Magnablend proceeding with plans; Community bands together

Despite public outcry from concerned citizens and residents who reside near the proposed location of the new Magnablend facility on FM 1446 and Hoyt Road, Magnablend is continuing with their plans to purchase the old Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) property and build their new hazardous chemical plant.

As reported by WFAA on January 18, 2012 and confirmed with Ellis County Commissioner Bill Dodson, Magnablend withdrew their request to increase the weight limits on Arrowhead Road. WFAA reported that Magnablend will now pay for permits through the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) that will allow them to drive their overweight trucks carrying hazardous chemicals on any county road.

Magnablend CEO Scott Pendery said that he wants to work with residents and ease their concerns, but everything he is doing appears to have been in an attempt to shove this past residents without their knowledge. Current SSC property owner, Collider Data Center LLC, requested the county commissioners ease a deed restriction that prevented businesses that require a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) from operating on the property.

The Ellis County Commissioners' Court voted unanimously on December 12, 2011 to remove and replace this deed restriction. The agenda item describing this topic was vague, therefore preventing residents from being aware of the impending plans.

Neighbors did not become aware of this until after December 30, 2011 when one neighbor noticed test bores being conducted near the SSC facility. The neighbor asked what was going on and was told that Magnablend was purchasing the property. A few concerned citizens began to conduct their own research and found what the county commissioners' court did on Dec. 12.

Over 200 residents amassed for a community meeting with less than a 12 hour notice where Pendery was scheduled to appear to address community concerns. He backed out shortly before the meeting began. Over 120 residents also appeared at a County Commissioners' Court meeting to discuss Magnablend's request to increase the weight limit on Arrowhead Road. A public hearing was to be scheduled on January 23, 2012 to discuss increasing the weight limit.

However, as public pressure mounted and media attention increased, Magnablend withdrew the request and will seek permits from TxDOT as noted above.

Ellis County residents are now focusing on voicing their concerns to state representatives, Texas Department of Transportation about overweight permit applications, Department of Public Safety about hazardous chemical transport, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Many residents are also planning on calling the J.B. Hunt firm that owns Collider Data Center, LLC. Online research has revealed that Hunt Ventures is responsible for Collider Data Center, LLC. Residents are beginning to call Hunt Ventures Chairman Johnelle Hunt and President Tim Graham at 479-845-3500 to voice their displeasure and concerns with selling the SSC property to a hazardous chemical company that had a catastrophic explosion and chemical release on October 3, 2011.

Residents are outraged that Magnablend is planning to expand in an agricultural area with no zoning. The proposed location sits immediately adjacent to a dairy farm that distributes milk nationally and is near a large organic produce company. In addition to domestic food supply contamination concerns, runoff from the property goes into a creek that feeds into Lake Waxahachie, which supplies drinking water to Waxahachie.

Other concerns that residents have is the transportation of hazardous and toxic chemicals down narrow Farm-to-Market roads with limited visibility. School busses and farm equipment traverse these roads. Residents already witness numerous accidents on these roads during each year, including fatal accidents.

Residents believe the best location for Magnablend is in an area that is specifically zoned for industrial use. Residents understand the need for jobs and tax revenue in Ellis County and hope that Magnablend stays in Ellis County, but they believe their health and the safety of the nation's food supply should not be put at risk for the benefit of corporate profits by locating in an area that is not suitable for their type of business.

It is nice to see that Magnablend wants to continue providing jobs in the community and keep its current workforce busy, but it is very heartbreaking to see Magnablend ignore the concerns, wishes, and health of the entire community. It is estimated that Magnablend will pay somewhere in the ballpark of $6.5 million for the SSC property. Residents wonder why Magnablend can't spend more money on completing the cleanup from up their environmental disaster and take care of residents who have had adverse health problems. Residents strongly believe Magnablend's focus is on their bottom line rather than having any concern or compassion for the community as the company continues to try forcing its way into a new neighborhood where they are not welcome.

The Magnablend plant that burned blended chemicals for the fracking industry, wastewater treatment, and was a registered pesticides producer. Many residents are still reporting adverse health effects related to the fire and the remediation of the property is still not complete.

Residents have also been in touch with multiple environmental groups who are looking into this issue and have been providing beneficial information.

The Ellis County Commissioners Court consists of Heath Sims, Dennis Robinson, Bill Dodson, Ron Brown, and County Judge Carol Bush. Commissioner Dodson, Commissioner Sims, and County Judge Bush were censured on December 6, 2011 by the Ellis County Republican Party Executive Committee for issues related to raising property tax rates in excess of five percent.

Over the past two weeks there have been increased discussions on ensuring that precinct one Commissioner Robinson and precinct three Commissioner Sims are not reelected this election year. Some residents have also been contemplating initiating recall petitions against County Judge Bush and all four county commissioners.

Residents are being encouraged to contact all of the following people and agencies. Residents recognize that it takes time to be involved, but they believe residents who band together for a common cause and take care of one another can fight this. Power in numbers can overcome big industry budgets. This cause has become an example of where community members have come together to help one another. You never know when you may need to request the aid of your fellow citizens to fight a battle that is too large for a small group to handle. Your time and help is requested and is very much appreciated.

Johnelle Hunt
Chairman Hunt Ventures
479-845-3500

Tim Graham
President Hunt Ventures
479-845-3500

Phil Wilson
512-305-9501
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
Executive Director

Bill Pierce, P.E.
972-938-1570
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
Ellis County Area Engineer

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Transport of Hazardous Materials
512-997-4120

Nicolas Brescia
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Environmental Protect Agency (EPA)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Region 6
800-887-6063

Jim Pitts
State Representative
Local: 972-938-9392
Austin: 512-463-0516
Website email: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=10

Brian Birdwell
State Senator
Local: 817-573-9622
Austin: 512-463-0122
Website email: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist22/dist22.htm#form

Kay Bailey Hutchinson
U.S. Senator
Local: 214-361-3500
D.C.: 202-224-5922
Website email: http://hutchison.senate.gov/

John Cornyn
U.S. Senator
Local: 214-239-1310
D.C.: 202-224-2934
Website email: http://cornyn.senator.gov/

Joe Barton
U.S. Congressman
Local: 972-875-8488
D.C.: 202-225-2002
Website email: http://joebarton.house.gov/

Greg Abbott
Attorney General
Austin: 512-463-2100 or 512-475-4413
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kendra Riffe
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ)

Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
Local: 817-588-5800
Austin: 512-239-5510
800-453-7664
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Permission is granted to reprint this article in its entirety with proper attribution and a link back to EllisRTK.com.

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