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The area just outside Milford is one of five sites VeraSun Energy is considering for an ethanol plant, according to a report presented to the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission Thursday.
Elected and appointed officials, representatives of the state economic team, Milford's town council president and clerk and other public figures met with Darin Fedt and Keith Bruinsma of VeraSun Energy. VeraSun is American Milling's parent company. VeraSun is based in South Dakota.
Sixteen people met in the commissioner's room, the courthouse's old courtroom. The public didn't have to be notified because no quorum of any particular public board was in attendance. The meeting was held Sept. 7.
Attending were Kip Tom and James Staton of the Indiana Economic Development Corp.; Max Courtney of the redevelopment commission; Brad Jackson, county commissioner; Ron Robinson, county administrator; Harold Jones county council president; Joy McCarthy-Sessing, KDI president; Dan Richard, county area plan director; Becky Richard of the assessor's office; Charlotte Siegfried, Milford town clerk; Doug Ruch Milford town council president; Sue Ann Mitchell, county auditor; Harlan Beer, owner of property under consideration; and Keith Morgan, Development & Municipal Initiatives LLC as well as the VeraSun Energy representatives.
VeraSun plans to build an ethanol plant somewhere in northwest Indiana. The company currently has four ethanol plants with two in South Dakota and one in Iowa. A second Iowa facility is under construction.
According to the VeraSun.com Web site, the corporation is the second largest ethanol producer in the U.S., based on production capacity.
The company's focus is on the production and sale of ethanol and its byproducts.
Under consideration locally is about 230 acres north of Milford near the intersection of Old 15 and CR 1350N. It is one of five sites being evaluated based on the availability of and access to grain, water, natural gas, transportation systems and permit approval.
The property includes more than 200 acres owned by Harlan Beer, east of Old 15 between CRs 1300N and 1350N. The property has direct access to north-south and east-west railway lines and is close to Ind. 15.
Also involved is land owned by Weisser LLC, west of Old 15 adjacent to the north-south railroad.
