HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-221 CCRMember Tony Kuefler introduced the following resolution
and moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79 -221
RESOLUTION DENYING THE REQUEST OF HOWE, INC. FOR
AN EXPLOSIVE PERMIT
WHEREAS, Howe, Inc. manufactures chemical fertilizer and stores
the product in bins to a vertical height of more than 50 feet; and
WHEREAS, a drying process then occurs which also causes the
fertilizer to congeal into a hard cake; and
WHEREAS, blasting with explosives has traditionally been used by
Howe, Inc. to loosen the caked fertilizer in preparation for loading with
mechanical equipment; and
WHEREAS, Howe, Inc. stores, mixes, bags, sells and handles a wide
variety of agricultural chemicals, some of which are explosive, flammable
and toxic; and
WHEREAS, as a result of a fire occurring in January, 1979, it was
demonstrated that these chemicals caused substantial contamination and
pollution of surface water, the atmosphere and surrounding vegetation, and
that the living environment of the residential neighborhood surrounding the
Howe, Inc. Fertilizer Plant became unlivable; and
WHEREAS, at the time of the fire it was learned that Howe, Inc.
was in violation of its blasing permit, in that the dynamite magazine was
not mobile, was not located in a place which was easily accessible to fire-
fighters, and the magazine contained more explosive than allowed under its
permit; and
WHEREAS, the site of the Howe, Inc. Fertilizer Plant is heavily
congested with truck traffic, stored chemical materials, employees and other
pedestrian personal and business invitees and the site is flanked by major
traffic thoroughfare congested with automobile, truck, bus and other vehicular
traffic, by a heavily used railroad which regularly carries explosive and
toxic materials, by a residential neighborhood which has endured considerable
disruption, inconvenience, damage and physical suffering as a result of the
plant's location, and by a surface water drainage basin, contamination of
which is a constant threat; and
WHEREAS, piling the material to a lesser vertical height and the
use of mechanical equipment appears to be an alternative to the use of
explosives.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City
of Brooklyn Center that the use of explosives under the conditions herein
before set forth is an unnecessary danger to the health, safety and welfare
of the persons living, working and traveling in the vicinity of the Howe,
Inc. Fertilizer Plant.
RESOLUTION NO. 79 -221
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the request of Howe, Inc. for an
explosives permit be denied, said denial to be effective June 30, 1980
or such earlier date as current stockpiles of caked fertilizer are reduced
to levels accessible to mechanical equipment.
September 24, 1979
Date
ATTEST:-
Clerk
Mayor T
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded
by member Gene Lhotka and upon vote being taken thereon, the
following voted in favor thereof: Dean Nyquist, Tony Kuefler, Bill Fignar,
Gene Lhotka, and Celia Scott;
and the following voted against the same: none,
whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.
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