By Sharon Michael, The Chronicle, 2/26/98
Port of Centralia and Centralia city officials were taken to task in absentia Thursday night by area residents who gathered to discuss concerns about plans to build a chicken-processing plant on port-owned property
Many longtime residents were among the participants who listed water pollution, diminished property values, increased flooding, low wages, and increased traffic as problems they fear will come with construction of a new plant that eventually would employ about 300 workers.
'' My biggest concern is the water,'' said Fords Prairie resident Laura McGowan
She fears private wells on Fords Prairie will be contaminated by a drop in the water table owing to the plant's demands
McGowan said she couldn't get her questions answered by county, city or port officials
Mark Miller, local businessman and a recent port commissioner candidate, is most concerned that elected officials aren't responding to citizens' questions
'' Because most of them are answerable,'' he said
'' How do we get the attention of our local officials? asked John Regan, developer of Centralia's outlet malls and the Centralia Square Antique Mall
Regan and Fords Prairie resident Wendy Tripp organized Wednesday night's meeting, held in a coffee shop in one of the outlet malls
'' Elected officials will respond if enough people ask questions,'' said Leon Bowman, former city councilor and planning committee member. '' We have a right as citizens to ask questions and get answers.?
Regan criticized the port for keeping negotiations with Draper Valley Farms, a Mount Vernon company, under wraps until last summer
At that time, it was announced the city and the port were sponsoring a state loan for infrastructure needs at the proposed plant site
Regan said he wants to know how the community will benefit from Draper Valley locating in Centralia. He said the industry has a bad record nationally regarding working conditions, injury rates and sewage disposal
'' These issues have not been addressed in public forums,'' he said
But Regan said the debate is not about Draper Valley Farms, which, he concedes, has a good reputation. He said the community should consider if it wants the poultry-processing industry in Centralia
'' We've got to develop a community marketing strategy, which we have done here in retail,'' he added
Regan acknowledged some people have questioned his criticism of Draper Valley's wages. Regan's critics say he fears retail employees will quit for higher paying production jobs
But Regan said that is not a concern. '' My agenda is what's good for this county.''
Jeannie Crocker, part-time outlet mall sales clerk and partner in a Toledo chicken farm, said she understands why people have questions about the proposed plant's location.
But she rebuffed criticism of Draper Valley's wage rates - workers make $8.53 an hour after nine months - compared to the many current $7-an-hour manufacturing jobs in Lewis County
'' I don't make that when I work here on weekends,'' she added
'' Obviously I'm biased toward a processing plant coming to Lewis County,'' conceded Rod Crocker
The Crocker family grows chickens for Draper Valley. Crocker said it seemed people were as concerned with the location of the port as with the prospect of Draper Valley coming to the port
'' I would hate to see people chase Draper Valley out of Lewis County,'' said Pat Underhill, carpenters union business agent
'' We need the jobs - and there are chicken growers here.''
Regan and Tripp plan to meet 10 a.m. Friday with other interested citizens at the International News (Lakeside Cafe), 138 W. High St., Centralia, to produce a list of questions for city officials
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