Published: October 10, 2008 09:31 am      

Another boost for local mining

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — White Oak Resources LLC announced Thursday it has filed a permit with the Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals for White Oak Mine No. 1, which will be located in Hamilton County, it was also announced that Joy Manufacturing would be making the equipment to go in the mine.

It was also stated that Joy Manufacturing would also be providing a service center — probably in Mt. Vernon — for the equipment.

“We have service centers all around the world, strategically located to accommodate our customers,” Joy Manufacturing Midwest America Sales Manager Billy Kirkpatrick said. Kirkpatrick said the details on equipment and servicing are being negotiated and it’s too early in the process to disclose any details.

“We’ve been very supportive of the coal mining activity and the increase of coal mining in Illinois,” Kirkpatrick said. “We plan to be supportive of that market.”

Two mines are expected to be built in Hamilton County, both longwall mines with one located northwest and another northeast of McLeansboro. A third site has been set up southeast of the city, according to White Oak Chief Executive Officer, Mike Tracy.

The company hopes to have permitting in place by the second quarter of 2009 and mining to begin in “mid-2010,” Tracy said. Work on the shaft, slope and surface facilities can begin as soon as permitting is in place.

Construction jobs are estimated at more than 300, and once completed, the mine will have about 375 permanent jobs per mine at full production.

Jefferson County Develo-pment Corporation Exe-cutive Director Mary Ellen Bechtel said the coal mine announcement is a good one for the entire region.

“I’m glad to hear they are working on the permits,” Bechtel said.

“A coal mine is a regional project and it’s great for McLeansboro, but it’s also very good for Jefferson County.”

Jobs created through construction and mining will also benefit the region.

“I truly believe that coal mines and the related service industries will create a lot more jobs in this area,” Bechtel said.

“In the same way manufacturing jobs create more jobs, I believe that for every coal job there will be three or four more jobs created. ... Mining jobs are good jobs, with above average wages. The jobs and ones created to support the mine could stabilize the economy.”

Mt. Vernon Mayor Mary Jane Chesley said the coal mine would also benefit city.

“This might be one more step to the regionalism approach to economic development,” Chesley said. “It’s a case where more than one community benefits from this action.”

McLeansboro Times-Leader Editor Paul Lorenz contributed to this story.