From WATTAgNet:
Three Kansas state legislators have scheduled a public forum to hear concerns about Tyson Foods’ plans to build a poultry complex in the community of Tonganoxie.
Tyson Foods, on September 5, announced its plans to build a $320 million poultry complex, which will include a processing plant, hatchery and feed mill near Tonganoxie. The complex is expected to employ 1,600 people and process about 1.25 million chickens per week.
Tyson Foods has estimated that the payroll and payments to farmers from the new operation, along with its purchase of grain and utilities, would generate an annual economic benefit to the state of $150 million.
The plans for the plant were hailed by Gov. Sam Brownback, Tonganoxie Mayor Jason Ward and Leavenworth County Administrator Mark Loughry. However, the plans have not been welcomed by all in Tonganoxie and Leavenworth County. Some have expressed worries about the Kansas poultry plant’s environmental impact, the effect the influx on new jobs seen as relatively low-paying to some will have on the community’s character, and how the deal to locate a plant came about.
The forum has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. September 15 at the VFW Hall in Tonganoxie.
The lawmakers to co-host the forum are Sen. Tom Holland, Rep. Jim Karleskint and Willie Dove. Holland, a Democrat, was a candidate for governor in 2010, having been defeated in the general election by Brownback. Karleskint and Dove are both Republicans.
Lawmakers schedule forum to hear concerns on controversial Tyson poultry plant
Three state lawmakers who represent portions of Leavenworth County have scheduled a public forum to hear community concerns about plans by Tyson Foods Inc. to build a $320 million poultry processing plant south of Tonganoxie. Democratic Sen.Tom Holland, of Baldwin City, along with Republican Reps. Jim Karleskint, of Tonganoxie, and Willie Dove, of Bonner Springs, will co-host the forum.
