Residents lashed out Monday night at state agencies and Denton Terminal LLC, the company proposing to bring a gasoline distribution center to FM2164 east of Sanger.
Monday's meeting at the Courthouse on the Square was scheduled to inform the public on the types of permits the company is seeking from the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, but the Commissioners Courtroom quickly turned into a stump for project opponents to air their grievances.
"I was real pleased with the turnout," said Sam Alexander, a Sanger resident who with his wife, Kelli, is heading up residents' efforts to block the facility. "I felt like people got to air some of the concerns they had."
Before the meeting, a number of the residents wielded protest signs on street corners outside the courthouse. Sam Alexander said they received a total of 332 signatures on petitions in support of their cause.
After presentations were made by both state agencies, the public was given a chance to speak. Twenty people had signed up to comment. Residents applauded each other as they took turns at the lectern, and lobbed comments, whistles and jeers when agency officials or Denton Terminal representatives made comments or gave answers that the crowd disagreed with.
Resident Richard Bosse was among those to raise concerns about emissions, including those from trucks arriving at and leaving the facility. Other concerns were the general odor around the facility and fumes from empty trucks coming back to the station to be filled up.
Kelli Alexander read from notes pointing out past issues with Explorer Pipeline, owner of the pipeline that would be used for the facility. She commented on damage from spills associated with the company and wanted to petition for public and environmental safety hearings, challenging TCEQ by quoting its own mission statement regarding keeping people safe and healthy.
Her statements drew among the loudest of whistles and applause from the audience.
TxDOT representatives received their share of verbal attacks from residents who took issue with the agency's considering any permits with the current condition of FM2164.
Gloria Delaney recounted the day her stepdaughter was involved in a fatal accident on the road. Jeff Fairchild, executive pastor of New Life Church, noted the numerous members of his congregation who use FM2164 to either come up from Denton or down from Sanger.
Other residents added to the traffic complaints with tales of accidents that had happened on their property or vehicles crashing through their property fencing.
FM2164, a two-lane road, has a speed limit of 60 mph south of FM2153, where the project is planned. Dozens of trucks daily would travel nearly five miles on FM2164 from Loop 288 to the site.
When asked about the speed limit, TxDOT officials said speeds are reviewed over time or by public request for an assessment.
On Tuesday morning, residents were already planning their request.
Residents also worry it will not be a matter of "if" but "when" accidents occur on the road and, once the facility is in place, they asked if the company was prepared to deal with possibly being pulled into any lawsuits from those accidents.
Former state Rep. Jim Horn, who called himself "a very pro-business guy," said Denton Terminal representatives had chosen to put the facility in the worst possible location.
He said he hopes in the end there will be a ribbon-cutting for the business - just somewhere else.
Echoing the sentiment that the facility would be taking its chances with accidents, Horn vowed to use his influence in Austin to make it so the facility could be held responsible for accidents that occur.
Horn is the husband of County Judge Mary Horn, who has also expressed opposition to the distribution center.
Already, Denton County has passed a resolution with its concerns about the facility, and Sanger school district officials have already made it known that they oppose the project. The city of Sanger has remained neutral.
Even in the face of the opposition, Denton Terminal representative Stephen Senter said the company is going to keep doing what it is legally bound to do to build its facility.
"It was about exactly what I expected," Senter said after the meeting. "I understand people are passionate about their feelings about the roadway. I hope some of their questions were answered, [and] we'll answer any additional questions and move forward on our project."
Senter said residents have asked about other possible locations for the facility, and he asked one caller suggesting a location to send a map for the company to look at. However, he said, work will move forward.
"We want to be in the best location for our business, so we will consider [suggestions]," he said. "At the same time, we won't stop what we have been working on for two years to turn another direction."
BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is blewis@dentonrc.com.
