didn’t need any special local zoning permits or anything like that, or the Starke County Plan Commission obviously would have had a meeting.”
He adds that legal notices typically have to be made for these types of projects. Gifford says from his experience, Metro Recycling has been a good corporate citizen, noting that the company has twice taken part in the SCEDF’s Manufacturers Day event.
This evening, though, a group of residents plans to hold a protest meeting at the North Judson-San Pierre High School Auditorium from 6:00 to 8:00. Meanwhile, Gifford says representatives from Metro Recycling as well as the SCEDF are scheduled to discuss the new facility during the next North Judson Town Council meeting on Monday, November 7 at 6:30 p.m. at North Judson Town Hall.
Officials with Metro Recycling could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The planned addition of a recycling transfer station in the North Judson Industrial Park has some residents organizing a protest. Metro Recycling currently operates three facilities in Northwest Indiana and one in Illinois.
The one the company’s planning for the North Judson area would be similar to those, according to Starke County Economic Development Foundation Special Projects Coordinator Ron Gifford. “A group of folks from Starke County, I believe from maybe the County Plan Commission, went to one of their other Indiana facilities to take a look at that facility and came back and said it was very well-run and clean and no issues.” He says the company is currently wrapping up a lengthy permitting process with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, which could pave the way for construction to start in the spring.
However, some residents say they’re concerned with issues of noise and pollution, as well as a potential decline in property values that may result. They say the proposed transfer station has been a “well kept secret” by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, the Starke County Plan Commission, and the Town of North Judson, something Gifford disputes. “On our particular organization, there are probably about five people from North Judson that have been kept advised of this as it’s gone on,” he said. “The Town of North Judson has a member on our board that has been fully aware of all this process. And the Starke County Planning Commission sent a team over to look at once of their other facilities, and apparently, they didn’t need any special local zoning permits or anything like that, or the Starke County Plan Commission obviously would have had a meeting.”
He adds that legal notices typically have to be made for these types of projects. Gifford says from his experience, Metro Recycling has been a good corporate citizen, noting that the company has twice taken part in the SCEDF’s Manufacturers Day event.
This evening, though, a group of residents plans to hold a protest meeting at the North Judson-San Pierre High School Auditorium from 6:00 to 8:00. Meanwhile, Gifford says representatives from Metro Recycling as well as the SCEDF are scheduled to discuss the new facility during the next North Judson Town Council meeting on Monday, November 7 at 6:30 p.m. at North Judson Town Hall.
Officials with Metro Recycling could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
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