Proposed ammonia plant receives early pushback

Strong criticisms surrounding public health concerns and board approval being a required step seem to have scared off a company that had expressed interest in installing an anhydrous ammonia plant in Rochester. 

The proposed site for the plant, representing an investment of $10.5 million by TalusAg, is the primary concern. Blacketor Industrial Park on the city's north side has been eyed and would allow the company to connect to a new substation being installed by Fulton County REMC at County Road 200 North. Opponents have pointed out the close proximity of Brent Blacketor Sports Complex, claiming the ammonia plant would pose significant health risks to the hundreds of children and families who gather there. 

"I don't know at this point for certain that Talus wants to continue," Fulton Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Michael Ladd said after hosting a private meeting between its representatives and those around the proposed site. Notable opposition includes those of nearby Mill Creek Church, who stated they would fight the project from coming in, and Dan Holtz, owner of a light industrial facility already existing in the industrial park.

Ladd later shared additional opposition to the idea of moving the sports complex to accommodate the plant, as well as Talus' reluctance to go before the city's zoning board.

If Talus decides to proceed, Ladd noted it will need to obtain a special exception for a land split through the Rochester Board of Zoning Appeals. That process would include a public hearing, he added. 

"We're just doing our due diligence," Ladd said in hearing out Talus' plans. "We're going to talk to any business that wants to come in. It's the community that has to decide."

He also said misinformation has circulated about the proposed project. 

"There were some comments that this had already come before the county council and commission and been rejected, and there's no truth in that," he said. 

He added there have only been preliminary conversations with various government officials and that he just recently presented Talus' plans to the Fulton County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) for consideration.

In hearing that he has claimed EMA supports the proposed project, Ladd says that is a lie. 

"There's no way that I can or even want to influence them," he said, adding that his role is only to brief other board members on potential developments. 

Sharing strong opposition to the proposed project in a recent email to Ladd is former EMA and 911 director Gail Karas, who continues to serve as a deputy coroner and a member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee. Her husband, County Councilman Pete Karas, nearly died from anhydrous ammonia exposure in the past. 

"(Pete) had worked with this chemical for years, going to all safety training and wearing all safety gear, when he was exposed to a coupler valve exploding in his face. For 32 days, he was in a medically induced coma fighting for his life with collapsed lungs," she shared, adding that his survival was a miracle. 

"Yes, Fulton County needs industry, but put it where there is not a danger to our citizens," she continued. "There is a reason it's only in a couple of locations with a one-man operation."

She urged for more research into the dangers of anhydrous ammonia, and added that resources would be lacking and an acceptable evacuation impossible in the event of a mass casualty incident. 

Coroner Jeri Good referred to it as "a mass fatality nightmare" in a follow-up email to Ladd.

"Try to imagine the tragic devastation of entire families and children as the cloak of anhydrous floats across the playing field, robbing all those present with the ability to breathe," she wrote. "In the name of the safety of our children and families of our community this MUST be proposed for a different site."  

She continued: "Some of you may not have known Mrs. Mabel Blacketor, the woman who donated the property for the children of our community to have a safe place to play sports. Mabel was a friend of mine and volunteered in our classroom to help kids. Her only child, son Brent, tragically died as a teenager. Later on, she had a vision to help other kids, creating the Blacketor Sports Complex. I can tell you that Mabel, or as our kids knew her as Miss Mabel, would NOT favor the location for the plant!"

Good also referenced Pete's experience in her email, noting such exposure has been fatal to all but one other person in the U.S. 

"We want our community to grow and add to our tax base, but not at the expense of the safety of our families and children," she concluded after pledging to have one or more team members present at any public meeting that may come up on the proposed project.