LETTER: No thanks to BOC for bringing feed mill

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LETTER: No thanks to BOC for bringing feed mill

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Letter to the Editor

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Thursday, November 12. 2009

Comments (16)

Dear Editor:

In response to the Madison County Industrial Development and Building Authority’s report to the commissioners: “We want to thank the board of commissioners for all you have done to help bring this industry [Columbia Farms] to Madison County.”

Yes commissioners, thank you for the stench, the noise, and the dust and smoke coming from the plant. Thank you for the excessive light fading out our view of the night sky. Thank you for the dangerous traffic situation you’ve created on Sims Kidd road and the excessive “jake-braking” 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Not to mention, that by routing the truck traffic on our county roads, we will be spending our county tax dollars on up-keeping Columbia Farm’s “driveway” in perpetuity.

Thank you for disregarding the reputation of Columbia Farm/Raeford House, which has been under several investigations, ranging from their treatment of injured workers to immigration violations. Yes commissioners, thank you for paving the way for this fine company, in spite of large turnouts at the public meetings where dissenters heavily outnumbered those in favor of the feed mill. Please do not do us any more favors.

Sincerely,

Kevin Leftwich

Comer

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#1 Anonymous on 11/12/09 at 08:05 AM [Reply]

progress must be made in madison county and its not going to make everybody happy. If we dont have places like this come in then we would have to raise taxes even more, then you would complain about that. If you haven't figured out by now government does what it wants and does not apologize. One thing is for sure this one letter will never make a difference. Further more if you were in agri business you would feel alot different. We should just accept what is and thank god we have a place giving people jobs and paying taxes to madison county.

#2 Anonymous on 11/12/09 at 10:07 AM [Reply]

Dear Mr. Leftwich,
I understand your turmoil and can agree with you concerning some of these issues. Unfortunately, the taxpayers in MC can not take much more. The downturn in the economy has forced Trust Joist out of business, sales are down in the construction business, etc. The bills must be paid. Although, I do not agree with the commissioners the majority of the time, this time, I think they had no choice.
We MUST adhere together and market our county for industrial developments. It is obvious that businesses are "scared" to come into our county due to the opposition of the citizens.
I do not want my mill rate to jump up to the Clarke County rates (33+) so, in laymans terms, I guess you are going to have to take this one for the "team".

#3 Aggie on 11/12/09 at 12:47 PM [Reply]

Thanks, commissioners. The vast majority of us are glad you brought this valuable agricultural and economic resource to our agricultural farming community.

To those who don't like Madison County's agricultural economy: you should have done your research before moving here, and in any case, you are free to leave. Gwinnett County and Atlanta will welcome those of your ilk.

#3.1 C&M on 11/13/09 at 07:01 PM [Reply]

If you prefer factories to dove fields, then perhaps you, belong in Gwinnett county.

#4 Anonymous on 11/12/09 at 08:53 PM [Reply]

FYI, the big white cloud coming out of the top of the mill is steam, not smoke.

#5 jimb on 11/13/09 at 11:55 AM [Reply]

i googled this company and found that there was a settlement made by the company to avoid prosecution for hiring illegal immigrants.
not sure i want a company of this sort in my county.
most of the replies to the original posting seem to advocate "tax income at any cost". what drivel.
i could care less about Madison County's agricultural economy, who's to say it has to stay such? let's look for good, legal, upstanding economic partners.
i've lived in madison county for 60+ years and don't intend to move. i daresay there are plenty of my "ilk" out there.

#5.1 Anonymous on 11/13/09 at 07:20 PM [Reply]

Settlement means what it says - "it's settled."

It also means the prosecution settled because they knew they had a case they couldn't prove.

#6 Anonymous on 11/13/09 at 01:36 PM [Reply]

Poultry Farm Fined $1.5 Million for Hiring Illegals
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
The House of Raeford Farms must pay a $1.5 Million fine and overhaul its hiring practices under an agreement that will allow a subsidiary to avoid prosecution on federal immigration charges.

