Won’t go against ban
“We are not currently operating in the facility, nor do we intend to go against the current ordinance in place to do so,” Riggs Florence told Decatur City Council at its recent meeting.
In a prepared statement, Florence kicked off the latest meeting in which opposition to his proposed beef processing facility – “slaughterhouse,” opponents call it – was aired by several speakers. The meeting was held at Riverside Center to accommodate an anticipated large crowd. An estimated 50 to 60 people turned out, not counting city officials, and 13 people spoke in opposition.
Council members and Mayor Dan Rickord listened to all who asked to speak, then adjourned the meeting without comment.
Florence’s I-O properties earlier sought from city council an exemption from a city ordinance which bans the killing of animals within the city limits. The request was unanimously turned down March 15.
On April 13, however, the Coldwater, Ohiobased I- O purchased the former Dean Foods plant in Industrial Park. Its refrigeration facilities made it almost readymade for I- O, it was noted at the March 15 meeting.
Before the latest council meeting, Riggs said that he wants to run a facility with cattle harvesting, slaughtering and butchering. “The term harvesting is what is currently being used in the industry,” he said. Not hog facility
His operation would not be the same as a hog facility, Florence told council. “There is a huge difference between the processing of hogs versus cattle,” according to Florence, who explained that a smell from hogs is due to burning off the hog’s hair.
He went on to say that there would be no animals outside the I-O facility and no blood running out into culverts. Blood, he explained, will be sold to industries which produce dog food, which produce makeup, as well as pharmaceuticals.
He also told council that I-O has learned of operating issues which occurred when Dean Foods had the plant. “We have asked locals to share their issues with the facility when it was operating,” Florence said. “We have never seen the plant operating; we’re trusting you to help us figure out previous operating issues and we want to do our best to fix them.”
As he closed by thanking city council for keeping an open mind, along with a willingness to learn about the cattle harvesting business, Florence said; “We are aware that every company has minor hiccups in their operations from time to time, and we will do everything to fix any problems that would arise.”
Florence has said I-O, if given exemption from the city ban – or if the ban is thrown out – would hire some 100 employees at the start, with wages of $20 to $23, plus benefits.
I-O has been holding what he says are educational tours of its Industrial Park facility, and a special meeting for the public is scheduled for Wednesday, June 15, at Riverside Center. Guest speakers will discuss the rules and regulations under which I-O would operate its facility.
In addition, a video tour of the facility will be shown.
Feels betrayed Among those speaking against the proposed facility was Norma Landis Geyer, who resides in Deer Run, near the site of the former Dean Foods plant. She said I-O representatives had visited her at her home to provide information, and a member of council had contacted her. She closed by saying, “I’m 86 years old and I feel betrayed.”
Claiming “there will be smells from this type of business,” Charlie Brune said, “This city is for the people, not the mayor or the council.”
Kathleen Koslowski posed several questions, all about water, and didn’t actually say she was against the facility operating here.
Greg Gage said, “I feel they are operating in a predatory manner.” He talked about manure problems and contended that prevailing winds would scatter the smell around the community and could even bring about the end of the outdoor concerts on the Madison St. Plaza.
Darlene Zeitvogel said she wasn’t against the facility, but its location within the city limits.