Picher officials reconsider vote

(Picher-AP) -- Picher Mayor Sam Freeman says town leaders want more information before considering a plan to move the entire community. <br><br>The City Council has canceled a scheduled vote in January

Wednesday, December 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Picher-AP) -- Picher Mayor Sam Freeman says town leaders want more information before considering a plan to move the entire community.

The City Council has canceled a scheduled vote in January on a proposal to move the town from the middle of one of the worst hazardous waste sites in the nation. The council took no action on another proposal to delay the vote by one month.

Picher is in the middle of the Tar Creek Superfund Site, a former lead and zinc mining region.

A governor's task force recommends turning the area into a wetlands, which requires relocation of the towns of Picher and nearby Cardin.

Freeman says neither the state nor federal government has mentioned a buyout-relocation plan. He adds that residents are worried about how fair market values would be determined on their property. He also says the school district receives federal funding tied to Indian land and it's not clear if that would be jeopardized if the town moves.