The deal will also let two indicted managers at the poultry company’s Greenville, SC plant avoid criminal records, provided they enter a probationary program.

The settlement signed by federal prosecutors and company officials just hours before the case was set for trial Tuesday, gives the employer’s subsidiary, Columbia Farms, an opportunity to keep its record clean. It likely ends a legal clash that could have cost the company millions of dollars in federal poultry contracts. Last year, Columbia Farms was charged with intentionally hiring illegal immigrants.

#6.1 Chase on 11/28/09 at 11:55 PM [Reply]

What about fieldale farms I worked there in the CQ department and was instructed to tell all illegal mexicans they could leave if they had word ICE was coming for up to 3 days and come back and still have a job many times we had to tell the Illegals ICE was coming and not to come to work. WERE is the justice. You can not get Americans to work to average pay for a company to make money. Get read of wellfare and make people work I think if someone is on wellfare or unemployment they should be on a road crew 2 to 3 days a week earning that money see how fast they find a job.

#6.1.1 Anonymous on 11/29/09 at 10:07 PM [Reply]

I agree. You should get a month of unemployment. After that, you should have to do some number of hours of community service to get unemployment. Crazy to just keep giving money to people who don't want to work, or who don't want to work at a job that pays less that what they had or that they feel is "beneath" them.

#7 Anonymous on 11/14/09 at 09:56 AM [Reply]

Looks to me like Madison County is wanting an industrial economy and leaving agg behind. If we stay on this course, we soon will be like Gwinnett County.

#7.1 Anonymous on 11/17/09 at 03:39 PM [Reply]

Call it what you will. I do not see the AG community coming together and paying my 300.00 tax bill that came in the mail on Friday. As a matter of fact, there is a AG foreclosure in the paper this week. So, to say the AG is carrying Madison County, well, I would say, show me some statistics.

#8 billy on 11/18/09 at 03:52 PM [Reply]

Agg is so hard to make a living in cows are down to 300 a head. Poultry is down and the cost to operate is going up. Loans are harder for people to get to upgrade there chicken houses as required by companies. My point is we have to do something look at the numbers.

The number of free lunches and people on medicaid is going threw the roof. We have to find a way to bring work to this area no matter what kind it is before our crime rate goes threw the roof and our taxes skyrocket. History shows the more people out of work the worse crime gets. Plus with 2.50 gas jobs in commerce and athens that only pay minimum wage are not feasible in a week gas would cost more then you would get paid.

#8.1 Dan on 11/29/09 at 10:10 PM [Reply]

Move to Athens closer to the job. Folks have to stop thinking they can live out in the country and drive 25-50 miles to work. Wastes gas. Wastes time.

#9 Anonymous on 11/20/09 at 11:27 AM [Reply]

I don't see how we (Madison County tax payers) are benefitting from this so called agg industry. First, nothing being used there comes from our county and their trucks are registered in SC. They may as well be making Barbie doll heads. Second, Madison County is maintaining about 2 miles of Columbia Farms' driveway (because according to GADOT, Columbia Farms did not want to pay for upgrading highway 72)and are working on Cooper, Russell, and Sims Kidd roads, grading or patching holes, at least three times a week. This must be costing us a fortune.

#10 Anonymous on 11/29/09 at 08:36 AM [Reply]

Well, #8 Billy said it all. The cost of cattle is going down and the operating expenses are going up. Which tells me that people are looking for outside means to make a living than farming, right?
Then why should I have a higher tax bill because they chose to farm part time and receive conservation status.
The AG business is not feasible due to the ecnonmy. It is cheaper for you to go to Walmart and purchase your meat, eggs,etc.
Lets face economics here people, the mom and pop farms are being dismantled just like the mom and pop retailers. We need INDUSTRY in this county or an another source of revenue.

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