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Monroe County commissioners deny scrap metal processing facilities

Monroe County commissioners denied an amendment to the county zoning ordinance Wednesday.

County staff proposed allowing “scrap metal processing facility” as a permitted use in Heavy Industrial (HI) zones. Currently only 15 properties in the county are zoned HI.

Commissioners considered the amendment March 16 but postponed a vote over concerns of the type of metal allowed for processing. Since then, staff added an additional exclusion for military munitions. However, commissioners are also concerned with potential fires.

READ MORE: Monroe County commissioners postpone vote on scrap metal recycling facilities

“I understand it excludes hulk crushers, but would it exclude the cutting that goes on? And that’s part of what makes sparks,” commissioner Penny Githens said. “Some of the metals that can be processed are actually flammable themselves.”

The amendment was specifically brought forward to make room for Bedford Recycling to rezone 405 W. Dillman Road for a scrap metal recycling facility.

Bedford Recycling president Larry Parsons says the risk of fire at a recycling facility is not the same as a processing facility.

“When you’re just buying metal, you’re not processing metal,” he said. “You’re not touching metal, you’re not crushing metal, you’re not shredding metal, you’re not generating piles of materials that sparks.”

Despite Bedford Recycling’s intention to use their Bloomington property only for recycling, commissioners took issue with authorizing processing facilities throughout the entire county.

The Monroe County Fire Protection District supported the decision. Chief Dustin Dillard said two fires at a processing facility in Bedford took between 8-9 hours to extinguish. The operation also included three hydrants in the immediate area, five to seven fire trucks, and 12 firefighters.

“We have issues with the lack of water supply and the burden that could be placed on the county in general in terms of fire protection.”

Dillard said the West Dillman Road property owned by Bedford Recycling lacks the necessary water pressure from nearby fire hydrants should a fire break out.

“We have calculated that it would take 12 water tankers with a minimum 1,500-gallon tanks, along with using the hydrant there at (City of Bloomington Utilities) to get the 2,500 gallons per minute that we think would be necessary for this.”

Bedford Recycling property
Aerial view of the property at 405 W. Dillman Road, which is outlined in pink. The proeprty sits next to the City of Bloomington Dillman wastewater treatment facility. (Courtesy: Monroe County)

Commissioners voted 2-0 to deny the change to the county-wide zoning amendment. Immediately following the vote, Parsons withdrew his petition to rezone the West Dillman Road site to HI. Commissioner Julie Thomas was absent.

 “I have to say that’s one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make in the three years,” Githens said.

“It’s difficult,” commissioner Lee Jones said. “I really don’t think it’s a good match for this county. I think many other counties have fewer drainage problems, which along with the fire suppression problems, it sounds to me like a use we really don’t need right now.”

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