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Ann Schlabach of the Milford area advised the county commissioners Tuesday to speak against the proposed VeraSun ethanol plant because the opinions of public officials may sway the county board of zoning appeals.
Representing a group calling themselves Northern Lakes Area Concerned Citizens Association, Schlabach said the plant's use of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide would affect people's health.
Providing documents from the Internet, she said the plant's proximity to schools and residences is too close.
"It (the ethanol industry) is growing too big, too fast. It will have a boom and a bust. What happens if VeraSun goes out of business?" she asked.
She reminded the commissioners three car manufacturing companies, Toyota, Honda and Nisson, were developing hybrid vehicles using electricity and gasoline, not ethanol-ready motors.
The three ethanol plant sites under consideration - Claypool and Burket proposed by LouisDreyfus, and VeraSun in Milford - would only generate 150 jobs.
Because they pollute so heavily, Schlabach said, with one plant more than doubling the county's allowed air pollution, no other industries could locate here.
"All for a handful of jobs. They're here to make money, not keep the environment clean."
She noted the price of corn has already gone up $1.80 per bushel to $3.50 with just the anticipation of more ethanol plants.
She said animal producers would suffer from the increased costs.
Commissioner Ron Truex, who is general manager of Creighton Brothers and Crystal Lake Egg Products, said for producers, they would face challenging times in the short term and, in the long term, grocery prices will increase.
Tom McCarthy cited increased traffic with semi-tractor trailers lining up for a mile at 2 a.m. to make deliveries.
Pam Long said she had allergies and would have to move from the area if the ethanol plant was constructed.
Schlabach pushed the commissioners for a stance regarding ethanol plants.
Commissioner President Brad Jackson said he hasn't made a decision.
Truex said he's talked to a Purdue ag economist and has been talking to Indiana Department of Environmental Management representatives.
He said he and Jackson have considered a trip to towns near VeraSun ethanol plants and asking people what they thought.
The VeraSun proposal will be for an exception in an agricultural area and come before the county board of zoning appeals. Agriculturally related industry is allowed on ground zoned for agriculture. The BZA will have the final word on VeraSun's proposal.
The board also:
• Reappointed Gerald "Jake" Bitner and Richard Shipley to the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals.
• Approved contracts with Dox Pop and NASA software to make certain court documents available on the Internet.
• Approved White Tail Run Road as ready for county maintenance; stop signs in Copperwood Estates and Enchanted Hills addition; and placement of a no parking sign on EMS R2 Lane 500 feet west of EMS R2A Lane.
• Heard from Heather Desenberg, who presented the 2007 Kosciusko Coalition on Drug Education budget and grant approvals.
KCODE funds come from court system user fees. This year's grants total $88,000.
County commissioners are Brad Jackson, Avis Gunter and Ron Truex.
