smells??? i and my wife grew up on dairy farms. we live on a farm. the plant smells like feed. like a feed mill. some times a bakery.. ever hear anyone wanting to shut dont a bread store? dont like, move to chicago.. smell that. all of the energy to produce corn is reflected in the price of corn, and ethanol is still cheaper than gas (janesville has the highest priced ethanol ive ever seen). think gas magicaly out of the ground? all sqeeky clean? think an oil refinery is great for the enviorment?. all of the byproducts, mostly high value feed, need to be accounted for. soon they will remove the oil from the corn to increase the value of the feed and produce a new product to sell.. next step is celluosic ethanol, which will product 85% of the carbon of gas. or less. im more worried about the chemical plant on the othe side of town. the fire department cant plan for a catostrophic event because the exploion will destroy the firehouse.

Ethanol does not reduce our dependence on oil ONE BIT. Don't buy into the spin that has been put out there by these idiots. When you factor in all the input costs to produce ethanol...The fuel required by combines to harvest the corn needed, fuel used to transport the corn...fertilizer used to grow the corn (fertilizer is petroleum based, of course). Then the massive amount of energy required by the ethanol plant to distill the corn into ethanol, and finally the fuel needed to transport the ethanol away to market.
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The whole process uses more energy, and fuel, then what is saved by using it as a substitute for gasoline. Many studies have been done to show this. This whole thing is just big government giving into special interests, and not giving a damn about the public. If the product is so great, you would not need the billions of $$$'s that have been pumped into this sham in the form of subsidies, and then mandating the garbage onto consumers.

Ethanol plants stink, are noisy and emit unhealthy pollution and therefore should not be built within what, 5 miles of a domicile? 10 miles? Wind farms are noisy and some say that the electromagnetic waves they emit are unhealthy and therefore should not be built within ½ mile of a domicile (per Magnolia) and that they are also dangerous to birds and bats, some of which may be endangered. Solar panels used to generate electricity need a lot of land and since they use up the sunlight they cannot co-exist on farmland like wind farms so they can only be built on inarable land that does not support a thriving ecosystem.
Alternative energy, it seems, appears to be just as unwelcome and resisted just as fiercely as fossil fuels.

I live very close to this stink . It is horrible. It doesn't just smell some of the time, it is every day ! I sure hope something good comes out of this . I'm sick of smelling yeast or what smells like yeast 24/7

Whether or not I agree with his opinion, I can respect his perseverance.

I find it ironic that people want to shut this down yet keep GM open. (Granted they may not be the same people) I can hear the GM plant over a mile away and while I do not have the data, I can certainly bet that emmisions from GM and its suppliers far exceed this one plant in Milton. The area around GM is a huge eyesore to this community and while the ethanol plant is not great to look at its visual impact is certainly less appauling that the GM smoke stack.

I do feel for the direct neighbors but they should really throttling the Milton residents that bought into this co-op, paving the way for the possibility of a plant in the first place. Classic case of NIMBY.

At this point, I bet the ethanol plant wishes it was someplace other than Milton as well.

peacegirl… The fact of the matter is that the “city”, and I mean the citizens and taxpayers of Milton, have a long way to go before we’ll see any profit from this corndoggle…20 years to be exact, because that’s how long the TIF district is for. Fact is, we’ll likely never see the $4 million plus dollars we (taxpayers) fronted UE because (hopefully) they will be bankrupt long before then… Kiowamohican gets it! WW

Do any of you who think this is ridiculous live in Milton or even near it? I am betting most of you do not. I have lived in Milton ALL my life and the ethanol plant sucks! The company must have huge back pockets coz' Mayor Bruce and alot of city council members are in the pocket too! Bruce doesn't live close enough to the plant to smell it or get cancer or any other crappy breathing problems from this nasty plant! I say GO JOHN! The city did this ethanol deal sneakily from the start and they are profiting from it! That is sad! Freedom of speech - especially when it is 100% TRUE! KUDOS!

