Jun. 16--CARTHAGE, Mo. -- Renewable Environmental Solutions is looking for funding to reopen its Carthage plant, though "nothing is definite," a company official said Monday.

The possibility of resuming operations at the Carthage plant was discussed during a meeting between Carthage Mayor Jim Woestman and Jim Crum, plant manager.

The plant was shut down and about 50 workers were laid off March 1, just before Changing World Technologies, the RES parent company, filed for bankruptcy protection.

Crum confirmed Monday's meeting but said it was "more of an introductory meeting" because he had just assumed a new position with the company.

Financing to restart the plant has not been obtained, but "we are definitely looking," he said.

Woestman, who has been a vocal critic of odor problems at the plant, said the two "had a good talk, but we're in Missouri, so you need to show me."

"He said nothing was definite," Woestman said. "We welcome industry, but we don't want any odor problems."

Brian Appel, owner of Changing World Technologies, said after the bankruptcy filing that he hoped to open the Carthage plant, but that it would use grease and oil in the conversion process rather than poultry byproducts.

The plant, which converted poultry byproducts into fuel oil and fertilizer products, had been a source of odor complaints since it opened in the spring of 2004. In 2005, the city joined with the Missouri attorney general's office in filing a public-nuisance lawsuit. The action was settled, and RES installed a thermal oxidizer and other odor-control equipment that company officials said addressed odor issues. Complaints continued, and the city of Carthage lobbied the state to impose stricter odor rules. This year, the City Council amended the city's odor regulations so it could start its own odor-enforcement program.

In recent filings in the bankruptcy proceeding, Changing World Technologies asked for an extension through Sept. 30 of a deadline by which officials must tell the court whether they will keep all the company's property leases, including the Carthage property that is leased from ConAgra Poultry Co.

The extension is being sought while RES continues "to seek additional sources of financing which would allow them to reorganize their business and re-state operations," the filing reads.

Lawsuit

The RES plant is the subject of a lawsuit filed by two Carthage residents who contend the company was negligent in allowing odor problems. The suit seeks class-action status that would compensate those who have been affected by RES odors. The lawsuit was stayed as a result of the bankruptcy filing.

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