As of last Thursday evening, Owen County’s $5 million for a natural gas line was coming out of the state’s budget via the governor’s veto pen.
But hundreds of calls to the Capitol later, Gov. Ernie Fletcher skipped over the line-item appropriation that would have made the gas line project possible, leaving the funding intact.
Other entities weren’t as lucky. Forty-three projects totalling $370 million were eliminated from the state budget during Fletcher’s veto session. Because the budget was approved so late in the General Assembly session, legislators will not have the opportunity to go back and restore those cuts in the state document, making Fletcher’s cuts final.
“I’m thrilled,” said Sen. Damon Thayer of the news that the project wasn’t cut. Thayer, along with Rep. Royce Adams, worked hard to get and keep the funding in the state budget. “I saw the governor Thursday night and he told me then that the project was under consideration for a veto. I immediately reminded him of the job creation aspect of the project and the fact that Owen County is the only county in the state that does not have natural gas.”
While Thayer was working his contact, Adams was also working his to keep the money in the budget.
“I was on pins and needles to say the least,” he said Tuesday morning. “I called the governor’s office last Thursday and spoke with Stan Cave (the governor’s chief of staff) and explained to him about the project.”
In addition to those efforts, a phone tree started by Owen County Judge-Executive Billy O’Banion Friday morning generated more than 200 phone calls to the governor’s office, asking that the money stay in the budget.
“We had at least 200 phone calls from Owen County, if not more,” O’Banion said. “It was clear that it was gone on Thursday.”
He said he was told the governor had asked why the state would fund a gas line to an industrial park with nothing in it. But calls from area business leaders, including Robert Sinclair of Actaris made an impression.
Adams said because of the project’s size, it stood out in the budget.
“It had to have some help,” he said. “I think we were really, really fortunate.
Thayer said it was the work of the public that did the job.
“I’ve never seen a county so single-minded at getting a project approved,” he said. “I’m pleased and proud as punch for Owen County.”
Adams, Thayer and O’Banion all said the project wouldn’t have survived without all the pieces.
“It shows the cooperative effort,” Adams said.
“It was definitely a team effort,” Thayer said.
“It was a major team effort,” O’Banion added. “The phone calls helped.”
Frank Downing, chairman of the Owen County Industrial Authority said he’s already spoken with the engineer on the project and that he expects to let bids the first of June with construction of the six-month project starting in July.
In addition to the $5 million from the state, the project has $300,000 in federal monies already approved.
“We’re hoping the $5.3 will do it,” Downing said of the construction costs.”
He said the benefits of the gas line can begin for the county as soon as the project is under contract. At that point the information can be used to attract new businesses.
Currently there are three prospects looking at the industrial park: a supplier for Toyota, a dairy distribution center and a vocational school. The first project that gets the go ahead will utilize the current building.
“This is a really big thing for Owen County,” O’Banion said. “It’s a really huge step in being able to compete in the future.”
“I’m hoping it will make a drastic difference down the road,” Adams added. “I believe it will put us in a position we’ve never been in before.”

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