10% ETHANOL? our 95 minivan got 20mpg on straight gas for years, still gets 20mpg. want mileage? go order a diesel jetta, 40mpg., our mid 90's diesel VW gets 45mpg city & highway... with 250,000 miles on it, 10cents/mile! (without giant batteries)

DOLLARS STAY HOME: wisconsin currently produces enough ethonal to replace 20% of our fuel useage.

DRILL MORE HERE? clinton signed over 68 million acres to oil companies..most in alaska next to ANWR (navel oil reserve) not one drop of oil produced yet. they can drill there first!!!

PRICE OF CORN? still only 8 cents in box of corn flakes. most of increase cost is fuel (to move and process), and falling value of US dollar. input cost for growing corn have tripled or more in last couple of years...

SMELL? i drive by there alot, smells very yummy.. once in a while they have burnt a batch. im sure it cost them money and who hasnt burt a cookie or two? 1st model T was to be powered by homegrown ethonal, but then oil was waste

NOISE? gravel trucks from Frank bothers are louder. trains go past our house daily or more.

PRICE OF HIS HOUSE? john tried to sell his house years ago, before the ethonal plant was thought of, he wanted a high price for even that time and its a very small lot with roads on three sides that have had lots of noisy traffic many years before he bought it on a sheriff sale. that location is BAD with or with out an ethonal plant...drive in and ask him what he wants for it.... $250K !

cry me a river what r u going to do to dorn have your budduies go beat them up too
e.a.d.

beachsexton...thank you for more information regarding the protester. now i feel i can make a better decision about how i feel on this issue. it looks as if this person seems to push the envelope with rules and regulations; if not totally disregardful and unlawful. it seems that many posters here don't want to look at the flip side of the coin. it's GET BIG BUSINESS at all costs. i don't care if i get worse performance. i don't care if it costs me more. i don't care if it's subsidized. if it means ONE less barrel of ARAB oil then so be it. i am willing to make BIG TIME sacrifices to get off oil as much as possible and to get rid of the big suvs and trucks that block vision and guzzle gas. the mind set that if something hurts one person then let's outlaw or do away with has become the mantra of fanatics.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I, for one, am sick to death of beachsexton knowing EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING. It is unforgivable that someone would be so unkind as to make the statements made in these comments. John Dorn's personal life (be beachsexton correct or not) has nothing to do with the ethanol issue. I know John Dorn casually and a few of his neighbors better. His neighbors are just as frustrated as him - just show it in a different way. No one can be sure how they would react if they had to go through what these people have for the last few years. Before anyone puts too much stock in what beachsexton says please click on her name (in red) and see how many times she has ranted on since January 23, 2008. Pay particular attention to the July 11th response by Sue Gavigan on the Milton Township Police article. Notice that after Sue Gavigan challenged some of beachsexton's "facts", beachsexton "left he building" only to go on to to give her (mis)information on other subjects. I think it's time that we all start making bets on if beachsexton will be running for vice president under McCain or Obama - with all this knowledge we surely need this person in the White House. (Or anywhere else far away from here!) As for the ethanol issue - you go, John and all of your neighbors too - wishing you the best of luck!

Oh, and I don't think what Mr. Dorn is doing is a bad thing in any way. It's easy to criticize someone when your not the one who took a substantial financial loss because of idiotic public policy.

