Published: March 23, 2006 10:17 pm            

Universal residents oppose proposed hog facility

An Iowa company hoping to put a large hog production facility in Vermillion County is meeting with some opposition from residents of a nearby town.

Universal citizens say they aren’t opposed to new business, but they don’t want a large hog operation in their community.

Natural Pork Production II LLP of Harlan, Iowa, wants to establish a hog production facility on land owned by Mark Krieger near the west end of Universal, said Harold Travoli, a Universal homeowner.

Travoli doesn’t believe this business venture is a good fit for the rural community where he and about 400 other citizens established their homes, he said.

“There is a petition circulating around town since the residents here don’t want that kind of business near their community,” he said.

Representatives of the pork production business were to meet with Vermillion County officials, Vermillion County Farm Bureau Board and the Vermillion County Economic Development Council on Thursday night to discuss the issue, said Tim Wilson, president of the Vermillion County Board of Commissioners.

A March 17 letter from John Cheesewight, president of the Vermillion County Farm Bureau, invited various officials to “a dinner and information session” presented by the Natural Pork Production II LLP.

“The company is exploring placing a hog production facility in Vermillion County,” the letter stated. “They would like to explain in detail their business practices and the processes they use to minimize the impact on the environment.”

“The company asked to come and talk with us,” said Ed Cole, executive director of Economic Development Council. “We are going to talk to the company and get the facts of how they do business and how they handle the waste. We want it to be a win-win situation for the community, and it has to fit with the surroundings, the neighborhood and that type of thing.”

The Vermillion County Area Planning Commission has requested its attorney, Larry Thomas of Clinton, review the zoning ordinances to determine if the land needs to be rezoned.

John Koma, zoning administrator, said Thomas is expected to have his report ready next week.

“We need to know if zoning is needed if the business is classified as an agriculture industry,” he said.

Rose Parsley is among some longtime Universal residents who might welcome another business, but she has reservations about a large hog production facility near her home.

“We don’t need the hogs in this area and we don’t want them here,” she said. Parsley, a former town board president for several terms, believes most citizens are against the proposal.

“I don’t believe you will find a dozen people who will back that kind of a business,” she said. “I don’t know of anyone who wants it.”

Telephone calls seeking input from Natural Pork Production II LLP in Iowa were not immediately returned on Thursday.

Commissioners President Wilson said he planned to attend Thursday’s meeting.

“I want to hear what they have to say,” he said. “I’ve been getting a lot of phone calls about this business locating in Universal.”

Patricia Pastore can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or pat.pastore@tribstar.com.

        

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