Lyon County commissioners are hoping that Fanestil Meats will be able to relocate their business in Lyon County but either way, the clock is ticking on a grant to turn the site of the company’s plant into green space in August 2011.
Commissioners discussed the FEMA grant during their Thursday action session. A FEMA grant was approved by Lyon County, which provides funding for the relocation of the Fanestil Meats plant (also known as S&S Quality Meats) to another site outside the flood plain.
Owners Dan and Jan Smoots initiated the conversation with the county to obtain the grant, said Lyon County Attorney Marc Goodman.
“This was originally initiated by the company,” Goodman said. “This was not initiated by the county. The county initiated the grant at their request.”
Dan Smoots said this morning that the process is moving along.
“We’re getting really close,” Smoots said. “We should be able to make a decision in the next few days. ... Once we have it confirmed we’ll make an announcement.”
To read complete story see the print edition or the online print edition.
booker5m (anonymous) says...
Been hearing they may leave Town
July 23, 2010 at 11:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oops (anonymous) says...
Fanestils told the city where they wanted to be (across from Prairieland Partners) and the city told them no we want you over here. Can't say they didn't try. If it were my business I'd head to either Chase or Coffey County. Much cheaper taxes.
July 23, 2010 at 1:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Wonder where the " Here " the City wants Fanestil is ?
It would seem that if whereever Fanestil wants to locate is of the proper zoning, whats the problem with Fanestil locating there ?
Just another case of the City or someone within the City trying to control yet another aspect of someones or a businesses way of where and how they do things ? hmmm, makes me wonder ?
No wonder the City of Emporia has trouble attracting and keeping jobs and businesses to and in Emporia .
July 23, 2010 at 1:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oops (anonymous) says...
Posted one month ago
By Chuck Samples/KVOE News
Fanestil Meats may indeed move out of the Cottonwood River flood plain. It may also move out of Emporia altogether in the process.
Negotiations have broken down between the business and the city of Emporia, according to Fanestil co-owner Dan Smoots. He tells KVOE News he'd like to relocate to Industrial Park No. 4 across Road "F" from PrairieLand Partners John Deere because of the growth potential, especially with agritourism. The city, though, wants to put Fanestil near Menu Foods in Industrial Park No. 3. Smoots says nearby odors at that location could affect the taste of its meat items.
There's another reason why negotiations have stalled. Emporia has certain employment baselines as part of its tax abatement policy, and Smoots can't guarantee Fanestil can reach them -- at least not initially. When Fanestil ultimately moves, Smoots anticipates reducing employees from the current number of 80 before expanding.
Smoots says he'd like Fanestil to stay "regional," but he's also considering all available options for the business.
Regional Development Association President Kent Heermann says city leaders were waiting for word from Smoots on the city's latest offer but would not comment further. RDA Chairman Jeff Longbine said they made an offer within the bounds of their authority to offer to Fanestil, but had not heard an acceptance or rejection
Fanestil had to shut down Tuesday afternoon and all day Wednesday because of flooding. They will work Thursday. Earlier this year, Fanestil got a $1.6 million grant to move out of its current location by August 2011 if it turned its current home into green space and abided by certain tax abatement policies.
Lyon County had recently applied to FEMA for a six-month extension to meet the grant requirements. The recent developments put that grant in question. Smoots says Fanestil may have to return the grant money.
News Director Jeff O’Dell contributed to this report.
July 23, 2010 at 1:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
If I were the city of Emporia I'd play really nice with Fanestil so they don't leave. I would consider that maybe the folks running the company would know better than me as to were a good location to relocate would be. If I were the city of Emporia I would realize that we have lost too many businesses and jobs and we don't need to lose any more, we can't afford it. But I am not the city of Emporia. I am only a law abiding(for what that is worth anymore) tax paying citizen(for what that is worth anymore) that works in one of our remaining industries. My opinion matters not, whether it makes sense or not.
July 23, 2010 at 1:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Blue_Dog (anonymous) says...
Seriously,
"Play Nice"
Lets see, Free Land (even though they already own 80 acres of useable land next to Ind tract 3). They will want IRB's with low or no interest to build plant. If we go to Ind. Tract 4 They want free utilities installed (Water, Sewer & Elec connections, none there yet) probably half a million to get to site. and then they will need better streets in the park. And then make all "real" property tax exempt for the next 10 years. For 80 jobs. Also as a "tax paying citizen" I'll pass. I'm in at fair and shared not this though.
July 23, 2010 at 2:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
Blue_Dog, you are right. There is much more to this than has been made public. I bet the RDA has/is doing all they can without "giving away the farm"
Edward McKernan
July 23, 2010 at 3:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dale011 (anonymous) says...
I work in ind park 3 and I don't believe there are unpleasant odors over here that would get in their products. Maybe after the new Hills plant gets running that could change.
