Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 6/12/15


A North Carolina Supreme Court judge has ruled that Nash County’s purchase of land in 2010 to accommodate a new Sanderson Farms chicken plant that never came to be was legal, according to a report by the Rocky Mount Telegram.

Two Nash County landowners sued the county in September, arguing that officials broke state law by failing to hold a public hearing or give proper notice prior to buying the land, the newspaper reported.

But attorneys for the county said that issue was resolved last month when officials held a public hearing and voted to ratify the purchase, according to the report.

Nash County for years had been courting Sanderson, which had announced plans to build a new poultry complex in North Carolina, but local opposition sunk the effort. Residents mainly feared pollution to local waterways.

In March, Sanderson finally announced the company selected the town of St. Pauls and Robeson County as the site its new poultry processing plant and wastewater treatment facility.

The North Carolina state Golden LEAF Foundation awarded $1.12 million to two Robeson County municipalities to pay water and sewer infrastructure needed to accommodate the new facilities.

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