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Waste forces wait for Rentech
Published Saturday, May 24, 2008
NATCHEZ — After months of delays, those waiting on the Rentech land closing will have to keep waiting.
While the deal’s closing date is still set for next week, attorney Bob Latham, hired by the county to facilitate the closing, said last week the deal could have closed as early as Friday.
But that didn’t happen.
Latham said issues between Rentech and the St. Catherine’s Creek Utility Authority caused the cancelation of the latest closing date.
When the land deal does close, St. Catherine’s will be maintaining Rentech’s wastewater.
Latham said finalization of funding for maintenance of the wastewater’s treatment facility was still in discussion and pushed back Friday’s early closing date.
After mineral rights issues postponed the March 28 closing, a 60-day extension was granted to Rentech to complete the land transaction.
Once the deal closes, several hundred acres of land will be transferred from International Paper to Rentech for development of their facility.
But just when that transaction will happen is still unknown and time is quickly becoming a factor.
After the extension was granted, June 1 was named as the new date to have the closing completed.
However, on May 30, Latham will be leaving town and said the deal must be prior to that date.
“It needs to happen before next Friday,” he said.
And with Memorial Day causing the closing of most business on Monday, that only leaves three days to finish the deal.
Adding additional constrictions, President of the Adams County Board of Supervisors Henry Watts said he will not sign any documents he has not had an opportunity to review personally.
Watts said before he signs any documents he wants an opportunity to review them with Latham and county attorney Bobby Cox.
“I want to see everything I’m obligating the county to,” he said.
Watts estimated the process to review the documents would likely take one day.
While Watts would be responsible for signing off on deeds and addendums to contracts, he said he felt especially obligated to review each one since so many documents have been amended since the project began.
“Some of the contracts have been changed three times,” he said.
Watts said he has had no contact with Latham to set up a time to review the contracts. Once completed, Rentech’s facility is expected to produce various chemicals including an ultra clean burning diesel fuel.
Rentech representatives could not be reached for comment.
Comments
Posted by steve_o (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 12:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I recall seeing Mr. Watts questions about the hospital too. In that story and this one, I have seen his comments about the good of our people before jumping to sign papers. I applaud you Mr. Watts for that.
"However, on May 30, Latham will be leaving town and said the deal must be prior to that date.
“It needs to happen before next Friday,” he said.
And if it don't???
Posted by speakup (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 12:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
when cows fly that plant will happen. thanks henry for keeping your eyes open.
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 1:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If and when Rentech gets started, they will do like Fidelity and Titan. Work the system,suck the plant dry and write it off on their taxes,if their company survives that long. They have a sorry business record. The lawyers and people shoving all this hoopla around are just collecting fees for their pockets..It,s another joke....and a mess.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 1:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No, it's just like anything else that tried to come here. When it was about to happen the hands that needed to be patted started to open for the kickback. These people will keep on till Rentec takes it somewhere else.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 5:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You know, Rentech has a current goal of showing it can produce 420 gals of fuel a day. It can't do even that yet. Franklin county stills used to be able to beat that hands down, no lawyers involved except as consumers.
It will be a very long time before Rentech, if it ever does, produces one drop of fuel in Adams County. There is something very fishy about this business.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 6:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NE, you are dead wrong on this one. I can show you how I figured this out. How much did Adams County pay IP for that land?
Posted by james (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 6:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
THE ONLY THING SUCKING IS NATCHEZ IT HAS SUCKED THE LIFE OUT OF ALMOST EVERY COMANY THAT HAS BEEN THERE!
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 6:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
the only problem i see with waste on this deal is of the taxpayers time & money.if i was bob latham i would be leaving town too
Posted by Mucasplug (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 6:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Henry is the only public official we have earning his money. I wish I were in his district. This has been a colossal waste of time and money. Bob Lathem should be run out of town along with Rentech.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
AND THE SAGA CONTINUES!!!!!!!!
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
“Normally, I’m against the county buying private property,” Watts said. “So I originally voted one-and-a-half years ago against buying the land because we had no buyers and it would take the land off the tax rolls."-02/02/06
"The IP-county agreement is confidential until IP signs it, and county officials said they will not disclose financial details of the contract until the agreement with the prospect is also signed."-02/02/06
"One essential step, said county Board of Supervisors President Lynwood Easterling, will be to start meeting on a regular basis with officials from surrounding counties....