Thanks for the comments Zoom, beachsexton, and Pigbrain. By the way my screen name is Kiowa Mohican. Named after, who else but the monster greyhound ;-)
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Zoom: you are dead on about the E85, but one thing you did not mention is that the "reduced" price you pay at the pump is actually not reduced at all, but lower in price because of what else, but ANOTHER government subsidy! You are right on about ethanol being being much less efficient then gasoline. If ethanol was produced, and sold with NO government intervention; via mandates and subsidies, not only would the price be higher per gallon then gasoline. You would would have a fuel that would get you approx 20-30% less millage per gallon, and on top of that you would not even be reducing any dependence of foreign oil (which was the big selling point of this whole bone doggle) because it takes as much petroleum based energy (if not more) to produce it then it then it ends up creating. Obviously the industry would fall flat on its face if left to market principals. So consequently you have the need for government intervention in the form of mandates, and subsidies.
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It quite frankly is some of the most moronic public policy ever conceived. Just another example of how big lobby interests often take precedent over the interest of the consumer, and public in general.

Until you walk a mile in a person’s shoes, you cannot possibly understand or appreciate their POV…

Property owners adjacent to the ethanol plant were never given an opportunity to have their voices heard… The deal to buy the land on which the plant now sits was done on the “qt.,” and nobody outside a select few knew what the future of that site was going to be. Then the city signed a developer’s agreement to build this noxious monstrosity behind closed doors!

Even after the “deal” became public, UE’s future neighbors were not to be heard…because they live in the township… Milton’s Mayor was heard to say on more than one occasion that they didn’t matter because they didn’t live in the city. So much for a sense of “community” Mr. Bruce!

So Mr. Dorn’s messages are a little over the top!!! So what! He’s frustrated! Justifiably so if you ask me! This whole thing has been a snowball job from the get go! Anyone who spoke out against it was deemed anti-farmer, which is akin to being anti-American! As I see it the only hope these people have is that the ethanol industry goes belly up! By the looks of things, that may not take too long. You go John…a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do!

WW

Beachsexton.
The way you openly bashed Mr. Dorn is nothing short of pathetic. You should be very proud of yourself. Thanks for making the world a better place.

Kio got it right.
http://www.glennbeck.com

Kio hit it on the head. Run, I have never met John. He is hurting the greater public by failing to follow the laws himself. A sign is acceptable, but many signs are not. That is why there are sign ordinances. They regulate every sign from a rummage sale sign to a business sign. Does freedom of speech have limits if it breaks other laws? No one is telling him his speech is restricted. Signs are restricted for a reason. Too big, too bright, too many are all valid reasons to restrict signage. What would you say if the local gas station tattered their property with advertising signs? Better yet what if the management of that gas station did the same, but with protest signs? Why would this be any different?

If he calls this a residential property, then it is zoned as such. If that is the case then he is breaking the law running a business from it. If it is zoned, or permitted to be a mixed use property, then he must abide by the same laws as any other business property would. That includes signage, permits, and taxes.

This is only personal in the broader sense of the moral argument defining why we have laws, and the pros/cons to obeying those laws. Regardless of the individual, the underlying argument is the same. Mr. Dorn has just decided take this fight to another level. It is not just about his property. Some of his neighbors have a valid argument here, but his extreme measures have the possibility of distracting their message. He clearly runs a business at this location. That changes things in my mind. That area is now a business park that will soon have a major highway routed past his front door, and another near his back. The other advantage he has is his home is on two busy county roads. Whining about your property being worth nothing is literally whining about nothing. The tax rolls prove it is worth about $140,000. The fact you were able to refinance is more proof. Whining about your home being damaged by this plant to the extent you "can not even give it away" is foolish. Mr. Dorn is damaging his neighbors valid message by being his extremist ways. I understand his frustration, but if he took a step back he could be shown the positive side of a seemingly bad decision.

Call me a cynic, but I am willing to bet that those people that gave the green light to this plant live nowhere near it.

What about the heavy-handed raising of assessments on a year when literally no houses (in my area) have sold? People running Milton need to listen to the people more.

(I hate when I mispell words. Please ignore those.)

kio, good points. You also forgot to mention the reduced effeciency of Ethenol. The lower price of E85 at the pump is offset by reduced fuel mileage.

