Staff Writer

Why is the State of South Carolina preparing to issue hundreds of millions of dollars in bonds for the proposed ethanol plant in Carlisle?

That question was raised by Charles Jeter during a public hearing Wednesday on the proposed issuance of up to $125 million in revenue bonds by the South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority (JEDA). Jeter said the bonds were described in a public notice as being used for “certain solid waste facilities and sewage treatment facilities to be acquired, constructed and equipped.” He said the description was too vague.

“I ask that you delay action on approval of the bonds until these items are satisfactorily resolved,” he said. “More detail is needed on these facilities and what is being acquired. There is no record or knowledge at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control of these facilities.”

The notice, published in the Sept. 19 edition of The Union Daily Times, states that the revenue from the bonds will be loaned to the proposed plant's owner, Osage Bio Energy. The solid waste and disposal and sewage treatment facilities acquired, built and equipped with the money will be used “for pelletizing barley hulls and for processing a waste by-product of ethanol known as ‘stillage' into animal feed.”

The proposed Congaree Bio Energy LLC plant will be South Carolina's first ethanol production facility. The $161.5 million facility is expected to employ 75 people in the annual production of 68.2 million gallons of ethanol. When the plant was announced in July, officials said animal feed would be a co-product of the ethanol production process.

Supervisor Donnie Betenbaugh said that Union County Council could not take any action on the matter - it is all in the hands of JEDA. Betenbaugh said the hearing was held by the county at the request of JEDA to give people an opportunity to comment on the proposal. He said that he and council had no further knowledge about the bonds or their intended use than what was provided in the notice.

Jeter said he plans to take the matter before JEDA.

Though they welcome the economic investment the plant represents, Jeter and a number of other Carlisle area residents have expressed concerns about problems they say the plant could cause. Jeter, a former DHEC and EPA official, has raised questions about carbon dioxide emissions, noise and odors generated by the plant as well as truck traffic to and from the facility.

Grant awarded

Betenbaugh announced that the county had been awarded $40,000 by the S.C. Community Grants Committee. The money, issued by the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, will be used to partially fund the construction and furnishings of the children's playground at the Timken Sports Complex.

The grant was obtained through the efforts of District 17 State Sen. Linda Short, who retiring at the end of her term this year.

“It's a pleasant surprise to receive $40,000 to go toward the complex,” he said. “Sen. Short has always supported Union County and shown compassion for the needs of our citizens.”

Appointments

Council voted unanimously to Arthur Jordan and Ronald Williams to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission. Marie Whitener, Ellis Jenkins and Ellen Chamber were appointed to the Fire Board for the Carlisle Fire District.

Ordinances

Council also voted unanimously to approve: