Port Arthur is expecting a long meeting Tuesday when the issue of a commercial meat processing plant proposed to be built in the back acreage of the city’s new business park heads the agenda.

Twenty-seven people have signed up to speak at the meeting either for or against what has turned into a controversial business proposition, but one that former U.S. Representative Nick Sampson says is misunderstood.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. in Council Chambers on the fourth floor of City Hall, 444 Fourth St.

“There is definitely a lot of misinformation out there,” Lampson said. “We are looking forward to telling the story about what this business opportunity means for the city of Port Arthur.”

Lampson, along with others representing Riceland Farms, the company that would like to build a state-of-the art meat processing center on 10 acres in the southwest corner of the new Jade Business Park tract, will present information regarding the $7 million facility that would bring upwards to 120 jobs at start-up.

City Council is charged with deciding whether to approve new restrictions and covenants for the new business park off of FM 365 and Jade Avenue.

The city’s Economic Development Corporation on March 27 opted to include language in the new development guidelines that would prohibit any meat processing facility at the new business park.

City Council will have the final say in whether to approve the EDC’s proposed restrictions and covenants.

Riceland Farms, a Beaumont company that also owns Riceland Hospital in Winnie, wants to purchase acreage in the far southwest corner of the business park. The location borders the levy, Floyd Batiste, Port Arthur EDC director, said.

The closest property owner to the proposed plant is Drainage District 7, probably about 1,000 feet away, Batiste said.

Since the idea of a meat processing plant was first brought to Port Arthur in January, a groundswell of citizen opposition has formed. Residents mainly from Port Acres, Montrose and El Vista communities have spoken against the facility citing concerns that the facility will create a foul odor, overload the city’s sewage infrastructure, and just overall not be the type of business that should be welcomed into the city’s business park.

Others have stated distaste for “slaughterhouse” type jobs, which would start at $12 an hour.

During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, each person signed up to speak will have five minutes to do so, and all who have signed up will have opportunity to present their views, City Attorney Val Tizeno said.

A limit on the amount of speakers can be imposed during a night Council meeting, but not one scheduled in the day, Tizeno said.

Speakers’ topics listed on the agenda range from the effect the slaughterhouse will have on the community’s welfare to tax abatements associated with the proposed development to those arguing in support of the facility.

Following citizens’ communications, Lampson, along with Dr. Hani Thome, and Ken Whitlow will provide information about the facility during a presentation.

“The Council has had no information from the company at this point. There has been a presentation to the EDC, but we really don’t feel like w had a very fair hearing at the time,” Lampson said. “The point is no one has really given up the opportunity to tell our side of the story.”

Lampson said the proposed meat processing plant would provide anywhere between 80 and 120 jobs at start-up, and could possibly grow to 600.

The company has studied the industry and is committed to not becoming a nuisance to the surrounding community.

“We’ve done a lot of research to find a high quality unobtrusive operation,” Lampson said.

Odors are typically the result of cattle being left in the field, where they leave residue behind. In this case, the cattle will be on concrete slabs inside a building.

“People got hung up with what they believe is a fact of adverse smell, but that is just what we are proposing,” Lampson said. “If you listen to us, we can prove otherwise. I am not going to stand up in front of people I represented for 42 years and lie. I am not about misleading anybody.”

Lampson said the company plans to buy animals from local ranchers to butcher, and sell the meat product mainly to a Mexican meat market in Houston.

“I know there is a lot of misinformation out there,” Lampson said. “All we are asking is that people listen to the story respectfully and make a judgment based on factual information.”

E-mail: sherry.koonce@panews.com

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