Editorial: Is there another way?

Watching the give and take, back and forth, and attack and counter-attack between opponents of a proposed biodiesel plant, opponents of the opponents, and the Iredell County government, which approved a request to rezone farmland for the controversial plant, is starting to get interesting, boring or exciting, depending on your viewpoint.

It’s interesting to those of us who love local politics.It’s boring to those who don’t have a dog in the fight and those who have no plans on living anywhere McLain Farms, although it shouldn’t be. (Your neighborhood could be next.)

And it’s exciting, we suppose, to the lawyers who will benefit financially as the lawsuit filed by Iredell Neighbors for Rural Life and 23 other plaintiffs against the county, county commissioners and the McLain family winds its way through Iredell Superior Court.

Based on their response to the lawsuit, county officials have made it clear that they will not be intimidated by the accusations and demands of the plaintiffs. While the county may have made some procedural missteps in actions leading up to the rezoning approval, the county’s position is that the rezoning was lawful and proper.

The county’s legal fees will mount and, if county attorney Bill Pope is successful in his effort to have the lawsuit dismissed, the plaintiffs should be prepared to pay the county’s legal expenses.

Based on his assertion that the Iredell Neighbors for Rural Life exists in name only, Pope won’t be asking the Neighbors to pay up. He’ll be asking the other plaintiffs to pick up the tab.

While it might not be as exciting or entertaining, now would be a good time for all of the parties involved to take another stab at resolving this matter with a compromise that everyone can live with.

Emotions run high at meeting

People on both sides of the fray over a proposed Snow Creek Road biodiesel plant got emotional Monday night as they discussed the proposal and the tactics of a citizens’ group working to prevent it from being built.

For the full story, click here.

VIDEO: farmers meeting

Video by Bethany Fuller

County attorney: Neighbors can't sue

Iredell Neighbors for Rural Life has no legal standing to sue Iredell County and McLain Farms over a proposed biodiesel plant because the citizens group does not officially exist, the county’s attorney argues in court documents.

County attorney William Pope filed a response in Iredell Superior Court last week to the lawsuit filed by Iredell Neighbors for Rural Life and 23 other plaintiffs against the McLain family, Iredell County and the Board of Commissioners.

For the full story, click here.

Farmers seek protections, benefits

As new residential and commercial developments consume more open land in Iredell County each year, some local farmers are looking for new ways to protect and preserve their livelihood.

Placing their land in Voluntary Agricultural Districts is an option more farmers are choosing. Now, county commissioners are considering an ordinance that would create Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural Districts to give farmers even more protection and benefits.

For the full story, click here.

McLains respond to lawsuit

The proposed biodiesel plant on Snow Creek Road is a bona fide farm activity and therefore exempt from Iredell County zoning regulations, the McLain family contends in court documents.

For the full story, click here.

Letter to the Editor: Janice L. Isenhour

I am delighted that a biodiesel plant will be located in Iredell County. In my opinion, developing alternative fuels is admirable, though I'd rather solar energy be our brag.

However I believe the majority of Iredell taxpayers would rather the proposed biodiesel plant be set up in one of the many empty industrial sites around the county rather than in a residential and farming community.

It's too bad voters can't decide in a special referendum.

I urge the citizenry to speak up. I bet the "powers that be" on the county commission can be encouraged to overturn their decision.

Taxpayers should ask ourselves, "Whose fault is it that taxpayer money is going to lawyers regarding the biodiesel plant issue? Is it the homeowners trying to protect their community or is it the elected officials who made a big ol' boo-boo?"

Janice L. Isenhour
Statesville

McLain supporters criticize opponents

The heated debate over the biodiesel plant planned for Snow Creek Road flared up Monday night as neighbors struggled to reach an understanding on the controversial matter.

For the full story, click here.