Ethanol project again in county pipeline
Commissioner Tim Boyd still doesn’t like the idea of a proposed ethanol transfer facility in the Bonny Oaks industrial park.
The Hamilton County Commission will take up the proposed “moonshine pipeline” next week, but it will be heading to the agenda with divided support of the commission’s Finance Committee.
“That land cannot be repurposed, and I hope that the county is looking real close at the economic viability of this terminal long term,” Boyd said.
Last September, Englewood Enterprises proposed building a station that would pump ethanol from rail cars to a proposed pipeline that will carry it to nearby fuel terminals. After receiving the county’s preliminary blessing, Englewood sought a special zoning permit from Chattanooga to allow the use.
For the project to go forward, the county must waive its covenant restrictions and approve the sale of a portion of a county detention pond.
Englewood will need about three acres to construct a rail spur, said county engineer Todd Leamon.
Commissioner Joe Graham questioned why the company would be paying only about $42,000 an acre for the land.
James Hurst, a lawyer for Englewood Enterprises, said it’s because the company has agreed to make improvements to the county’s detention pond that will increase its size and bring it up to specifications.
Commissioner Fred Skillern said he wanted a report on how the detention pond change would affect the county’s potential liability in the event of a spill or flood.
Contact staff writer Ansley Haman at ahaman@ timesfreepress.com or 423757-6481. the money. Chairman Larry Henry and Commissioner Fred Skillern also questioned Smith about how the money would be used.
Graham said a homeowner wouldn’t ask for a bank loan without paperwork showing how it’s going to be used and the schools shouldn’t either.
Revenue from PILOT agreements made prior to 2010 still goes directly to schools. County Trustee Bill Hullander, a former commissioner who was there for some PILOT agreements, jumped into the fray when he explained that last year’s resolution is causing extra work for his office’s staff.
“I think it’s confusing to all of us,” Hullander said.
Finance Director Louis Wright agreed, saying his staff has to spend extra time parsing out what funds should be paid to schools and which ones should be held in escrow.
That didn’t wash with Graham.
“The complicated parts of the PILOT agreements were there long before this resolution was passed,” Graham said.
Contact staff writer Ansley Haman at ahaman@ timesfreepress.com or 423757-6481.
But Occupy Chattanooga’s big success, he said, has been fighting for the right to even exist on the courthouse lawn.
On Jan. 4, the Hamilton County Commission passed a rule to remove tents from the courthouse lawn, then sued the group and nine individually named defendants in federal court. Lawyers representing Occupy Chattanooga filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. The case is pending in U.S. District Court, but a judge must make a ruling on the motion to dismiss this month.
“Of all the Occupy movements in the world, we are the only ones going to federal court, and if we win, we will get a lot of recognition from the others,” said Simpson. “Some of them might come here and join us.
“A lot of the people are finally realizing we are not going to go home. We are here.”
Contact staff writer Joan Garrett at 423-757-6601 or jgarrett@timesfreepress.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Joangarrettctfp. and engineering clubs and give students access to scientific instruments, officials said.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at 423-757-6569 or bbenton@timesfreepress.com.