Offering incentives instead of asking for them says all we need to know

Dear Editor:

I am both interested in and concerned about the proposed McKowns Mountain landfill project.

Based on my previous experience as a city administrator where I directed community and economic development activities as well as solid waste collection and disposal operations for two municipalities, I am concerned about the negative impact this facility will have on the county's quality of life and its future economic development activities.

Cherokee County has many positive qualities to attract industries which offer clean, high-paying jobs for our workforce. Its location at the mid-point between Charlotte and Greenville puts the county in an enviable position to attract industries desiring to locate in the Upstate area. Also, other positive qualities are an interstate highway, a main line railroad, a transcontinental gas pipeline and the Broad River, all of which traverse Cherokee County. We are also located between two major airports and are working toward having our own airport. We have a good workforce and training facilities in place to prepare our people for new jobs that come into the county.

Cherokee County also has two hydroelectric power generation plants; two power generation plants fueled by clean natural gas and a new clean and efficient nuclear power generation plant underway. There is also a modern clean, coal power generation plant under construction across the state line near Cliffside, N.C. These large-capacity plants negate any need for a small power plant that uses methane gas derived from decomposing solid waste materials to generate electric power.

All of the above provide Cherokee County with attractive characteristics that strongly support the county's economic development program. We need to be careful not to do something that takes away from these positive aspects of our county.

The undesirable aspects of having a regional waste disposal facility as the centerpiece of Cherokee County's economic development program needs no elaboration. The 300, oneyear temporary construction jobs and 42 permanent mid- to lower-scale jobs may sound enticing to some, but at what price as it relates to future economic development in the county? A substantial percentage of both the temporary and permanent jobs are likely to be filled with people from other nations instead of Cherokee County residents.

When industry is considering locating in the Upstate and the western North Carolina region, Cherokee County must compete with Spartanburg, York, Cleveland, Rutherfordton and other nearby counties. I understand Spartanburg County rejected this facility, York County rejected a small private landfill and North Carolina has a moratorium on new landfills. Does Cherokee County want to be the dumping ground for industry in our neighboring counties do not want?

Some of the good industries recruited by Cherokee County asked for and were given incentives to locate here. According to reports, this company is offering Cherokee County incentives if it will allow them to build their facility here. While some may find their offer attractive, offering incentives instead of asking for them says all we need to know about this project. They may call it 3Cycle, Tricycle or Motorcycle, but that does not change the fact it is still a waste disposal facility that will have many negative impacts on Cherokee County, its residents and quality of life, as well as its future economic development program. Cherokee County is a great place to live, so let's keep it that way. Sincerely, James H. Keller, M.ASCE Gaffney, S.C.