DAVENPORT - Scott County's Planning and Zoning Commission rejected a bid late Tuesday night in order to rezone an area in rural Scott County.
About 200 Scott Countians jam packed the Scott County Administrative Center Tuesday to speak about their concerns with Orascom Construction Industries.
The Egyptian fertilizer producer proposed building a $1.3 billion fertilizer plant just north of 200th Street outside of Davenport. The proposed plant would go up right across the street from the Nauman Sod Farm. However late Tuesday night, the Planning and Zoning Commission rejected that request.
Many people came to the county's Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting hoping to speak for more than two minutes. Because so many people planned to speak, the public comment period could only be two minutes per person.
"If I can't complete my speech as one gentleman did, I will leave," Scott County resident Kent Arp angrily said to the commission.
Emotions were high for many family farmers around the area. Some think killing 318 acres of farm land for a fertilizer company would be a bad idea. Some are also concerned it would contaminate the water in the area.
"How fast and how far do my kindergarten son and my second grade daughter have to run to get out of harms way?" Scott County resident David Arp said.
Others though like the idea of building a fertilizer plant in the area. The proposed plant was said to increase tax revenue for the Davenport Community School District. The plant was supposed to create 165 full time jobs.
"In ten years we have to ask ourselves, have we done everything we can to bring jobs to Scott County?" one teacher said to the commission.
The plea though was not enough. The majority of the people who came Tuesday night did not want the fertilizer company building in the area.
Scott County's Board of Directors will still look at the plan in its next meeting. The land in Scott County would first have to be rezoned though if Orascom was to build its plant there.