E85 actually has a very high octane rating. An engine could be desined with much higher compression, to take advantage of the high octane, and would have higher fuel mileage. Unfortunately, an engine designed specifically for E85 won't run on regular gasoline. Since we could never supply all of our demand for fuel with E85 alone, those more efficient engines will never be introduced. Ethenol is a supreme boondoggle.

he says his property isn't worth a dime and he couldn't give it away??? Hey I will buy it for a dime! Heck I'll give you 2 dimes for it if that is the case.

Honestly don't over exagertate. I would like a piece of property to call my own even if I had to live next to the ethenol plant.

beachsexton: sounds like you have a personal problem with John - maybe you should take it up with him and say it to his face. I'm sure you would feel different if an undesirable business moved close to your home and the property value dropped because of it.

To me his protest doesn't seem over the top. He isn't harming or disturbing anyone and freedom of speech is one of the great things about the US. While exercising his freedom of speech may irritate you, he has the right. Don't read the article or drive by his home if it bothers you so much.

I don't have any problems with ethanol. The problem I have is when the government starts MANDATING it in fuels. If it's such a great product, the free markets will reward it by massive consumer demand for it. If it could be produced at a price far below that of the current $4.00 (or so) gasoline price, then you'd see big consumer demand for it. The problem is that it takes so much energy to produce ethanol that ironically in order to produce a gallon of ethanol, it requires about a gallon of petroleum products to do it (some studies have said it actually takes more). So at best, you have a total wash, and are not cutting down on petroleum consumption one bit. If anything you are increasing their usage
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This is just another example of HORRIBLE government policy which has intervened into free markets; via mandates, and created all sorts of unintended consequences (via grain prices, food prices, ext). All the while not driving down oil dependence ONE BIT. ADM, and and the various big ethanol lobbies, really scammed the morons in Washington on this one. Making it great windfall for their own interests, but hurting the general consumer big time.

My point with the taxes is clearly pointed out by showing he has run a successful business from his house ever since closing up the shop in Milton. He fails to mention that his home in the country has turned into a valuable acre in a prime location. He fails to look at his art as a job, and in doing so failed to see the income as taxable. Taxes have a due date for a reason. Sure, this is not the best situation for anyone, but he could also choose to look at it from another angle. Not to say he should not end his fight, just to view the situation as multifaceted. Many homes in America find themselves in a business or industrial area over time. Look at Milwaukee, Madison, and even downtown Janesville near GM. The good side is that John has a valid business he runs from his home. He could turn all of this around and see his property could be in a prime spot after the HWY 26 and 59 relocations. He does not want to tell anyone about that. Why refinance your home if you did not think it was worth anything? John, you have a valid point. You do not have to run your business under the radar, say you home is unable to sell, and take other steps to maximize your "losses" in an apparent attempt to gain reparations. Stop working the system and just work. I do not feel you add validity to your cause when it is apparent you do not abide by the laws yourself.

Reasonableness has been overlooked here. The voice of the people complaining about the ethanol plant are going to be overlooked or ignored by the the rest of the community they are trying to convince. The majority of the people will disassociate themselves from extremist approaches. The argument is valid. The tactics are childish.

I am for the plant if it can stand on it's own without subsidies. I am against the tactics, incentives, and subsidies that allowed the plant to go up without more debate. Having said that, I also think it is pathetic to see Mr. Dorn tattering his land with signage. As for his property value, all property has a price. It may not be the dream price he wants, but it has a price. Anyone could have property and have a trashy neighbor move in next door. Are you able to sue them? Do you do any good for the rest of the neighbors by sprinkling signs over your property protesting the neighbor? Time to be an adult John. Be happy you have a home. Be happy your business has a prime location now. Like I said, I will take your property if you want to prove yourself wrong. Yes, you could "give it away", but you know better. If we could only come back to look at the value of this property in 10 years.

True Kiki. Market value and assessed value are two different things. A home is virtually worthless if no one is willing to buy it. I think that is Mr. Dorn's assertion, though the land would certainly be worth something.

