Picher citizens may vote on moving town

Wednesday, December 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Citizens in two small Green Country towns are considering whether to pull up stakes and move down the road. The Environmental Protection Agency says the Picher-Cardin area of Ottawa County is one of the nation's worst hazardous waste sites.

When mining companies left the Tar Creek area in the 1970s, they left behind thousands of tons of chat, which carry high concentrations of zinc and lead. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants to turn the area into a 2000-acre natural wetland, but that would mean moving the entire town. "The citizens here weren't asked to become the number one superfund site in the country,â€ said Picher Housing Authorityâ€™s John Sparkman. â€œThey did not ask to have their property values lowered, because of that designation. A lot of people are excited about the move. Some do have some apprehensions, but I expected that," he continued.

Tuesday, the Pitcher City Council elected to postpone a city wide vote on the proposed move. Picher officials say citizens need more time to consider their options.