By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
There is a desire to know if the slaughterhouse project that was proposed on the southwest edge of Junction City is on or off the table. During discussion Tuesday night about the possibility of a nearby Taylor Road interchange project off of I-70 city commissioners heard some comments that it is not on the table, but there were lingering questions.
Commissioner Richard Pinaire urged City Manager Allen Dinkel to inquire of the EDC president to verify what has been said about the slaughterhouse. "If it is in fact off the table completely. I think the public needs to know and people have asked for that."
City Manager Allen Dinkel said that he would direct the request to EDC Director Mickey Fornaro-Dean and would let her address it. Pinaire responded. "I think Mickey needs to address it."
There has been strong opposition to the slaughterhouse by many in the community. On Tuesday night State Representative Nate Butler said that he hoped retail or light industry would replace it.
On the Taylor Road project Deanna Munson expressed concern. She wanted to know why more than $41 million would be spent to put together a project that may or may not be good for Junction City. Much of the funding would come from KDOT but the local match share for the city on the project including nearby road improvements related to the interchange would be about $15 million.
No final action has been taken on the interchange project.