Print
Comment
Rate
Prohibition repealed for packing plant
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
After mostly positive feedback during a public hearing, the Willcox City Council unanimously repealed sections of a city law that would have prohibited meatpacking plant/slaughterhouses in city limits.
At the same time, it enacted a new section of that law requiring prior council approval of each application by a meatpacking plant on a case-by case basis.
Officials with Tri-Western Meat Packing, Inc., formerly of Tolleson, had approached the City of Willcox, hoping to open a plant at the old apple warehouse on Business 10.
The council is scheduled to vote on Tri-Western's application at its Monday, Dec. 21 meeting, said City Manager Pat McCourt, adding that the recently amended city law officially goes into effect as of Thursday, Dec. 17.
Willcox-area residents had the opportunity to speak their minds at a public hearing held during the regular city council meeting last Monday night.
Tucson's Channel 13 news crew was there to cover the hearing, during which five people spoke in favor of the packing plant.
Cochise County Farm Bureau President Jim Graham said, "I believe very strongly that they will be an excellent addition to the community."
He urged the council to approve the changes to the city law, and "welcome the business to Willcox."
Paul H. Palmer, who said he lives 40 miles south of Willcox, in "an area where it's either 40 miles to Douglas or 40 miles to Willcox" to shop.
"I'm real excited that someone's looking at this area."
"We haven't seen opportunity like this knock in a long time," he told the council. "I would not like to see something like this go away."
Mark Kibler, who lives north of town, said that although not in the city, "I am in favor of the mayor and council looking at it," he told the council.
"I believe it will do Willcox and the farmers and ranchers some good. I hope you get it done."
Tri-Western Manager Chris Thompson said that his company is considering Willcox due to its good climate "and the attitude in the community seems to fit what we would like to do."
"I am here to speak in favor of the ordinance," he said. "I think it would be an asset by providing jobs, and creating more commerce in the area."
Two letters were read by Willcox Mayor Sam Lindsey, one in favor and one that expressed concerns about smell as well as noise from passing trucks.
"I like the idea of a new industry," said Don Wassink of Willcox.
"I like its location - easy for trucks to come and go. It will create new jobs, new taxes."
David Shinnick of Mission Viejo, Calif., wrote as owner of Wagon Wheel Mobile Home Park on the corner of Rex Allen Drive and Haskell Avenue in Willcox.
Although not currently a Willcox resident, "I have a significant interest in the city and have developed feelings for its spirit," he said in his Nov. 16 letter to the council.
"I want to see the city develop and prosper while honoring and preserving its heritage."
Shinnick said he is "in favor of new business in Willcox which conforms to the city's values and protocols."
"The Tri-Western meat packing plant would seem to be a good fit, but as owner of residential property located approximately one-half mile from the proposed plant's location, I do have a few concerns in the interests of the residents of my park," he said.
Shinnick addressed the fact that "shipments to the plant would occur between midnight and 5 a.m. to minimize street traffic."
"This truck traffic, if arriving from the south along Rex Allen then to Haskell, might cause interruptions to folks trying to sleep," he said.
"Will these be large 16-wheelers with noisy brakes, animals, and horns?" Shinnick asked.
"These trucks will pass within 100 feet of people sleeping in homes with less noise suppression construction than traditional 'stick and brick' homes."
Given the proximity of Shinnick's mobile home park to the plant's proposed location, "I am also concerned about the noise and smell which may arise from the plant's operation," he said.
"New technologies used by such plants may have largely eliminated such concerns, but I would encourage the council to carefully review this issue to ensure that Tri-Western's equipment and procedures will prevent this from becoming an issue after the plant begins operations."
Tri-Western General Contractor Efren Estrella addressed Shinnick's concerns later in the meeting.
"Like any other business, whether it's Wal-Mart or IGA, it's not cost effective to create problems," he said.
"As to the jake brakes, they are already outlawed, so that is not going to happen." said Estrella, adding, "We are also going to be living here."
He pointed out that "the trucks travel on I-10."
"Would there be 15 trucks pulling up at one time, or one at a time and then another one an hour later?" asked Councilman Woody Johnson, to which Estrella replied, "the latter."
As to smell from the plant, Estrella said, "It is not cost effective to keep livestock on hand, so we want to get them in and out. We will work with the city and community."
Estrella, Thompson, and company owner David Walker Sr., had made a presentation to the council at its Oct. 19 meeting on the possibility of placing a meat packing plant at 1126 North Haskell Avenue.
They explained that live animals would be brought to their Willcox plant in trucks between midnight and 5 a.m. to minimize traffic on city streets.
The animals would be held for a short time in concrete pens, then slaughtered and processed that same day, unless there is an equipment breakdown.
By federal law, if cattle stay overnight, they would have to be fed, so it is not cost effective to keep them on site.
They assured the council that animal by-products are sold, and wastes would not be put into the city sewer system.
Septic tanks would be sealed, creating fewer odors, and the cement floors and cast walls would be washed at every shift change.
The property they are considering is zoned I-2 (Industrial) and was formerly occupied by Arizona Apple.
"Staff reviewed the zoning ordinances and found that this is allowed in the Industrial Zone," McCourt said in his Oct. 23 letter to the council.
But further research revealed that a Health and Sanitation chapter in city code did not allow meatpacking/slaughter operations in the city.
"It would appear that this nuisance chapter was adopted many years ago before the current packing/slaughter rules and protections for the public were in place," said McCourt, adding, "It also appears that this type of business does 'fit' within the history and culture of the community."
Since it was not a decision item on the Oct. 19 agenda, there was no vote.
Instead, Lindsey directed staff to work on a possible revision to current city code and bring it back to council for consideration.
