Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

Residents raise stink over manure digester

By William Kincaid
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

Resident Tom Fleck asks council members to further research manure digesters at the regular city council meeting on Monday night. Several other concerned citizens addressed opposition to the proposed private manure digester in Celina.

CELINA - Several residents on Monday spoke out against a proposed private manure/algae digester planned for city land.
During a packed city council meeting, Janis Tindall read a written statement and said she had 500 signatures from concerned residents in the southwest part of town.
"As manure comes to Celina, so does smell, traffic, noise, plus methane gas and other toxic by-products," she read.
Tindall said the decision could have a long-range negative impact on Celina and its residents and could jeopardize property values, safety and overall living quality.
"We respectfully request that you take no action until the use of this technology has been proven," she said. "A number of companies are working on manure digesters with federal funding, but additional research is necessary before an educated decision can be made on a project of this magnitude. With more information, the citizens can decide if they want a manure digester in their back yard."
Optional Energy Partners of Florida wants to construct a manure/algae digester on 60 acres of land along Meyer Road the city intends to purchase for the creation of the Celina Renewable Energy Center. On Monday, the city approved first reading of the land purchase and already has agreed to purchase the power from Optional Energy Partners.
Discussions have been ongoing for several months, but detractors just started showing up at recent council meetings.
Susan Rausch said she has lived on the west side of town for 41 years. Properties there already sell for less - anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 - than the east side of town, she said.
"Let's put it on the east side of town," she said.
Tom Fleck, who had spoken out at a past meeting, provided council members with an article revealing drawbacks of digesters. He asked them to read up before the next meeting.
"Please look at this. Dig into it further," he said to council.
Nancy Wheeler also said she is against the idea.
"This project sounds like the blue goose (former failed city power plant) on steroids," she said.
Doug Giesige once again told of his trip to the Hooley Digester at the Port of Tillamook Bay, Oregon, where he said there was no smell except in one spot.
"Everything is enclosed," he said, adding manure digesters don't use cutting edge technology.
Giesige - the only resident supporting the digester at the meeting - said he lives close to a grain mill that releases smells and believes odors are a part of living in small towns.
Council president Jason King eventually cut off the discussion and asked residents not to piggyback on questions already asked.
The public will have another chance to express its views at a special council meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at council chambers in city hall.
Celina Planning and Community Development Director Kent Bryan - who pointed out that he recently met with some of the neighbors for more than three hours - told council he will give an overview of the project and its ultimate goals of cleaning up the lake and the city's drinking water.
Additional online story on this date
ST. MARYS - St. Marys residents have been reaching out to those in their sister city, Awaji City, Japan, ready to offer aid following Friday's devastating earthquake and tsunami. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Wangler trial
LIMA - Jurors in the aggravated murder case of Dr. Mark Wangler will begin deliberations today following closing arguments from prosecution and defense attorneys.
CELINA - Two ordinances to allow private companies to produce renewable energy on land the city plans to purchase were tabled by council members Monday night.
ST. HENRY - Newly-hired acting village administrator Ron Gelhaus said at least $4,970 worth of damage was sustained to area homes and businesses following heavy rainfall Feb. 28.
St. Marys
ST. MARYS - Two weeks after floodwaters surged through the city, officials are still assessing the damage.
The St. Marys River crested at 860 feet
COLDWATER - The village's storm sewer and wastewater system couldn't handle the 3.5 inches of rainfall that slammed the village two weeks ago, villag
MINSTER - Minster school board members narrowed the number of superintendent candidates from five to two, with the next round of interviews taking place Saturday.
John W. Coile, 45, Huber Heights, was arrested at his home Monday in connection with a theft that occurred at the Celina Walmart Supercenter earlier this month.
The city of Celina was left in the dark Friday evening after a Dayton Power & Light transmission line failed to supply power.
"DP&L dropped the who
LEXINGTON - Imagine Woody Hayes in maize and blue, or Mickey Mantle sporting Boston Red Sox red, or Michael Jordan in Boston Celtics' green.
The reaction to those sights would have likely been an equivalent to the first time that Al Summers put on a purple shirt.
All-West Ohio High School Bowling Conference
Coldwater bowlers swept the top honors as the West Ohio High School Bowling Conference held its annual banquet on Sunday at Romers in Celina. Top pro
A number of area swimmers and divers received honors as the Lima Area Swim Coaches Association (LASCA) handed out All-Lima Area selections.
Celina'