By Dewey Terrill
Kelsey Mann took her concerns about a proposed slaughterhouse to the Junction City Commission Tuesday evening. There is a proposal to locate that type of facility on the southwest edge of Junction City, but city and county leaders have made it clear that no final action is near at this time.
Mann said she and her husband just purchased seven acres in the Liberty Hall Road area less than a mile from the proposed slaughterhouse. "We feel completely blind sided because we've been working on this project for about a year." She also noted that the city commission has also been aware of this project for about a year. "I am very upset because this is going to affect my kids quality of life, it's going to cost the city a ridiculous amount of money, and potentially annex us into the city which is exactly what we did not want to do." Mann added that they purchased county land because they do not want to pay city taxes, which is something that they cannot afford.
Mann said all the neighbors she has spoken with are against the project, and they feel the City is not looking out for them. She pointed out city officials have signed a legal agreement to protect this company but noted "your job is to protect us citizens." She asked where the City is at in the process.
Mayor Jeff Underhill responded by explaining officials are in the very preliminary phases of the project. "Nothing is coming to town yet, nothing could still come to town. We're doing our due diligence on behalf of the community and the citizens, the neighbors." Underhill added that he didn't "want a smelly slaughterhouse in our community either. However, it is our job to look and try and add jobs, and grow our community. So that's where we're at right now, looking to grow." Underhill said they're not at the point where they're making an announcement or bringing in a slaughterhouse, and are doing due diligence to see if there are other opportunities for growth in Junction City.
Numerous local residents opposed to the slaughterhouse proposal recently attended a meeting at the 4-H / Senior Center.