July 23, 2010 at 3:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporian (anonymous) says...
80 jobs at 20k a year lets say is 1.6 million dollars a year in lost payroll (if my math is correct). They said something about expanding in the article too. How much is emporia willing to lose? Wouldn't we have to put streets and utility hook ups out there anyway for it to legitimately be called an industrial park?
July 23, 2010 at 4:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nks (anonymous) says...
Hills has spent a lot of money of devices that burn the exhaust coming out of the plant. These are expensive to run, but were installed as to not create an odor problem.
July 23, 2010 at 4:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SFIns (anonymous) says...
It sounds like the Smoot's dont want a processing plant in their front yard. That is why they are pushing so hard to go avoid relocating to industrial park 3.
July 23, 2010 at 4:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Joe (anonymous) says...
Smoots is wanting the world from the city. No taxes and the people of Emporia flipping the bill for everything. Industrial park 3 is set up for his operation and the other is not. He is also planning on modernizing the plant and cutting his work force by close to 30%. This means more people being laid off. I am not willing to pay him for that! The odor will hurt the taste of the meat?!? Give me a break. Quit being greedy...you are getting enough of the taxpayer's money with the FEMA grant, Lyon County, and the citizens of Emporia.
July 23, 2010 at 6:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I might be wrong but, just after Smoots received his grant the RDA jumped the average wage to 30,000 dollars. If we can't retain this fine company why vote for the one cent tax for economic development. The water project downtown is going way over costs and get ready for another jump in water rates. The city is using the water fund like the government uses social security to fund the government. It does not take 2 million dollars to manage the utility funds by their own admission.
July 23, 2010 at 8:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Accordingly to agricultural doctors, odors can effect the taste of meat.
July 23, 2010 at 8:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
d23_66801 (anonymous) says...
last i heard they were gonna move the plant around topeka.
July 23, 2010 at 8:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tbluma (anonymous) says...
At the vey least (if I were Fanestil's) I'd move outside of the three mile zoning area that Emporia has.
Do you people even have an idea of what it costs to build something with Emporia telling you how to do it vs the county or some other city?
July 23, 2010 at 10:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
Dan we do want to retain Fanestil in E-TOWN. Hope you and the city can come to an agreement soon that works for both, love the bacon.
July 24, 2010 at 8:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BigGuy (anonymous) says...
There are some realities about Fanestil's and Smoot one should consider. He has had offers to move elsewhere that would be very lucrative to the bottom line. However, those offers mean leaving Emporia and Lyon County. Thus, it is doubtful many employees would follow. As a result, he has put these offers aside, due to his beliefs that maintaining a stable, experienced work force that understand and care about the product they produce is key to corporate quality and in turn success. However, previous efforts to find locations locally have been shot down or stymied by local government(s).
At some point Smoot knows the business must relocate. He knows if he stays where he is at the future of the company is at risk (growth is limited, and a catastrophic flood would end it). So, I hope the city and county understand what is at risk and work with him to keep the jobs. For if this small business goes (with its excellent growth potential), it takes with it not only its payroll, but impacts the business climate at a time where the community can little afford to lose more jobs that will never return.
July 25, 2010 at 3:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
The problem is there are those, both on the City Commission and County Commission and those who have, what may be undue influence, over both local government entities, who wish to influence, control every aspect of not only the private citizens lives, in the City and County, but who also wish to control every aspect of the business life of businesses in the City and Lyon County . And you either do it their way or hit the highway, no compromising allowed.
July 25, 2010 at 3:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
The governing bodies of both the City and County, it seems, would rather spend money on uneeded frills and items, than to spend money to try or compromise to save a long time local business and jobs .
How many businesses or companies, that are looking for a place to locate or relocate, do you suppose, would sit up and take notice of a Community and County that would do what is needed to save a long time local business and the peoples jobs that are employeed by that business ?
I know if I owned a business or was head of a corporation and was looking for a place to locate, that sort of thing would sure get my attention, even more so than whether the City Entrances were landscaped and beautiful or if some of the housing was a little run down or whether the local law enforcement had new vehicles every year or two. I would also be looking real hard at the sales tax and property tax rate, quality of education, problems with the education, how much money those in charge of education spent unnecessarily, etc., as that would also dictate what kind of a living wage, above standard wage for the area, I would have to pay my employees, in order to them to want to stay, work and live.
July 25, 2010 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
There aren' t many business that have been in Emporia, longer than Fanestil's .
It would be a shame to lose Fanestil' s because of a case of uncompromising " Stubborness " .
