The Leavenworth County Commission got an earful Thursday from area residents upset over a planned chicken processing plant to be built outside Tonganoxie. On Tuesday, Tyson Foods and state officials heralded the $320 million dollar deal, put together under a non-disclosure agreement. At Thursday's county commission meeting, streamed live by the Kansas City Star on Facebook, Jim Cunningham, of Tonganoxie, said the commission should have been more transparent.
Cunningham and others who packed the meeting room had concerns about pollution, odor, and property values. Leavenworth County Commissioner Doug Smith suggested people opposed to the plant sign a petition and attend upcoming meetings.
The processing plant would employ about 1,600 people. It’s expected to be up and running in 2019.
Read more about this story here.