03/09/2007

Officials hope to woo water bottlers

DDA officials think Nestle could add needed jobs

By PATRICK SULLIVAN

psullivan@record-eagle.com

KALKASKA — Members of the village of Kalkaska's Downtown Development Authority hope to woo a water bottling plant to northern Michigan.

John Wheeler, a DDA member, said he plans to arrange a tour of Nestle Waters North America's Ice Mountain bottling plant in Mecosta County to talk to the company about locating in Kalkaska.

"I think it's a resource that we have that's certainly a marketable product,” Wheeler said. "A lot of those oil-field boys could kind of cross over. Instead of pumping oil, pump water.”

Wheeler said he knows a water-bottling operation would bring opposition, but he said he believes Kalkaska needs jobs.

Unemployment in Kalkaska County averaged 7.5 percent in 2006, almost three percent above the national average, according to figures from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth.

Environmental attorney Jim Olson, who represented opposition to the Mecosta plant, said luring a water bottler is not worth the few jobs that may be created.

"It's a very intensive operation that strikes right at the heart of what defines us,” Olson said.

Because Nestle markets spring water, an operation in Kalkaska likely would entail four or five wells that would take groundwater near springs that feed lakes and streams, potentially lowering water levels and threatening habitat, Olson said.

A message left with Nestle seeking comment was not returned.

Village Manager Bill Cousins said the village has not had any discussion about a water bottling plant with the Kalkaska County Economic Development Corporation, which could facilitate grants or tax abatements.

Monica Evans, executive committee group chair of the Sierra Club Traverse Group, said she expects a bottling plant would spark strong opposition.

"I had a hard time believing it was even true when I first heard about it, it sounded so outrageous and outlandish,” she said.