The plot of land just west of Rockford that would have been home to an ethanol plant may be changed back to agricultural zoning. County leaders and neighbors hope to put an end to controversy at the site.
An empty plot of land on Meridian Road, has been at the center of a two-year fight between neighbors, Winnebago county leaders and Wight Group, the company that planned to bring a 144 million dollar ethanol plant to the area, until the property went into foreclosure in April.
The land was changed from agricultural to industrial, to accomodate the plant. But now that it won't become a reality, county leaders say they want to change the zoning back to agricultural, before another unwanted business moves in.
"Our code, which we're redoing is antiquated to the point that there are just an enormous amount of uses is heavy industrial that for example junk yards, slaughter houses could move right in," says County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen.
Neighbors are relieved the land next door may return to farmland.
"Heavy industrial zoning does not belong next to residences," says neighbor Wendy Schneider, who is also running for county board.
But Schneider says she's disappointed with the way county leaders handled the ethanol plant proposal. She filed a Freedom of Information request to find out what kind of background checks the county ran on Wight Group, before striking the deal.
"I asked specifically for any kind of due diligence efforts in regard to the financial stability of the company and there was none to be had," says Schneider.
But Chairman Christiansen counters, "Not that we have to, but we did research on this company, they had done upwards of 500 million dollars worth of projects in one year for example."
But Christiansen and other county leaders are disappointed Wight hasn't been upfront with the county, and left town without squaring some bills.
"Local engineering firms, a lot of people they dealt with here on a local level as far as site work and everything else have been not paid," says County Board member Randy Olson.
The proposal to change the land's zoning from heavy industrial back to agricultural still has to go through a vote from the full county board, before the change could take place.
Olson says the mortgage company that holds the funds on the land has said they'd like to find development for the spot.
Chairman Christiansen also says ethanol has not proven to be as lucrative as leaders had thought, so it may not be the best thing for the site. Christiansen also believes that's part of why the project folded.