A group of farmers also known as the Lincoln Trail Growers Association filed a lawsuit and restraining order Thursday to prevent the closing of the Meade County Riverport operated by Consolidated Grain and Barge Company.
A lawsuit filed on Thursday (1/2) continues the ongoing struggle between local farmers and local and state leaders regarding use and relocation of the local grain terminal that currently sits on a portion of 900 acres that the $1.3 billion Nucor Steel facility project is to be built upon. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants have “conducted the Nucor transaction in a manner that has violated certain statutory and constitutional laws.”
Lincoln Trail Grain Growers Association members claim that several county meetings were held in violation of the state’s open meetings act and members of the Riverport Authority were replaced because they would not have supported a vote to move the Nucor plan forward. They are asking the Meade County Circuit Court to place an injunction on the processes to keep the Riverport open after the posted January 31 closure stated by Consolidated Grain and Barge Company.
The lawsuit after several conversations with all parties which have failed to provide a compromise on relocation of the grain facility. Local leaders are bound by a lack of commitment from Consolidated Grain and Barge Company, as to whether they will relocate their facility to any nearby site. Local officials have shown grain company at least six proposed sites resulting in the company to each site undesirable. The company also has yet to provide an formal decision on their operating plans for the Meade County terminal, which prevents local leaders from pursuing other grain companies and allows Consolidated Grain Company to monopolize the local market.
According to several accounts in recent public conversations, Nucor Steel has reportedly paid Consolidated Grain and Barge $20 million for the current grain facility. The actions of Consolidated Grain and Barge Company has the local farming community outraged at local officials for allowing the Nucor deal to impact the Riverport operations.
A motion hearing on lawsuit is set for 1 pm Thursday, January 9 in Meade County Circuit Court.
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