Coke plant debate rages
Proponents and opponents rally support prior to May 6 meeting.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Just days before Middletown City Council votes on the rezoning of 157 acres for a controversial $340 million coke plant, battle lines are being drawn by proponents and opponents of the proposed project.
SunCoke Energy, of Knoxville, Tenn., wants to build, own and operate a 100-oven cokemaking and heat recovery plant on a plot of land just off Ohio 4. The project hinges on City Council's approval of a rezoning request, which would change the land from low density residential to industrial.
Extras
Bill Triick, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, sent an e-mail to chamber members Thursday, May 1, urging them to contact Council with statements of support for the coke plant before the meeting Tuesday.
"Your support is very important, appreciated and critical to make sure our elected Council members are aware of your thoughts on this important jobs growth and retention project for the short- and long-term viability of, specifically, our local steelmaking capability and its related supporting vendor partnerships and, in general, for the enrichment of economic development for the region," Triick said in the e-mail.
Meanwhile, opponents of the project – many of whom are Monroe homeowners living near the proposed site — also want people to contact Council members to express their concerns about how the plant might affect their health and property values. They are rallying support through their Web site, www.StayInsideTheFence.com, and they are organizing a prayer vigil at 8 p.m. Monday at Truth Tabernacle, 6879 Hamilton-Middletown Road.
SunCoke and AK Steel Corp. have signed a 20-year agreement — pending local, state and federal regulatory approvals — that would make AK the exclusive customer for the coke and electricity produced by the new plant.
The project would create 70 to 80 permanent jobs and an estimated 500 construction jobs with an estimated $65 million payroll.
Council will consider the request as an emergency ordinance, and if six Council members agree, the rezoning would be effective immediately. Councilman David Schiavone must abstain from voting because his brother, Frank Schiavone, is one of the homeowners opposing the plant.
The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. in the lower level of the City Building, One Donham Plaza.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or erichter@coxohio.com.
