Mandy
The Lyon County Commission voted to table the city of Emporia’s annexation request for the property at 800 Road 160, pushing the decision to on or before Jan. 22, 2026. The matter was discussed during the commission’s regular Thursday meeting.
The proposed 58-acre property would serve as an expansion site for A1 Pump and Jet Services, an Emporia-based commercial and industrial waste management company. The business plans to collect food waste from regional factories, convert it into compost, and use the final product as fertilizer. A1 is seeking annexation to access city utilities for its future facility.
Commission Requests More Details Before Moving Forward
The commission postponed the decision so A1 Pump and Jet Services could submit more detailed information regarding the intended site operations. The delay also allows time for the newly elected Emporia City Commission members to take office before further action is taken.
During the meeting, landowners near the proposed site, A1 owner Ronald McCoy, Emporia Planning and Zoning Administrator Justin Givens, County Zoning and Floodplain Management Director Sam Seeley, and the commissioners engaged in over an hour of discussion about the project.
Nearby property owners questioned McCoy about site plans, containment measures, water usage, and potential odor concerns, as well as the project’s possible impact on property values.
McCoy insisted that all requested documents and data were already available but stated he was notified of the meeting with little time to prepare.
“We thought this was strictly a procedural process,” McCoy said. “We had not received any request for information. We have everything the County Commission asked for; they simply never requested it.”
Heated Exchanges and Communication Concerns
Local resident John Alvarado voiced dissatisfaction with the presentation, stating he expected McCoy to arrive fully prepared.
“If I were him, I would have walked in with a suitcase full of information,” Alvarado said.
Just before commissioners tabled the issue, Commissioner Chris Bartel described a phone call he received from Emporia City Commissioner Jamie Sauder, claiming Sauder was aggressive and attempted to pressure him into approving the annexation.
“It came across to me as almost a threat,” Bartel said. “He told me, ‘This is just procedural. Make it happen.’ I hung up before saying something I shouldn’t.”
“We talked for two minutes. I asked him about his concerns and what action the county was expected to take,” Sauder explained. “We agreed to speak again in the morning, but that follow-up conversation never happened.”
Sauder also shared his belief that the A1 Pump and Jet Services expansion “has good potential” and would be a positive development for Emporia.
Facility Could Still Move Forward Without Annexation
Despite the delay, McCoy still has the option to build the facility without annexation, as the land is already zoned for heavy industrial use. In that case, the project would move through the county zoning office, avoiding the need for immediate County Commission approval.
Conclusion
The Emporia annexation request has been temporarily halted as county leaders seek additional information and await new commission members.
FAQs
1. Why was the annexation proposal delayed?
The commission tabled the request to allow A1 Pump and Jet Services to provide more detailed site information and to wait for newly elected Emporia City Commissioners to be sworn in.
2. What will the proposed facility do?
The facility would collect food waste, convert it into compost, and use the final product for fertilizer, requiring city utilities through annexation.
3. Can A1 Pump and Jet Services proceed without annexation?
Yes. Since the land is zoned for heavy industrial use, the company could move forward using the county zoning process instead of city annexation.