Fostoria News

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From the Fostoria Review

http://www.reviewtimes.com/News/backiss ... asp#story3

Neighbors express fear about new plant


By RUSS ZIMMER

staff writer

Not everyone is happy to see the arrival of an $130 million ethanol plant on Sandusky Street, namely the facility's neighbors.

Property owners abutting the site of the future plant at 2111 Sandusky St. were invited to a hearing before the city addressed the necessary changes to the zoning map Tuesday.

Alex and Carol Martinez said the notification they received for the hearing was the first acknowledgment of the plant's imminent arrival next door to them.

"(The letter) is the first time we have been officially told about this ethanol plant," Alex told city officials and representatives of Poet, the parent company of Fostoria Ethanol.

The Martinezes fear the plant is going to drive down the value of their property, which includes a three-year-old home plugged into the city's water and sewer lines — at their expense.

During his address to council, Martinez said he was also concerned about the health implications from living next to a facility that produces essentially a grain alcohol.

Bob Berens, vice president of site development for Poet, explained the company's plants run about 98 percent emissions free and those produced are heavily regulated.

"The answer is no, there is not a health concern," Berens said.

Living just outside the city limits, the couple said they were one of three families being sold out for the benefit of a 65-million gallon biofuel facility.

"We understand we can't stop this," Carol said, adding if afforded the opportunity "we would have at least voiced our opinion."

Berens said the 10632 W. Ohio 12 couple were given just that forum.

In May, the company hosted a public meeting at Fostoria High School complete with a presentation and question-and-answer session that was well attended by the community.

"We did not communicate with anyone directly," he said. "We chose to speak to the community at-large."

Mayor John Davoli defended Poet saying the plant officials have been cooperative and open to his administration.

A zoning change to general industry, or M-2, was accepted later Tuesday evening by council.

The plant, which is expected to create about 40 technical jobs and bring $300 million annually into the area, was announced in March during a ceremony on the steps of the city building.

Poet, which was formerly known as Broin Companies, expects the plant to become operational by fall 2008.

Contact staff writer Russ Zimmer at:


Earth movers started breaking ground,
on July 6, 2007 for the new Fostoria, Ohio
Ethanol Plant being built off Rt. 12,
northeast of the city.

Norfolk Southern will have a connection track
that will come in on the north side of their mains
and south side of the ethanol plant.

The connection will be a Wye type that NS
will be able to serve from the East or West.

This will be from NS New Yard.

NS Blair Yard, southeast of the new yard
is on the other side of NS main lines.

( Buffalo, N.Y. - Cleveland - Bellevue, Ohio
- Ft. Wayne, Ind. - Chicago, Ill )

CSX has access to Blair Yard, but not to the New Yard.
NS will have to make deliverers for CSX.