At the same time, it enacted a new section of that law requiring prior council approval of each application by a meatpacking plant on a case-by case basis.
Officials with Tri-Western Meat Packing, Inc., formerly of Tolleson, had approached the City of Willcox, hoping to open a plant at the old apple warehouse on Business 10.
The council is scheduled to vote on Tri-Western's application at its Monday, Dec. 21 meeting, said City Manager Pat McCourt, adding that the recently amended city law officially goes into effect as of Thursday, Dec. 17.
Willcox-area residents had the opportunity to speak their minds at a public hearing held during the regular city council meeting last Monday night.
Tucson's Channel 13 news crew was there to cover the hearing, during which five people spoke in favor of the packing plant.
Cochise County Farm Bureau President Jim Graham said, "I believe very strongly that they will be an excellent addition to the community."
He urged the council to approve the changes to the city law, and "welcome the business to Willcox."
Paul H. Palmer, who said he lives 40 miles south of Willcox, in "an area where it's either 40 miles to Douglas or 40 miles to Willcox" to shop.
"I'm real excited that someone's looking at this area."
"We haven't seen opportunity like this knock in a long time," he told the council. "I would not like to see something like this go away."
Mark Kibler, who lives north of town, said that although not in the city, "I am in favor of the mayor and council looking at it," he told the council.
"I believe it will do Willcox and the farmers and ranchers some good. I hope you get it done."
Tri-Western Manager Chris Thompson said that his company is considering Willcox due to its good climate "and the attitude in the community seems to fit what we would like to do."
"I am here to speak in favor of the ordinance," he said. "I think it would be an asset by providing jobs, and creating more commerce in the area."
Two letters were read by Willcox Mayor Sam Lindsey, one in favor and one that expressed concerns about smell as well as noise from passing trucks.
"I like the idea of a new industry," said Don Wassink of Willcox.
"I like its location - easy for trucks to come and go. It will create new jobs, new taxes."
David Shinnick of Mission Viejo, Calif., wrote as owner of Wagon Wheel Mobile Home Park on the corner of Rex Allen Drive and Haskell Avenue in Willcox.
Although not currently a Willcox resident, "I have a significant interest in the city and have developed feelings for its spirit," he said in his Nov. 16 letter to the council.
"I want to see the city develop and prosper while honoring and preserving its heritage."
Shinnick said he is "in favor of new business in Willcox which conforms to the city's values and protocols."
"The Tri-Western meat packing plant would seem to be a good fit, but as owner of residential property located approximately one-half mile from the proposed plant's location, I do have a few concerns in the interests of the residents of my park," he said.
Shinnick addressed the fact that "shipments to the plant would occur between midnight and 5 a.m. to minimize street traffic."
"This truck traffic, if arriving from the south along Rex Allen then to Haskell, might cause interruptions to folks trying to sleep," he said.
"Will these be large 16-wheelers with noisy brakes, animals, and horns?" Shinnick asked.
"These trucks will pass within 100 feet of people sleeping in homes with less noise suppression construction than traditional 'stick and brick' homes."
Given the proximity of Shinnick's mobile home park to the plant's proposed location, "I am also concerned about the noise and smell which may arise from the plant's operation," he said.
"New technologies used by such plants may have largely eliminated such concerns, but I would encourage the council to carefully review this issue to ensure that Tri-Western's equipment and procedures will prevent this from becoming an issue after the plant begins operations."
Tri-Western General Contractor Efren Estrella addressed Shinnick's concerns later in the meeting.
"Like any other business, whether it's Wal-Mart or IGA, it's not cost effective to create problems," he said.
"As to the jake brakes, they are already outlawed, so that is not going to happen." said Estrella, adding, "We are also going to be living here."
He pointed out that "the trucks travel on I-10."
"Would there be 15 trucks pulling up at one time, or one at a time and then another one an hour later?" asked Councilman Woody Johnson, to which Estrella replied, "the latter."
As to smell from the plant, Estrella said, "It is not cost effective to keep livestock on hand, so we want to get them in and out. We will work with the city and community."
Estrella, Thompson, and company owner David Walker Sr., had made a presentation to the council at its Oct. 19 meeting on the possibility of placing a meat packing plant at 1126 North Haskell Avenue.
They explained that live animals would be brought to their Willcox plant in trucks between midnight and 5 a.m. to minimize traffic on city streets.
The animals would be held for a short time in concrete pens, then slaughtered and processed that same day, unless there is an equipment breakdown.
By federal law, if cattle stay overnight, they would have to be fed, so it is not cost effective to keep them on site.
They assured the council that animal by-products are sold, and wastes would not be put into the city sewer system.
Septic tanks would be sealed, creating fewer odors, and the cement floors and cast walls would be washed at every shift change.
The property they are considering is zoned I-2 (Industrial) and was formerly occupied by Arizona Apple.
"Staff reviewed the zoning ordinances and found that this is allowed in the Industrial Zone," McCourt said in his Oct. 23 letter to the council.
But further research revealed that a Health and Sanitation chapter in city code did not allow meatpacking/slaughter operations in the city.
"It would appear that this nuisance chapter was adopted many years ago before the current packing/slaughter rules and protections for the public were in place," said McCourt, adding, "It also appears that this type of business does 'fit' within the history and culture of the community."
Since it was not a decision item on the Oct. 19 agenda, there was no vote.
Instead, Lindsey directed staff to work on a possible revision to current city code and bring it back to council for consideration.
 |
 |
|
| Decision on school 4-day week Tuesday | Passing the torch: Dr. Jeffery Bushman earns first award for preceptorship in county |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of willcoxrangenews.com.
