County commissioners sought legal action Thursday against BioMass Energy LLC, asking county prosecutor J.

Friday, May 04, 2001

County commissioners sought legal action Thursday against BioMass Energy LLC, asking county prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr.’s office to pursue back property taxes owed.

The taxes, amounting to about $240,000 are owed to Lawrence County and South Point schools, commissioner Jason Stephens said.

"We want to move ahead with a lawsuit to obtain that tax money," Stephens said.

The county also went on record opposing the BioMass project – a wood-fired power plant type project at the former South Point Ethanol plant property. Commissioners addressed a letter to U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine stating they do not plan to support the project.

That action comes on the heels of non-support statements from the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation and the Village of South Point. The village has also sought an EPA air permit hearing, stating opposition to what officials believe will become a pollution problem.

The EPA has tentatively scheduled the hearing for June 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the South Point High School cafeteria.

South Point Mayor Bill Gaskin has also addressed a letter to Sen. DeWine, expressing the village’s opposition to BioMass’s permit to install a power plant (permit No. 07-00493).

Meanwhile, county commissioners approved the annexation of approximately 300 acres of an industrial area on the former South Point Ethanol property into the Village of South Point. The LEDC is currently turning the area into an industrial park known as The Point.

The annexation does not include the acreage in the middle of the ethanol plant property that is currently occupied by BioMass.