Company confirms Cobb-Vantress facility not coming to Glasgow

GLASGOW, Mar 05, 2013 (Glasgow Daily Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Tyson Foods has responded to a request about whether the company still plans to locate a feed mill for one of its subsidiaries, Cobb-Vantress, in Glasgow.

"We appreciate the help of local leaders who have supported our interest in Glasgow as a site for our new feed mill. Unfortunately, because of the aviation-related concerns, we must drop Glasgow from consideration. We're looking at other possible locations in the region for our new facility, but have not made a decision," said Gary Mickelson, public relations director for the company.

Earlier in the afternoon, Glasgow Mayor Rhonda Trautman issued the following press release: "The City of Glasgow has recently been advised by the IDEA Board and the Glasgow Airport Board that Cobb/Tyson's inability to relocate a 200 foot silo proposed in the Glasgow Municipal Airport's regulated air space has lead [sic] the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to deem the silo as a hazard to air navigation. Cobb/Tyson in direct communication with City officials in August had previously advised that the location of the silo was not going to be an issue with the FAA, the federal regulatory agency over the nation's airports. As a result, upon recommendation of IDEA Executive Director Dan Iacconi the Glasgow Economic Development Loan Committee reviewed the project and recommended it to the City Council for consideration of local incentives. In September 2012, the City Council unanimously supported the Cobb/Tyson project.

Unfortunately we were officially notified in December 2012 that the FAA had in fact ruled the facility's silo a hazard to the Airport. In an effort to resolve this matter and to assure that all avenues had been considered, Glasgow Mayor Trautman asked for a special called meeting of the Finance Committee during the first week of February to bring representatives of IDEA and the Airport Board together for discussions. During the meeting the role of the FAA in this matter was clarified and it became obvious to everyone involved that the FAA ruling was a huge obstacle to the project moving forward as planned.

Upon a request for further clarification of the finding, the FAA in a January 30th letter to Roger Miller of Cobb/Tyson again cited a 'Determination of Hazard' and restated that the location of the facility with the 200 foot silo had a 'substantial adverse effect' on the Glasgow Airport. The Airport Board notified the Kentucky Airport Zoning Commission of the FAA ruling and the Kentucky Airport Zoning Commission chose not to challenge the FAA decision.

It's unfortunate that Cobb/Tyson was unable to modify or move the silo to be in compliance with the FAA airspace safety standards. The Mayor and the City Council have been very aggressive in assisting with job creation and we will continue to do so. Job creation is a priority and we will continue to work hard to locate new industry and support expansions of local facilities." ___ (c)2013 the Glasgow Daily Times (Glasgow, Ky.) Visit the Glasgow Daily Times (Glasgow, Ky.) at www.glasgowdailytimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

[ Back To Technology News's Homepage ]