Those counties would include Wilkinson, Amite, Franklin and Jefferson, said supervisors Vice President Darryl Grennell.....The purpose would be to brainstorm incentives to entice new industry to the area and to locate land for a "super site" - preferably furnished with a building - or an industrial park the counties could share."-01/11/03
"Super sites are large, convenient properties - typically, 1,200 to 1,500 acres - that can be used to attract major industries. If an area does not have such site, it is usually passed over as a possible location of such an industry, according to state economic developers."-01/11/03
"The state Department of Transportation, the Mississippi Development Authority and the city and county are jointly funding $1.926 million in improvements to Government Fleet Road."-01/11/03
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Relax, Natchez, the plan is well underway and progress is being made. Only, it has never been put before the public in a wholistic way that makes sense. That might be up to a little question to some, but as for the rest, don't worry.
"But he said that the real key will be continuing a good working relationship with the Natchez-Adams County Economic Development Authority, which largely heads local economic development efforts."- Darryl Grennel, 01/11/03
That last statement is not exactly true. Adams County lies in one of four Economic Development Districts that are part of the Delta Regional Authority, an 8 state district governed by an commission you did not elect. It's officers are the governors of AL, ARK, MS, TN, LA, KY, MO, and IL. Your state and local government have been transformed into a Regional government that rules by directing development according to a specific plan; the Regional Authority serves the same purpose as a town's planning commission.
Natchez has been chosen as the human settlement for our local region within the larger region. The Adams County EDA is the tail of the dog.
Local regions are developed in public/private partnerships in which the public supplies part (a large part) of the capital needed for development of the type of industry that suits the development plan for that area. That is why the county is buying the IP site instead of Rentech.
When you see entities mentioned in the paper bearing the name Authority or Commission you know they are part of this development plan.
Part of the development plan for our area was getting rid of the industries we had:
"We have to do more visits," Grennell said. "We don't want to end up with another Johns Manville."-01/11/03
What we don't know so far is how much capital the people are going to be asked to supply to the development. Rentech may or may not come, I personally think it is an instrument being used to secure public support for buying the supersite.
What we do know is that the road to the site has been constructed, the county stands ready to make improvements to the rail service to the site, and a lot of money has been being spent in Natchez lately.
Our area is now being governed by the flow of money into the area in the same way pre-dynastic Egyptian landlords governed their land by controlling irrigation ditches to the various tenants. Do what the landlord wants and you get enough water to be prosperous.
http://www.mississippi.org/content.aspx?...
http://dra.gov/about/maps.aspx
http://www.mississippi.org/content.aspx?...
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I personally regard the proper name of the Delta Regional Authority to be Delta Regional Plantation Authority, a wholly owned subsidiary of Earth, Inc. But that is just me.
Make sure your kids get enough education to live in the big house.
North Carolina, in its development plans, is designing three types of communities. Employment communities, Non-employment communities, and Gated Communities. Guess who gets to live where.
Posted by John (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
By the time Rentech ever gets going (if theyreally intend to) their tech is going to be obsolete!
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Doesn't matter. Some other green industry will use the site. What matters is getting the people to agree to buy the site. The site must be bought first. Prior examples of this activity in this area:
Vidalia residents puchasing the land for the Wal-Mart location through the electrical agreement with Wal-Mart.
Vidalia establishing a Riverfront Authority in 1995 that did not begin development until about four years ago.
Lease agreements with Riverfront RV park and Promise Hospital allowing purchase of recreation complex land.
Natchez residents indebtedness for the convention center and the convention center being handed over to Hotel Consultants, also operating a hotel that is a known sustainable development partner.
Push to consolidate city and county for purpose of raising more capital for development and centralize control.
Push to levy tax to advertise for cluster of private businesses.
Adams County selling hospital to private company.
And so on. Recreaton complexes are a feature of human settlements, in the language of Sustainable Development.
Posted by fathergoose (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is going to take Mr Watts a day to review a deed and accept 2 million (I think that is the correct amount) on behalf of the county??? The rest of the documents are between between Rentec and IP.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Where did you see that 2 million dollar figure fathergoose?
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Enkikur, I understand your frustration.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Do you see what i see red?
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone know where to access recent Mississippi legislation online? I can't find it.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
you bunch of negative idiots
of course this deal will have complications
of course Rentech hasn't made any significant amounts of fuel yet, although their demonstration facility in Colorado is working, that's what this plant will be for. Look at their website and study their plans, they are right on track with their long term plans.
