Fifteen Scott City and Scott County officials took a tour of MME on Thursday, May 17, to clear up any misconceptions they may have about an ethanol plant. (Rachel Harper/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

After many questions were raised about building an ethanol plant near Scott City, Scott County officials decided to see one for themselves, visiting the Mid-Missouri Energy plant in Malta Bend Wednesday, May 17, for a tour and discussion.

MME General Manager Billy Gwaltney took the reins for the tour, but neighbors of MME and local farmers were also invited to help answer questions from Scott County officials about pollution, noise, odors and other concerns.

A number of local government officials from Saline County went on the tour, too. The Scott County contingent included 15 officials.

The tour included information on the history and operation of the plant.

One of the main concerns expressed by Scott County officials was whether the plant produced problem odors.

"You never smell it and if you smell something you can point at it" and address it, Gwaltney said. During the tour, there was one place that had an odd smell and members of the group did point out the source: a puddle of rainwater that had stagnated.

Gwaltney said if you have "good housekeeping practices," the only smell you may get on a windy day smells of "fresh baked bread."

The smells associated with ethanol are produced as the grain dries, and come from the incinerator and CO2 scrubbers, but they have very little volume, he said.

Gwaltney, left, discusses the making and storing process of dried distillers grains (DDGs), a by-product of the dry milling process, which is a high-protein animal feed. This product is marketed directly through Bartlett Grain Company. (Rachel Harper/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

Noises coming from the plant are minimal because the noisiest equipment is located inside a building. Gwaltney said it is "not as noisy as old traditional grain dryers and blowers."

Otto Erickson, a neighbor of MME who lives near the plant's fermenters, said he rarely gets smells from the plant.

MME once informed Erickson about a bearing problem that was causing a lot of noise.

"You have to be a good neighbor," Gwaltney said.

Saline County Presiding Commissioner Becky Plattner said, "I have to commend them for all they do."

Another question was posed about truck traffic versus rail traffic to and from the plant. Gwaltney said when the plant first opened there was about 80 percent rail traffic and 20 percent truck traffic and that each varied with the seasons.

Now, there is about 60 percent rail traffic and 40 percent truck traffic.

Plattner said the more trucks the better because truckers add to the county economy, stopping to buy food and gas, which increases sales tax revenues.

Norvelle "Brownie" Brown, Saline County Northern commissioner, said in his three years as a commissioner he has not heard one complaint about the plant.

Joe Taylor, 111 N. Linn, said, "I think it has been great for the community. The trains and highway make more noise than the plant. The smell reminds me of my wife making bread in the bread maker. If you didn't see it you wouldn't know it is here."

Kristen Fenner, local farmer of a five-generation family farm and Malta Bend High School agriculture teacher, said the plant has presented a lot of opportunities, not only for the farmers but students as well.

From left, General Manager of Mid-Missouri Energy Billy Gwaltney talks to the group of 15 visitors as Scott County Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger listens. (Rachel Harper/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

"We can take the wet distillers grain and feed it to our cattle," she said. "We can drive four miles and sell our corn."

The distillers grain is cheaper and has a higher rate of supplements for the cattle, she said.

She has students who have Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) programs with MME. One mows the yard and another one does odds and ends for the company.

MME has helped the Malta Bend school by allowing them to give students opportunities they might not otherwise have had, such as sending two FFA students to the Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) in Washington, D.C.

"That was an opportunity we wouldn't have if MME didn't step up and help us," Fenner said. "This is something to encourage the kids to get interested in agriculture."

Gwaltney said tours for school children have been very popular.

Fenner said a lot of her students' parents work at MME and she hears all the time that it is "the best place to work."

David Stanton, MME's lab technician, said the plant is up and running strong and they are getting calls from other people asking questions about problems at their plant.

Scott County Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger said, "I thought the tour was good. I think the neatness and housekeeping of the plant was more than expected. I was impressed."

Glenda Enderle, Scott County treasurer, said she was glad they came because there were a lot of things she found out about the plant that amazed her and mainly the "cleanliness. This has just been great."

Burger said the purpose of the trip was to clear up any misconceptions about ethanol production.

"They can be friendly neighbors," he said. Burger continued, "The comments from the neighbors were very helpful."

Contact Rachel Harper at

marshallcity@socket.net