February 9, 2025

GARNETT — The closing of Garnett’s ethanol plant planned for Oct. 1 will likely have far-reaching implications for the area economy, residents and businesses. East Kansas Agri-Energy announced it would suspend operation because of sharply higher prices and an expected shortage of corn because of this year’s drought, and sluggish demand for ethanol.. Among the affects as reported by the Anderson County Review — up to 35 local employees are expected to be laid off when the plant suspends production. Cattle producers who rely on corn by-products from the plant to feed their livestock will have to look elsewhere at a time when forage will be at a premium. The ethanol plant is the city of Garnett’s biggest water customer and city manager Joyce Martin said she’ll has to rewrite the budget she had prepared for next year. “I had to start all over again,” Martin told city commissioners Tuesday. The ethanol plant had an agreement to pay the city a guaranteed minimum amount over the next three years and the shutdown impacts that, she said. The city may not get the money they committed,” she said. “When you lose $162,000 out of a fund, that causes a major overhaul and I’ve done just about everything I can to shift, to reduce, but our budgets are mainly salaries and services and there’s very little we can do to cut out,” she said. Martin said she’ll have copies of the revised budget to commissioners next week.
Wednesday, Aug. 15, 3 p.m.

Leave a Reply

Related News