TO THE PEOPLE OF CRYSTAL CITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS:

Thank you for taking an interest in Crystal City's recent actions regarding the PPG site.  You probably have a lot of unanswered questions about what the smelter deal means to Crystal City, Festus and the surrounding areas.  Frankly, we have a lot of questions too.  But we also have a lot of answers.   And we're getting more answers daily that we'd like to share with you.

We know that an agreement has been signed between the city of Crystal City, PPG and Wings Enterprises.  But it is not too late.

We are a growing group of concerned citizens that just want to be sure that our voices are heard.  Our goal is to stop the smelter.  We are not anti-jobs and we are not anti-city.  We are not sponsored by any other organization.

Our justification for our actions is that the smelter will change the very complexion of our community for generations to come and that this very important decision should not be made by a few in secret.  Let your voice be heard!

If you disagree with this objective you still owe it to yourself and your children to stay informed.  There is a forum for open discussion.  All opinions are welcome.

SO WHAT CAN I DO?

Stay in touch with this website.  Click here to add it to your favorites.  We can use your help in our cause to be heard.  There are three areas where you can help:

  1. Public Awareness - we have multiple activities in process to bring information to the people.  Contact Theresa to see how you can help.
  2. Research - to get answers we need research. We've done a lot already but there's much more to be done.   Contact Melody to contribute to our research.  The normal process is that research findings will be checked and verified by another member of the group before it is posted on the main site.
  3. Legal - we're interpreting legal documents and need help understanding them.  Contact Andrew to help.
You can always contact your local representatives and let them know how you feel about it.  We do not have to be controlled by big money and we can control our destiny.  

Email or call your city officials.

Attend all city council meetings.  Click here to see the schedule and agendas.

The least you can do is sign our petition.  In the best interest of the residents of the City and County, we feel that the Crystal City Council should have hired an independent firm to conduct a feasibility study on the use of the PPG site.

Click here to demand that the Council perform a Comprehensive Feasibility Study.    Be sure to revisit this site frequently for new and updated information.

THE CONTRACT IS HERE

We have a copy of the agreement. These are the official released documents from the sale of the PPG land. Here are the links:

REQUESTING ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

We have made formal requests for additional information.  Here is a post to the forum detailing the progress of that initiative.

THE LAST PLEA TO THE CITY

Former Mayor Terry Yesper addressed the Mayor and City Council on Monday, September 10th and made a series of comments and recommendations.  No, he is not running for mayor again!

Here is a copy of Terry's speech.

Unfortunately it fell on deaf ears.  That same evening, the city agreed to the terms and conditions of a contract between Crystal City, PPG and Wings Enterprises.  For the record, here is a copy of the minutes of the public and closed parts of the Sept. 10 City Council meeting.

TAKE A LISTEN TO RUSH ISLAND

Jack Ginnever took a trip to the Rush Island Power Station on 9/16 to see and hear what it's really like. Jim Kennedy (new tenant of the PPG land) and the DNR have made references that the new smelter will be similar to the emissions and noise levels of Rush Island.

The full story and audio clip are here in the forum.

WATCH THE PARTS OF THE CITY MEETING THAT THE TV STATIONS DIDN'T SHOW

INFORMATION THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS!!

Here's a quick subset of the information in the forum. Below is the model iron ore smelting facility for the new technology proposed for the Crystal City plant.   This facility is in Samarco Mineracao, Brazil which is North of Rio De Janeiro.  The buildings for the facility are to the upper left of the red circled area.



The red circled area is actually the waste product from the smelting process called a "slag pile".  For a perspective of scale, notice the yellow circled area.  That is a 1000 foot barge.

In comparison, the picture below (scaled to compare to the Brazil facility) is the Crystal City area.  The red circled area is the PPG property.  Of that area about 1/3 of it is unusable because of contamination.  Where will the slag pile be located?  Our best guess is the Bill Bradley farm directly to the North of the PPG property.  And, according to our calculations, the Crystal City plant could produce as much as 100 tons of slag per day.


Notice the population center in Crystal City compared to that of the Brazil plant.  It appears that Brazil is more concerned for the welfare of their people than we are!


WRITE TO BILL BRADLEY!!

Here's a speech that Bill Bradley made in Crystal City in 1999.   Is this the same Crystal City that he's talking about?  Bill are you selling your land so it can be a slag pile?

Click here to send an email to Bill Bradley's Sirius radio show, "American Voices".

Here's the address to Bill Bradley's lawyer:

Bill Bradley's Attorney
Allen & Co.
c/o Peter VanCleve
711 5th Ave.
New York, New York 10022

If you have any other contact information for Bill Bradley, please contact me.

WAKE UP CITIZENS OF CRYSTAL CITY!!!

Don't forget the forum!!  Click here for access.

Why Are We Here?

Hopefully you have found this site because you are concerned about the future of the cities of Crystal City and Festus, Missouri.  As you may or may not know, plans are underway to allow an iron ore smelting facility to occupy the PPG land in Crystal City.

It is our opinion, and hopefully yours, that this is a short sited strategy for the future of Crystal City - short sited because it will, in the short term, provide jobs and expand the revenue base of the surrounding area.  But in the long term, Crystal City will ride a roller coaster of economic trends that could leave this 'gem of Jefferson County' a wasteland in the future.

You may or may not also know that there is competition for the PPG land.  The developer of Crystal City Underground has also expressed interest in the PPG property.

Who Are You?

We are a group of concerned citizens from the Crystal City area.  We are not associated with the city government or any development firm.  This site was started by Jack Ginnever.  Here are Jack's initial comments when he started this site:

My name is Jack Ginnever and I own the old PPG hospital.  I have enjoyed what used to be the site of the old glass factory.   I am not a life long Crystal City resident.  I moved here from St. Charles County because I believe that this is the absolute best community within reach of the St. Louis area.  In my short three year stay here I have witnessed a large influx of independent economic interest in this community.

I bought the old PPG hospital with the intention of preserving it as an historic landmark for future generations to see.  It is one of two buildings that are the sole remnants of the old glass factory that gave Crystal City it's name.  Look here for a brief history of Crystal City.  Now I fear that the city's plans are not taking this historical perspective and may force me, and many others, to leave because of economic reasons.

The new industrial complex that is being promoted by the city of Crystal City is literally in my backyard.  I know that I do not have control over that property.  And, if I knew that the citizens of Crystal City could make an informed decision about their future, I would understand this course of action even though I firmly oppose it.   Until I'm convinced that the people have a say in this matter, I will not rest.

I can tell you that the old PPG property has the potential to put Crystal City on the map.  We, all of us, have to be diligent enough to make sure that our community is put on the map for the right reason and that it attracts people to our area for generations to come.

WATCH JACK'S PLEA TO PRESERVE THE GREAT HISTORY OF CRYSTAL CITY