Deerfield Farms to get $50,000 Mercer Co. grant

Residents have voiced
opposition to the
development.

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

MERCER, Pa. — Mercer County commissioners plan to give Deerfield Farms Inc. a $50,000 economic development grant toward its planned grain storage facility on Pa. Route 158, New Wilmington.

Commissioners Brian Beader and Kenneth Seamans announced Wednesday that they intend to take the action when they meet today.

The money would come from the Mercer County Economic Development Account, which is derived from the 0.25 mills the county collects from taxpayers in order to have an economic development reserve.

The grant is contingent on Deerfield Farms’ purchase and development of property at 27 Auction Road, in Wilmington Township, Mercer County.

Deerfield Farms plan to buy land and relocate their business to Auction Road, Wilmington Township, is on hold until an appeal is settled on the rezoning of the proposed site.

Wilmington Township supervisors on Aug. 15 approved rezoning the 50-acre parcel from residential to industrial/business.

Some New Wilmington residents have appealed the rezoning based on their objections to noise levels, traffic and chemicals which would be handled by the business.

After the zoning hearing board heard the appeal in November, it remanded the matter back to supervisors.

The hearing board stated supervisors must appoint a third, alternate zoning hearing board member so that the full board can hear the appeal. It ruled that supervisors erred in letting only two members hear the appeal in November after the third member excused himself.

County Commissioner Kenneth Seamans said Wednesday that Deerfield Farms is now operating out of a rented facility at 3992 Pa. Route 208.

He said that if the business is successful in obtaining the property on Pa. Route 158, it will invest more than $1 million in grain storage bins. Deerfield Farms has been in the rented facility since 2003. The company plans to build seven grain bins and seven solos as well as store fertilizer on 25 acres at the proposed site.

Commissioner Brian Beader commented in announcing his intention to support the motion that agriculture is the largest business in Mercer County.

Seamans said agriculture is central to the New Wilmington area. Commissioner Olivia Lazor was not at the commissioners’ Wednesday agenda meeting.

Seamans is a former Wilmington Township supervisor and left that post when he was appointed county commissioner. He leaves the commission post when his term expires at year’s end and will resume serving as supervisor.