LEAVENWORTH COUNTY, Kan. — The Leavenworth County Commission voted Monday to revoke a bond support resolution for a Tyson processing plant in Tonganoxie.
Commissioner Doug Smith told 41 Action News city officials and school leaders need to sign off before $500 million in industrial revenue bonds can be issued to Tyson. The company also still needs to apply for rezoning on the property it purchased, according to Smith.
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The vote comes amid public outcry from residents over the plant. In storefronts and front yards, signs read "No Tyson in Tongie."
"It really shows a sign of unity in Tonganoxie and that nobody here wants Tyson to be here," Tonganoxie resident Brady Brown said.
Brown bought 20 of the signs and has been handing them out to anyone who asks for one.
"I'm down to about seven signs," he said on Monday.
Many see Monday's vote as a positive step towards more transparency in the process.
"It basically forces their hand to come out and play fair," Councilman Curtis Oroke said.
Oroke told 41 Action News local officials have been left in the dark on the deal, which was announced by Tyson executives and Governor Sam Brownback earlier this month.
"It's a big corporation, and we're a small town but trying to get the answers," Oroke added.
In response to frustration from local leaders and the public, Rachel Whitten, Brownback's interim spokeswoman, sent this statement:
"The Governor continues to encourage residents who oppose the hatchery to attend town halls and submit public comment during the state permitting process. Community input is an important aspect of working together to resolve concerns. Like all protein processing plants, Tyson will be held to the safety and environmental standards set forth in statute and administered by agencies like the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Agriculture."
On September 11, Tyson released this document with answers to frequently asked questions about the Tonganoxie project.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson from Tyson Foods released the following statement:
"We’re disappointed by the commission’s reversal on revenue bonds. The commission’s prior approval was part of state and local efforts to persuade Tyson Foods to locate in Leavenworth County. It was one of the factors we considered when determining where to locate our new poultry complex. We’re evaluating our options in light of yesterday’s vote."