Natchez is lucky to have a cutting edge company like Rentech coming in
If you guys had invested in Rentech stock like I recommended a few weeks ago, you would have doubled your money!!!!!
But it's not too late, I predict that this stock will go to $10 in no time once this deal is completed, it's up to $2 today, bouncing back from $0.8 a few weeks back. When Rentech went public it's stock was $5 and slowly declined to $0.8 over a period of 3-4 years, but investers have bought in big time since Dec '07.
Way to go Henry!! Watts is my Supervisor, I voted for him and I'm proud of his service
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 11:37 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on May 24, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think Rentech stock got a boost from the $175 million announcement the other day for possible financing.
Where has anyone read that Rentech's R&D project is successful?
As for idiots. you may be right! I just hope you did not bet the farm on this idiotic scheme!
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is not conspiracy, it is public policy. I posted all the documents that are in the public domain.
If people don't want to read and see for themselves, then that is their perogative. My desire is to show people the bigger picture.
And I will thank you not to defame me.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on May 24, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
On second thought, the lawyer for the county (I used that term very, very loosely) cannot be available for close after a certain date and the president of the Board of Supervisors cannot sign without viewing the closing documents until next week for a $4 billion dollar deal (according to the ND), then something really does STINK!!!
Who is kidding who???
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rentech is perfectly in line with Sustainable Development. Our area is an abundant source of biomass. The Kyoto Protocol, which both political parties support, calls for carbon emissions in the US to be cut by 80% by the year 2050. Clean fuels are one way to reach this goal.
There has been an effort underway to make Mississippi the first Sustainable state in the south by 2020.
Carbon dioxide from the Rentech site is supposed to be pumped underground into abandoned oil fields, which will also have the effect of forcing more oil up. Putting carbon fuel into the ground is one aspect of the carbon economy that will finance the global move to sustainability.
Who is crazy? Me for knowing all this? And who is negative? Someone who provides information, or someone who speaks as you do, with derision and rancor towards others?
I hope you do make a fortune on Rentech stock.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I expect the hang up is as the article says Gary, with the St Catherine's Creek Authority. If you read about the sustainable movement and the actions of some of the Authorities established in other states you will see there is good reason to go over those documents carefully.
Henry likely doesn't want to do something that will end up making his supporters hate him later.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on May 24, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, Marty, I am wondering if the Supervisors are beginning to see the light! Rentech is/was a pipe dream.
The latest move is an attempt to brace the citizens for a let down. I have never thought that Rentech deal is/was viable.
I do hope that I am wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gary, it may not be a pipe dream. It may be real. It is totally in line with global trends. I don't think it is a bracing for a let down.
What I don't like about it is the lack of disclosure about how much it is going to cost the people of our region.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on May 24, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, if it is not a pipe dream, then the waste water financing should have been in place.
I damn sure would not sign/commit to the project unless the county was ready to go with waste water treatment.
Makes one wonder how may more stumbling blocks are in place. Rentech cannot go forward without a valid process. It seems, that stall tactics are in place on both sides!
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gary, it is important to understand that the waste water plant will not be under the county. It will be under the control of the St Catherine's Creek Utility Authority, and operated by some other company. They will be selling water. Have you seen the bill that authorized the creation of the Authority and spells out what it is allowed to do, and establishes its domain?
Remember how much trouble there was over the Preservation Commission and Fat Mama's? The Authority is also an unelected commission. The members of its board are the same people who are on the Natchez-Adams County Development Authority. That has power over four or five counties.
I am wondering if they plan to sell water to the residents as well as the industry that locates in the supersite. I have been looking for the bill that established the Authority but can't find it, don't think the Democrat ever published the bill number.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pardon me, I made a mistake. The Natchez-Adams County Development Authority serves Natchez and Adams County and is partially funded by the Mississippi Development Authority. Adams County falls into the ten county Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development District, Inc., a private non-profit which is a subsection of the Delta Regional Authority. The Delta Regional Authority is made of portions of eight states working in a joint state-federal government effort for planning and development in the eight state Delta Region. The Mississippi Development Authority is a state agency that is a party to the Delta Regional Authority.
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
EnKiKur - is this a start for what you want to review?
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/session...
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey, thanks SayItRight, it is
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 5:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is everything always on hold forever,then it,s a sudden emergency. Like the siding guys,we have a onetime special on siding but you have to buy it today.
They have dragged this deal out on the hindside of forever and now they need it closed yesterday. Sign on the dotted line,don,t worry about small print and how the monies are distribited.
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