LINDEN-Though things have been quiet for the past few months there is still a great deal of hope around Marengo County negotiations with West Wind Technologies will come through.

Linden Industrial Board Vice President Pat Dixon said they have kept an open line of communication with the company and hope to have them back in town later this week for further meetings.

“I think things are going very well with our project,” Dixon said. “We are having a meeting on Thursday night at 6 p.m. for the landowners who are interested.”

Dixon said representatives of the Industrial Board have been in contact with leaders at the highest level to lobby support for the new project. She said they had sent letters as well as placed phone calls to get their leaders on board.

“We have sent letters to the two Senators and Congressmen in Washington and asked them for their support with this,” Dixon said. “We told them any support we could get on this project would be very helpful.”

Dixon said help from Washington would be great, but the true fate of the project could be determined right in Marengo County. Dixon said it was just as important to rally the support of local elected officials to keep the project on track.

“We are at a point now where we need elected officials on both levels to speak out for this,” Dixon said. “If you could do that it would be a tremendous help.”

The planning and rallying of support has been a long process for the Industrial Board and one Linden Mayor Pat Vice said he appreciated. Vice commended Dixon’s efforts along with others who had thrown their support behind the project.

“We appreciate all your efforts during this process,” Vice said. “I don’t know of anyone who has worked harder on any project. We really appreciate all that you have done and we hope things work out.”

Since talks began with West Wind there have been questions. Dixon said there had been people who had reservations about Arundo Donax. Many had questioned the impact the plant could have if introduced into an unfamiliar environment. Dixon said they had received information that the same type of plant has already been growing in the area.

Dixon said the plant has been growing on its own near the old post office and the PaPa’s lot. Dixon said she had been in contact with the USDA to gather as much information as possible.