Yummy! Tastes like rusty nails!
TJN Enterprises, a metal recycling operation is planning to move their operation near the city’s aquifer, and this move is being appealed at Monday’s city council meeting, Item #11 (citizen appeal);
STORMLAND TV did a story about it. Mike Cooper commented;
We checked with the city, and the Director of Planning and Building Services said Harkless may be referencing a county ordinance.
“The city sometime ago amended our ordinances. We changed the definition of a salvage yard to a salvage operation. We made that as an allowed use,” Director of Planning and Building Services Mike Cooper said.
See the Big Sioux Aquifer map.
A South DaCola foot soldier sent me this;
The appellant owns the house/land across the road from the proposed TJN site, which happened to be the “first†preferred site for the relocated railroad switchyard. As you review the shallow Aquifer map … the latest proposed/relocated site for the Railroad Switchyard near Brandon is northeast of the TJN site, and directly over a large portion of the aquifer. I have to think this will become a sticking point in that matter, even if it has no impact on Monday night’s Council vote on the TJN relocation decision. At least the appellant is forcing the Council to weigh in on this, and making them aware of the aquifer issue in that vicinity as the Railroad matter moves forward. A public hearing is expected next month. Expect a large turnout from Brandon.
IMO, the city is just trying to get TJN off of their backs. After they were denied space in the old stockyards location (which I thought was a perfect place for them) because Vern ‘The Velvet Hammer’ Brown was concerned about a scrap yard so close to Falls Park (Never mind their is a polluting, stinky, slaughter house across the road!) Cooper vowed to do anything to help TJN find a different location (I kind of wonder if their wasn’t some idle threats going on from TJN?) Either way, I am not opposed to switching yards and scrap yards on the outskirts of town, I am however concerned that it may pollute our water. Not cool.
City of Sioux Falls’ wells are all NORTH of town – a long ways before the water in that aquifer (the under ground part of the river – it flows along just like the river – under ground) would be exposed to any possible leeching from TJN. In addition, site preparation methods would be required such that an impermeable compacted clay layer would underly the entire operation. That area being a flood plain and an aquifer means that the Corps of Engineers, EPA, and DNR will all be involved in reviewing and approving the plans as well. This goes way beyond the city or county approving anything. They are only the first step. Things aren’t done like they were in the old days when salvage yards were just plopped down on whatever surface ground was there when they start up.
Ruf – Thanks for clarifying that. I kinda wondered. I still think though that this is being ramrodded thru to make good with TJN. They kind of got handed the shaft on the stockyards deal, not just by the city but by the person owning the land. It probably also didn’t sit well that Xcel got a portion of that land but it wasn’t good enough for recycling. As far as I am concerned, as long as JM’s sits where sit, nothing ‘pretty’ or ‘appealing’ in the way of business will ever be developing in that area, that is why I thought it was a perfect spot for TJN.
Despite the ugliness of Morrell – there is quite a bit of housing in that area. Better not to compound the existing ugliness of all the industrial truck/rail traffic and smells and noises with still more of the same. better to move it out of town, into an area that will never develop a lot of housing nearby (due to being a flood plain, former nuclear power plant, interstate corridor, rail corridor etc.).
So there is a difference between Xcel owning the property and putting a fence around it and landscaping, to TJN owning the property and putting a fence around it and landscaping?
Even if JM’s left tomorrow, it would take millions of dollars and years before you could ever influence a different kind of development in that area. You may be right about putting a scrap yard outside of town, but let’s not kid ourselves about the old stockyard’s site, they ain’t building a McKennan Park there anytime soon.
The aquafer map is informational. Many of us should sink our own well to escape city water prices and inferior quality. They can’t stop you because (code 2-66) they can’t take you to court. Hence, they have no performance or lien authority.