DOBSON — More than 200 people filled the gymnasium of Surry Central High School Thursday night, with the crowd divided on whether the planned Fibrowatt power plant is good for Surry County.

On one side were those who said they were opposed to pollution and truck traffic, while on the other side were people in favor of job creation and increasing the tax base for Surry County.

The highly anticipated meeting was scheduled following an overflow of protesters at the last commissioner’s meeting in which the board voted to rezone property along N.C. 268 from residential agriculture use to manufacturing industrial.

Board Vice Chair Paul Johnson suggested the meeting so that the commissioners could set aside a night to listen to concerns and objections focused on Fibrowatt.

One man, who could not be identified because of the poor sound in the gymnasium, said he was a pilot and has been flying into the Elkin Airport for a number of years. He started out by asking commissioners if they had checked with the Federal Aviation Administration about the height of the proposed 299-foot smoke stack that would be part of the plant and its proximity to the airport.

“Did you realize that there is a 240-foot water tower out there right beside of it?” Chairman Craig Hunter responded.

Then the man asked if all the protesters had come to the meeting in vain.

“I want to know if this is a done deal? I want to know if we are all wasting our time?” asked the man.

“You know, my son was scheduled to play baseball tonight and I have chosen to be here tonight. Some of the smut that is going around on the Internet and yet we have given you guys the opportunity to talk to us and ask questions,” Hunter responded, referring to e-mails opponents to the plant have been sending .

“You didn’t answer my question,” the man replied.

“We have not signed anything with Fibrowatt,” Hunter fired back.

“We just assumed it was a done deal,” the man said.

“You can assume anything you want to. It’s a free country,” Hunter retorted.

Rick Chatham also spoke out during the meeting during the time when Terry Walmsley, vice president of environmental and public affairs for Fibrowatt, was answering questions.

“I live in Elkin, on the railroad tracks. I am fairly new to this process. I would ask if Fibrowatt would give us more time?” Chatham asked.

“We held an open house two weeks ago. There is still a long process to go through. This is not happening quickly. We have been in the process of working on this project for more than two years,” Walmsley answered.

“Will you sit down with us across the table and answer some of our questions?” Chatham asked.

“I think it is a bit inappropriate to say that we haven’t been here,” Walmsley responded.

When Chatham attempted to ask a third question, Johnson told Chatham that he asked his questions and to please sit down to let others speak.

Chatham refused, continuing to speak into the microphone, but was cut off by Hunter, who asked a Surry County deputy to escort Chatham away from the podium.

“You discredit your entire group that you have been speaking in behalf of when you do things like that,” Hunter said.

Tony Childs spoke in defense of Fibrowatt moving to Surry County.

“When I first heard about Fibrowatt I did not know whether I was for it or against it. I am satisfied that our commissioners are acting so respectfully. They have acted in our best interest. There are always going to be some people who are going to be disappointed. I think that alternative sources of energy are a good thing. I think we have to keep that ball rolling. If we are going to compete, that's just the world we live in today. I support it,” Childs said.

Both the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce and the Yadkin Valley chamber sent representative who voiced support for the Fibrowatt project.

Ted Ashby, chairman of the Surry County Economic Development Partnership also spoke in favor of bringing Fibrowatt.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.