Yesterday, Senator Robert Jubelirer, Representative Larry Sather and Tyrone Mayor Pat Stoner voiced their opinions on the decision made Monday evening by Tyrone Borough Council to grant two million gallons daily in sewage capacity to Team Ten LLC, not the three million previously held by Westvaco Corporation.
The reaction continues to filter from Pennsylvania Avenue to the Pennsylvania state capitol building.
“I haven’t heard directly from the mayor or any Tyrone borough officials,” said David Atkinson, chief of staff for Senator Robert Jubelirer. “I have heard indirectly that the council will be sticking to their guns on this issue.”
Atkinson and other staff of the senator have fielded many calls concerning Monday night’s decision.
“From the reaction we are getting from the people, this is the most incredibly self-destructive economic actions ever seen,” said Atkinson. “We are going to explore every option to resolve this.”
While the issue is being worked on, more than 1,600 people who have applied to fill the 170 jobs are waiting.
“We have put the interviews and physicals on hold,” said John Ferner, Team Ten LLC president. “We are uncertain if we are going to go forward with the project if this issue isn’t resolved.”
When asked if he has heard any reaction positive or negative about the issue, Ferner said, “I have had very little contact with the outside world in the past couple days. I haven’t heard anything negative about creating 170 jobs. We had conducted several interviews and physicals, but now things are on hold.”
Atkinson was discouraged about what is happening with the process.
“This is a group of local investors who want to bring jobs to the community and they are being treated like Enron executives who are looking for a new community to pillage,” said Atkinson. “This is a unique economic opportunity that took a long time to assemble. Just when they start the process, council throws a monkey wrench into the process. The problems with the sewer authority won’t go away if this enterprise is stopped. I can’t believe that council woke up Monday and said we have a problem with the sewer authority.”
According to an estimate of effect of a discount for Team Ten LLC, the group would still be paying $279,000 per year in sewage if given a 35 percent discount.
“We hope council reconsiders its decision,” said Atkinson. “We are having a lot of discussions to find a way to rectify this matter. Nothing that we have seen on the public record is a compelling reason to act in this manner. The federal and state governments along with the investors, have a lot at stake to have it threatened over nickles and dimes. It is indefensable.”
Governor Ed Rendell worked with the senator to put the final piece of the investment puzzle together to create a deal with MeadWestvaco.
“We plan to have conversations with the administration to see if they can provide some help,” said Atkinson. “We want to do what we can to get the right solution for the community.”
The number of 2.75 million gallons of daily waste has been used as a maximum number for when Westvaco operated the plant. Ferner said, “In 1971, Westvaco employed nearly 1,000 employees and at that time producing 6 million gallons per day. The 2.75 million was the maximum from the period of 1997 to 2002.”
