Dylan Busby
dylan@silsbee-bee.com
The Silsbee Bee

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SILSBEE — The Silsbee City Council focused heavily on potential economic development this week as debate intensified over a proposed slaughterhouse at the site of the former Silsbee Hospital. The issue dominated a meeting that also included infrastructure funding, zoning discussions and updates from the city’s Economic Development Corporation.
Goliath Concepts has purchased the old hospital property and plans to convert the building into a small-scale slaughter and packing facility. The company projects 30 to 50 jobs within the first two years and noted that the nearest comparable operation is in Corpus Christi. The matter before the council was not the facility’s approval itself but an amendment to zoning rules that would allow the council to consider slaughterhouses within that district if the project advances.
The vote split the council. Curt Woodard, Tina Holman and Paul Davis supported the amendment, while Mayor Pro Tem William Bass and councilmen Bruce Kay and Thomas Tyler opposed it. Tyler pushed for a public hearing before granting any authorization, a position shared by Bass and Danny Reneau, Silsbee’s Mayor. Solomon Freimuth, the city attorney, pointed to the expiration of the city’s long-term growth plan, which guided development from 2000 to 2020. “If the goal for the city is growth then make the changes that promote growth,” Freimuth said. The city is currently pursuing a grant to develop a new comprehensive plan to guide future land-use decisions.
Concerns over odor became a central point of argument. Kay refused to support the measure without proof that the facility would not create a smell detectable in neighboring areas. Bass stated he would be open to visiting similar slaughterhouses to evaluate operational impacts firsthand. Residents near the site may also seek legal representation to challenge the project, warned Freimuth.
Council members in favor of the zoning authorization referenced the city’s federal designation as an opportunity zone, which provides tax incentives intended to attract employers. Davis expressed concern that excessive regulation could discourage economic development. “We don’t want to over regulate and drive people away” Davis said. Past issues with strict local rules were also raised, including instances in previous years when plumbers avoided taking jobs in Silsbee because of a former inspector. Holman noted that any facility ultimately approved could be required to use air scrubbers and other technology to mitigate odor, and Goliath Concepts has indicated it plans to operate with indoor sewage treatment.
With the council deadlocked, the mayor cast the tie-breaking vote, granting the council zoning authority to consider the slaughterhouse after a public hearing. The hearing date has not yet been set.
Earlier in the evening, the Economic Development Corporation approved minutes and financials. EDC Director DeeAnn Zimmerman reported that several prospective businesses have expressed concern that Silsbee lacks parcels large enough for major commercial development.
During a workshop session, the council reviewed zoning regulations focused on spacing requirements between homes and mobile homes to meet fire safety standards.
In the regular meeting, Public Works Director Roger Martin announced that a $74,000 state fine related to elevated nitrogen levels in the city’s sewer system was waived after the city demonstrated that levels had returned to acceptable limits. The council approved TxDOT license plate cameras for placement along highway rights of way and adopted minutes from the previous meeting.
The council also approved a $10 monthly charge on water and sewer accounts to create a dedicated fund for system improvements. Officials emphasized that the revenue will be deposited into a separate account restricted to water and sewer upgrades.
Additional announcements included an invitation from Ace Recycling for city officials to meet the new manager of its battery recycling facility and a reminder to residents that trash containers must be removed from the curb within 24 hours of collection.