“They know it’s a foregone conclusion that the council is not going to approve what is planned,” Michael Engler, a member of an engineering firm that represents Meier Ready Mix, said this week. ” They would like to have a plant in Tonganoxie. I don’t think they’re going to initiate something on their own.”

Representatives at Meier Ready Mix said Gene Meier, owner of the firm, was out of town this week.

Last week, the Tonganoxie Planning Commission unanimously denied a request from Meier Ready Mix for a special-use permit for a concrete batching plant on the west side of Leavenworth County Road 5, immediately south of the U.S. Highway 24-40 overpass.

The Tonganoxie City Council was to consider the special-use permit at its meeting on Monday.

But last Friday, Meier officials withdrew their request for the special use, according to city planner Linda Zacher.

Last week’s denial was the second time that planning commissioners turned thumbs down on a Meier proposal. In late October, the planning commission voted against a zoning change for a tract at Leavenworth County Road 5 and Laming Road. After that defeat, Meier withdrew his request.

Engler said Meier was disappointed at the latest rejection. And he said it would take some effort on Tonganoxie’s part to bring Meier back to the city.

“They’re going to have to say, here’s a place that’s available and zoned,” Engler said.

Last week, planning commissioners cited the possibility for flooding at the site; the effect of the plant on nearby businesses, parks and schools; and increased truck traffic in the area.

Several planning commissioners said they believe that the Meier plant would be an asset for Tonganoxie just not at that location.

The estimated tax revenue generated by such a plant including real estate, personal property and sales tax would amount to nearly $350,000 during a 10-year period.