The Ellis County Press: Halal slaughterhouse to be built near county line

Halal slaughterhouse to be built near county line
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Editor on 02/18/2010 16:30:00


STAFF REPORT
_The Ellis County Press_
NAVARRO COUNTY - An Islamic halal slaughterhouse will be built several hundred
feet from the Ellis County line, according to the _Navarro County Times_.
The slaughterhouse was rejected by Ellis County commissioners in November due to
Shamsul Ahmed owning property in both counties on Slama Road.
The Slama Road slaughterhouse, according to maps and drawings of the floor plans
and blueprints, will be located in unincorporated Navarro County and come
equipped with an Muslim prayer room.
The _Navarro County Times_ newspaper reported Ahmed's slaughterhouse would be
regulated by a state agency, but locally, the Navarro County planning
departments requirement that Ahmeds slaughterhouse not be located in a
floodplain passed muster.
Ellis County Commissioner Bill Dodson, R-Ennis, said Slama Road is currently
incapable of carrying the traffic needed to and from the slaughterhouse.
Due to Slama Road being in Ellis County, Ahmeds customers would have to travel
on Ellis County roads to get to his Navarro County slaughterhouse.
A permit Ahmed received from the state will allow the slaughterhouse to
slaughter a minimum of 400 animals to a maximum of 10,000 per day.
The slaughterhouse is connected to Slama Road from a private roadway Ahmed has
planned.