Shredder vote could be Tuesday night in South Bend

February 07, 2011|By ERIN BLASKO, Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND — This much is certain: The St. Joseph County Council will conduct a public hearing Tuesday night in regard to a petition to operate a metal recycling center on Smilax Road in Olive Township.

What is uncertain is whether the hearing will lead to an immediate vote on the matter.

In sending the petition to the full council with no recommendation in January, members of the Land Use Planning Committee discussed tabling the vote until March to allow residents more time to consider the project.

In the two weeks since, a pair of public meetings have been held to discuss the project, including one Saturday organized by the New Carlisle Town Council.

That said, much appears to depend on the opinion of council member Dan Herbster, R-District F, in whose district the project is proposed.

Herbster said today he would consider a move to table the vote if questions surrounding the project are not addressed to his satisfaction during the public hearing, which is scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday on the fourth floor of County-City Building.

"It’s definitely a possibility," he said, "if for no other reason than for the sake of the constituents."

Herbster noted that some residents continue to express concerns about pollution and truck traffic related to the project, which would involve the use of a 4,000-horsepower metal shredder to recycle junk vehicles.

That said, Stephen Studer, an attorney representing developer Randall Schlipp, president of NRJ Real Estate, said Monday the concerns to which Herbster refers have been addressed at past public meetings, including the one Saturday.

"To be candid," he said, "I think we walked away with every question answered."

Studer noted that both the Health Department and Area Plan Commission have approved the project, and that Schlipp has agreed to include in the site plan commitments related to drainage and disposal of hazardous materials.

"People that don’t want this, we’re never going to be able to convince them to be in favor of it," he said, adding, "All we ask is that people treat us fairly."

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