Published: March 20, 2007 11:08 am            

More ways to say thank you in South Clinton

At last week’s Clinton City Council meeting, there was a closure of sorts. Not so much for the residents of South Clinton, who are upset about Archer Daniels Midland’s expansion, or the vacation of city streets, or the crumbling viaduct, or the loss of a city park that is being replaced, or the health problems they believe are being caused by ADM’s expansion, or, in some cases, an unfulfilled desire to sell their homes to ADM.

No, this closure comes in the form of a thank you from ADM Plant Manager Jim Woll to the Clinton City Council. Woll said at that time that after spending much time at council meetings, he had intended to watch the meeting from home. But last week, he said he felt compelled to comment because several people “mistakenly gave total credit to ADM for the decision to locate the proposed PHA Plastics operation west of South Fourth Street.”

“I neglected to remind the public that the decision was made after meetings with the city staff, the mayor and the council,” Woll said. “These meetings were held because of safety concerns expressed by the public and the council at the first public hearing that was held on this matter. The council urged us to consider several alternatives that would reduce traffic on residential streets.”

Woll said once the decision was made to leave South Fourth Street open, ADM officials concluded plant operations were best served by locating the load-out area on the west side of the street.

“Finally, I would like to add that from the first project consideration meeting to the last council meeting, the mayor and council have supported this project. I believe that she saw its value in terms of the property tax revenue that it would generate and the value that the new jobs would add to the city of Clinton,” Woll said. “I am certain that in all the meetings that were held, the mayor and council had the best interests of all the citizens of Clinton in mind as you made your decision.”

It was a proper and appropriate thank you and knowing that ADM’s growth — let alone its continued presence — will benefit the city as a whole will have us thanking ADM.

But in the meantime, more needs to be done for the residents by getting the proposed park in place, addressing and dealing with safety hazards and improving the viaduct. That also would be a thank you to the residents who remain in the area.

        

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