Mr. Dorn is being assessed property taxes for the value of his property which is $143,700 according to Rock County.
His property is worth more than a dime BUT only if you have a buyer.
As previously mentioned, we are in a bad real estate market regardless of where you live.

People with signs and opinions are like orifices, everybody has one. I understand this guy’s plea, but I also think his signs look like trash (mainly due to overkill), which will only help to draw down the popularity of the area more. Let’s also not forget that the housing market is in a major slump now, which as more to do with the lowering value of his home then any ethanol plant. He made the paper, so I’m sure he feels good about himself. He’d be better served and would accomplish more writing letters to various local and state officials and start a petition, then making signs.

Grain based ethenol deserves to die.

I guess I'm just wondering why it's important to include this in your post, beachsexton:
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"I also see that you are delinquent on your property taxes. Let me guess, that money went to pay the warrant, per CCAP, that the IRS had issued on the unpaid sales taxes from the 2006 judgment the Wisconsin Department of Revenue took against you."
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What, exactly, does that have to do with the article?

If anybody refuses to think there is a problem, they should give these local people their phone number to be called on bad odor days. Go out there and hear the noise, smell the stink, and then make a comment.

I don't know John personally, but I know he really fixed up that property from what it was.

It sounds like mayor Bruce is still in the companies back pocket too.

Regardless on my stance for or against the plant, I think this protest is over the top. When does a valid protest turn into too much? To me, this is it. Milton Township should have some ordinance that applies to signs. Most cities and towns have laws that apply to signage with regards to the size, the number, length of time displayed, and sometimes Any signs in the right of way should be forced to be taken down. All signs that could be a traffic hazard should be taken down. Johns house sits in the middle of a 3 intersection triangle. Anyone turning should be given a clear view to avoid and accident. Any oncoming cars should be given the same. I can not say that my opinion differs much from John Dorns, but the lifelong chip he has on his shoulder is causing him to become obnoxious about it. Mr. Dorn, you say that your house is worth nothing, but from what I read on the assessors page, it is clearly worth between $137,900 to $143,700. While there, I also see that you are delinquent on your property taxes. Let me guess, that money went to pay the warrant, per CCAP, that the IRS had issued on the unpaid sales taxes from the 2006 judgment the Wisconsin Department of Revenue took against you. From the looks of it, not only are you wrong about the value of your home, but you skirt the fact you run a successful business from it. In fact, the Township should be taxing you for the business also. Aside from the normal sign laws, when you run a business, an entirely new set of laws applies with regards to signs and permits. Maybe if you looked at your side jobs as a business, you would see your home as a well placed business property with prime frontage on a pair of fairly busy roads. On top of that, in a few years you will have HWY 26 in your back yard due to the interchange. Also, in a year or so you will be a few hundred yards off the new realigned HWY 59! Things change, and if your view of this changed with the times you may lead a more stress-free life. No one wants you to suffer. No one wants to be in your position. You were dealt a difficult deck of cards, but you now have the choice to make a fool of yourself, adjust and make the best of it, or move. If you want to leave and can not "give your house away" contact me. I will make a lemonade stand out of it. I hear the lemons there are huge!

You go John! Perhaps an organized yard sign campaign might be in order...By zoning rules they could be up for 30 days, which will but a more 'United' face to most people's experience that, yes...Ethanol Does Stink...at my business in town and even with a southern breeze, at my home off County N! There is more stinkin' here than the plant!

Does ethanol plant spokeswoman Dori Lichty not own a telephone, or just refuse to use it? Consistently in these stories, Lichty's comments are qualified by "wrote in an e-mail to the Gazette."

To me, that reeks of a giant PR spin machine trying to make sure words/statements are printed exactly the way the company wants them to appear. Some might call this smart on United Ethanol's part; I say it stinks that the Gazette allows it to happen this way.

get a life!