By Jeff Whitten, freelance correspondent
A proposed nickel refinery off Belfast Keller at the former Caesarstone site drew ire from residents during Tuesday’s meeting of Richmond Hill City Council.
Several spoke out against the project and the company behind it, Oklahoma-based Westwin Elements, citing concerns ranging from the refinery’s potential impact on public health and the environment to the company itself.
The meeting also included a briefing from Bryan County Attorney Aaron Kappler, who spoke to council members regarding their vote Tuesday evening and a similar vote earlier Tuesday by County Commissioners in which both declared the former Caesarstone site a public nuisance. Those actions followed claims made by Westwin CEO KaLeigh Long during a town hall Monday that the 45 acre site was contaminated and will need cleanup.
Caesarstone manufactured quartz countertops at the site from 2015 until it closed in January 2024. Westwin’s CEO has said the company wants to buy the site.
Kappler told Richmond Hill City Council the site won’t be sold until officials can determine if it is contaminated with silica, arsenic and littered with barrels of hazardous waste.
“If there is contamination out there, we’ll figure it out,” he said, noting that the company responsible for polluting the site will then be held responsible for cleanup.
“If they don’t pay for it to be fixed we will put a lien on the property and take care of it that way,” Kappler said, but added that the investigation into whether hazardous material at the site won’t get answers overnight.
“We’re going to get an answer on what’s going on out there,” he said. “It ain’t going to be tonight, it ain’t going to be tomorrow, but we’re going to figure this out.”
No one at Tuesday’s meeting spoke in favor of the proposed refinery, while those opposed to the project urged city leaders to do what they can to prevent Westwin from locating in Richmond Hill. One woman, Jennifer Hardin, asked City Council to file opposition to the project with the EPD, while Corey Foreman suggested the city use zoning as a tool to prohibit the refinery from becoming a reality.
Ben Kirsch, legal director of the Ogeechee Riverkeeper, told council members ORK is opposed to the refinery due to risks for humans and the environment, while real estate agent Amy Mitchell told council she polled eight agents following claims at Monday’s town hall that property values will increase if Westwin locates in Richmond Hill.
“Every single one said, without prompting, that they believe property values will decrease in Richmond Hill if this project goes through,” she said.
The company has promised to provide hundreds of local jobs paying $90,000, and proponents say the U.S. needs to produce its own sources of nickel, considered a mineral vital to U.S. national security due to its use in electronics and defense technology. Most of the world’s nickel is currently mined overseas.
Apart from concerns over environmental and public health issues — including transportation of hazardous materials and what would happen in the event of a hurricane or other disaster -- some who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting were skeptical of Westwin’s ability to do what the company is promising to do. They referenced various media reports of lawsuits involving the company, which is threatening to sue Bryan County and Commission Chairman Carter Infinger for defamation.
One woman, Amber Pindell, told city council members Tuesday that the four-year-old company has been involved in legal battles over the company’s refinery in Lawton, Okla. – a project that has since been abandoned – and added, “I wouldn’t want to date someone who’s been through three divorces in four years.”
It’s unclear what happens next. Richmond Hill and Bryan County issued a joint statement Wednesday regarding the claims by Long that the former Caesarstone property had “significant silica contamination,” “elevated levels of arsenic,” and that there were “hazardous waste barrels,” on the property.
“These allegations are extremely serious and warrant immediate investigation and, if true, enforcement action,” the release said.
It went on to note the city and county will, if claims about the conditions about the site are true, “jointly pursue remediation efforts, ensure any public nuisance caused by any environmental contamination is appropriately abated, and will hold the responsible parties accountable.”
In addition to asking for patience, officials noted Richmond Hill officials also “will evaluate whether any conditions exist that impact its zoning ordinances, permitting, land use and comprehensive planning. That process too will take some time, and the facts and evidence will guide any future action,” according to statement.
“The County and City are committed to transparency during this process,” the statement continued. “The County and City will jointly update the public when information is available.”
In other business:
City Council approved several items in a single vote as part of a consent agenda, meaning there was no discussion.
Among the items approved was the purchase of a 2026 F-350 pickup for $68,517 for stormwater operations. The money will come out of the city’s Special Local Option Sales Tax revenue.
Similarly, the city will use SPLOST funds buy a Caterpillar D3 LGP dozer for $159,870 and a mini excavator for $129,035.
Also approved were the $125,193 purchase of vehicles for Richmond Hill Fire Department, using SPLOST funds; and approved an $118,125 purchase of phase 1 upgrades to the water system. Funding comes from the water and sewer fund.
All four purchases are part of the city’s previously approved capital improvement plans, according to the city.
Also approved under the consent agenda was fixing the city’s part of the Brisbon Road Harris Trail pedestrian bridge at $859,800. The project is being done in conjunction with Bryan County.
City Council also approved the acceptance of various maintenance bonds in conjunction with the Heartwood development. Among them were a $1.64 million maintenance bond for Heartwood Avenue Extension; a $583,295.81 performance bond for Heartwood POD 4, Phase 1D; a $1.2 million maintenance bond for River Crossing Townhomes and a $2.7 million performance bond for Del Webb Phase 3A.
Such bonds are usually financial guarantees by the developer to ensure projects will be completed and infrastructure associated with the project will be maintained after the work is done.