Fiscal Court splits on idea to put new industrial park in southern Whitley County

In a rare split vote, the Whitley County Fiscal Court voted four to one during a special called meeting Tuesday afternoon to spend $20,000 on a new four-month option to purchase a 100-acre tract of land near Savoy to be used as an industrial park.

With the funds approved Tuesday, the fiscal court will have spent a total of $50,000 on options to purchase the property, which is being eyed as the proposed location for an electric vehicle plant that hopes to open in Williamsburg.

If the fiscal court purchases the $370,000 site, all the option money would be counted towards the purchase price.

"My personal feelings are that is not a move for us to make," Magistrate David Myers said before the vote. "I am just one person. I represent one district. If this court decides this is what they want to do, I will back it 100 percent."

Myers said that given the amount of money that will be spent on the property and developing the infrastructure for it, he can’t help but feel that investing a portion of those funds towards the regional industrial site adjacent to Whitley County would yield a better return.

"Even though it is not in the Williamsburg area or the lower end of the county, it is certainly within a half hours drive for most of our residents," Myers said. "I think we could all benefit more. We have 600 acres sitting there that is backed by the state. Much of the infrastructure is already in place."

Myers said a regional site would have to employee people from Whitley County if it wanted to be successful.

Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr. said that he has no objections to the regional industrial park.

"It is completely in Knox County so you can’t take direct county tax dollars from Whitley County and spend them in Knox County," White said.

"We certainly have been cooperative in the partnership to develop that and we have helped with funding every year to the Corbin Industrial Commission, which administers that park. We try to be supportive all that we can."

White added that surrounding counties have looked at the regional site as another option and not the only option.

"There will be businesses that will look at Corbin and not look at Williamsburg. There will be businesses that look at Williamsburg and won’t look at Corbin. We need both options," White said.

"I think opening up both avenues for economic development would be a very good investment for the county."

White said that when the recession started, there were no empty industrial buildings in the southern three quarters of Whitley County, and that now there is one empty building, which has been shown a few times.

"I think that is a concern. It is something that is hindering growth in our area," he said. "This is not something that is going to be an instant fix, but over time this property could be a significantly good investment to allow us to create jobs in the community."

White noted that the phase one environmental study on the property is complete and no problems were identified. Although he hasn’t gotten a formal report from the appraiser, preliminary indications were that they thought this was a good price.

White said that even if the electric vehicle plant doesn’t materialize, he thinks that it’s important to develop a proposed industrial site for southern Whitley County.

White said that he got a brief update on Vision Motor Cars Inc. Tuesday and the company is proceeding with crash testing, and has hired a few people with the help of some grant funds.

"They are still trying to move forward," White noted.

He added that if all the company’s efforts panned out, then its monthly payroll would be slightly less than the purchase price for the property.

"They have a good product. I really hope they can put it together. It would mean a lot for this area," White said.

Magistrate Roger Wells said that he has spoken with several people in his district over the last several months, who agree that if purchasing the site can bring industry to Whitley County, then it is something the fiscal court needs to do.

Magistrate Mike Baird made the motion to extend the option, and Magistrate Joe Moses seconded the motion.

Both White and Myers agreed that their disagreement has been a respectful one on both sides.

After the meeting, Myers said that he hopes he is proven wrong.