Concerns delay special called meeting By Cindy Henning At the special called meeting on Dec. 27, Meade County Attorney Darren Sipes recommended that Fiscal Court delay the final reading and approval of a resolution to purchase real estate and enter into a loan transaction with First Federal Savings Bank until some last minute details were settled. He described it as possibly overkill, but the need to settle any environmental concerns about the property’s use when it was owned by Olin was essential before the agreement could be finalized. Magistrate Theresa Padgett had brought to his attention information she had been given by an unnamed source who stated that as an Olin employee in the 1960s, this person had dug trenches to dispose of environmentally hazardous waste on land west of Olin. Since this could include some of the property being considered for purchase, Sipes asked to delay the meeting until the Industrial Authority’s attorney, David Wilson, could finish working on the rewording of the contract to protect the Fiscal Court in case this was true. David Pace, Industrial Authority representative, asked Magistrate Padgett why this person had not come forward earlier and did not meet with him on Dec. 23 to discuss the accusation as had been set up. Padgett answered that the holidays had interfered with the scheduled arrangement. Pace stated further that the Phase I environmental study showed about 50 acres marked off for monitoring which could still be used for rail access, but this new information came out of the blue. Magistrate Padgett justified her concern with the fact that the study would not have found this problem. Magistrate Harold Davidson affirmed that any legitimate claim needed to be settled, but anyone making such allegations at this last minute should have the backbone to do it publicly. Magistrate Herbie Chism asked if an extended deadline could be worked out. Attorney Wilson called Attorney Sipes to update the court that Arch’s lawyers had no problem with changing the wording to protect Fiscal Court in case of any environmental concerns about Olin’s previous ownership. Magistrate Padgett asked that the protection be extended from five to 10 years. Attorney Sipes agreed that a 90-minute delay would probably be enough time to reword the agreement for the court’s protection. Magistrate Don Callecod introduced the motion to set up another meeting for 12:30 that afternoon to approve the final agreement. A visibly upset court agreed to reconvene at that time.
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