Poultry Meeting Outcome

Controversy brews over a series of new poultry plants in Oklahoma. Ottawa County Rural Water District #2 held a meeting tonight to listen to residents concerns. It was a heated discussion at the Miami Civic Center as Four State residence voiced their concerns over the building of 90 poultry plants in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. Nearly 500 people made it to Monday nights meeting. Ottawa County Rural Water District #2 held the meeting in an effort to determine whether or not to sell water to the Simmons Company. The water would be used for nearly 90 chicken houses that Simmons hopes to build near the Narcisse area in Ottawa County. Land owners are concerned the concentration of the houses in such a small area will lead to pollution problems and lower the value of their property. The poultry plants are being built for prosper farms. A spokesman for the company says the residents concerns are merely a misunderstanding. Construction of the chicken houses has temporarily been stopped after landowners contacted the state with concerns. No decision has been made as of yet. Water District Chairman Royce McNair says a final decision will not be made until the next meeting. That will be held January 21st, 2002.