July 25, 2010 at 4:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
The, actions of the City and County, reaching a compromise with Fanistels, to save the business and 80 jobs ... may just be the type of news worthy event that may just causeother businesses and industries to desire or want to move/locate/relocate or at least take a serious look a community or area that cares about the businesses and corporations and jobs of and for the people and may just start a " Growth " boone/era the likes of which, Emporia, Lyon County have never seen before . Its a gamble, but I believe its a gamble worth of taking and it will definately save a long time local business and jobs. And I have seen the City and County take riskier gambles that failed miserably.
I would even seriously consider voting in favor of a sales tax extension if some of the tax extension money were to be used to help save Fanestil and 80 taxpayers jobs. Now that would be a worthy cause to spend tax money on.
July 25, 2010 at 4:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
toofast (anonymous) says...
Why can't they just build a dyke around Fanestil? It seems to me that would be alot less expensive even if they have to raise up the road going to it.
July 25, 2010 at 6:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporian (anonymous) says...
A dyke still doesn't change the fact that it is in a flood plain. We all saw how that worked out for New Orleans.
July 25, 2010 at 8:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
They should just move to Americus and change their name to Breckenridge Fine Meats as a historically themed snub to whoever is making life hard for them in Emporia. I bet their taxes would be lower over in Cottonwood Falls too. Chase County would be more than happy to have such a fine business move into town.
July 25, 2010 at 9:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Mr. Smoots HAS to do what is best for his company. If that means moving to Coffey county, so be it.
People in Emporia and Lyon County will still be able to enjoy their products if they want to.
July 26, 2010 at 2:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Maybe the next time a business want's the county to help them with a grant process, they will get some long-term plans from the business and city 1st?
July 26, 2010 at 2:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
brightliner (anonymous) says...
What "admired said below is right on! Cuss the "City, County and RDA" all you want, but they have bent over backwards to help Fanestil, but sometimes those "needing" help just want more than is possible.
"admireed (anonymous) says...
Blue_Dog, you are right. There is much more to this than has been made public. I bet the RDA has/is doing all they can without "giving away the farm"
Edward McKernan
What has been or can be "made public" is the interesting part. Maybe the owner in this discussion should make public exactly what he's been offered. Many, me thinks, would be surprised how generous the offers have been!
July 26, 2010 at 5:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Methusla,
The decision has already been made and they will be leaving the county. I don't think it was a case of stuborness on anyones part, both sides did what they could do and no deal was reached.
But hey, Lyon county will have some more green space, (no more property taxes).
Sometimes things just don't work out like we want.
July 26, 2010 at 7:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Well, I guess there may have been an amount of stubborness on both sides, one wanting more than could be given and one placing demands on the other as to the location, with no chance of a compromise from either side. Oh well, that sort of uncompromising " stubborness " goes on everyday, even in the highest negotiations in the country and world . " Sae la vie "
" No more property taxes " for whom ?
I may be wrong, but I am sure you, Steve, meant, " no more property taxes collected from Fanestil for the county, etc.. But I will bet my bottom " red cent ", because that is all I can afford " , that the County will make up for the lost tax revenue, by passing the make up of lost tax revenue on to the people or someone else. Isn' t that the way things work around here ?
Only thing is, I have been wondering . Fanestil and the Smoots, wanted to locate in the area of Prairieland Partners, right. I was just wondering if Fanestil locating there and the fact that any, possible, unpleasant odors eminating from Fanistel and wafting toward the East/North East, you know toward the all ready established and hopefully future " Kings and Queens " section of " Camelot " might not have had a big influence in some of the stuborness from at least one side of the situation !
Remember the big " brew-ha-ha from a particular area when the anouncement about Lowes wanting to build in that particular area near the King and Queens section of Camelot. God forebid, that anything should be built or established in or near that section of Camelot that may just decrease property values there . Even if it may benefit Emporia by way of more jobs and revenue or even, maybe just maybe, help to lower everyones taxes and tax burden. That ever happening, woud be such a travesty, it would destroy Emporia, wouldn' t it ?
I will say no more, except I am still voting " NO " on the sales tax extension. Unless the City, RDA and others decide to wait until the present sales tax extension is about to " sunset / expire " and there is some sort of City Budget made available to the public and there is a long range, detailed plan, for the use of sales tax monies made available to the public, so the taxpayers can see, exactly where the City, County and those who influence City and County money spending decisions are wanting to spend our/taxpayer money . Exactly what is the hurry to vote on a sales tax extension and why all the proposed spending " secrecy " !
July 26, 2010 at 7:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE THE ELECTION?
July 26, 2010 at 9:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joecitizen (anonymous) says...
what is the big deal about running services to Ind park 4? wouldn't that make that park just that much more attractive to other new industry coming to town, if they didn't have to fight that battle with the city? besides, look at all the money we wasted on the possibilty of a chance that lowes and some restaurants might come to town. if they wanna be out that way, get the hell out of the way and let em do it. Remember the choices our comissioners have made, in the next election.
July 27, 2010 at 11:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )