August 20, 2023

Dr. Ronald Townsend
Executive Vice President Global Lab Operations
Bettell Memorial Institute
505 King Street
Columbus  OH  43201

Dear Dr. Townsend:

As a resident and concerned citizen of Aiken SC, I write to you to appeal to Battelle’s community awareness and conscience.  Since 2022, SRNL and the City of Aiken have been in non-disclosed negotiations regarding a new facility in downtown Aiken to house some 100 SRNL personnel and operations.  It is my intention, in writing to you, to alert Battelle to the firestorm that is resulting from the secret negotiations between the City and your organization.

By way of history, Aiken’s City Counsel established a development arm in 2021, the AMDC, to redevelop a major block of downtown properties.  A bond fund was floated for $9.6MM to purchase seven properties, without any valuations or public announcement.  “Project Pascalis” was the code name for this massive, public redevelopment project.  When the citizens of Aiken discovered what had been secretly developed and promised under Pascalis, suits were filed and a petition signed by over 3,000 residents stopped the project in May of 2022.  It was a classic tale of a city counsel acting without authority and public approval.  The City Council was forced to disband the AMDC and now is frantically searching for a way to accomplish its development goals without public approval.

At some point in 2022, SRNL senior people conducted a series of discussions with the Aiken City Counsel to float plans for a new laboratory space in what is now Bee Lane in downtown Aiken.  In secret, the City developed full-blown plans to build a 3 story, 45,000 sq. ft. facility to house SRNL operations and to provide for a meeting center on the first floor.  At no time was input solicited from the public on this radical development plan and the Mayor ProTem Woltz announced the plan to the public in video taped presentation in January.  A month later, SRNL’s architects held a public forum to “gain feedback and to demonstrate a potential development plan”.  Of the over 100 citizens who attended that meeting, many of whom spoke, there was not a single positive reaction to the SRNL’s proposal and downtown location.  Since then, not a single pubic meeting has been held and the City Counsel refuses to divulge the status of this proposed building project.

As you may know, Aiken has received over $25MM in plutonium settlement monies, and the City Council, without public guidance, is intending to fund the SRNL building with those monies.  To add to this obfuscation of the project, the Aiken Corporation is being designated as the owner/landlord of the new facility; the lease would be hidden under at least two layers of non-profit organizations that finally are controlled by Aiken Corporation.

The public sentiment about the SRNL location in downtown is decidedly negative.  The proposed building would destroy the very nature of our rural community and our architectural history.  There is a sizeable and vocal citizens group who oppose this location for SRNL , and those negative sentiments will not go away with time.  From my reading of the DOE’s stance on public relations, this ramrodding is against their public statement of community relations.  This issue, if taken to full development, will not go away and will be a bitter thorn in the side of Aiken citizens for years to come.

Fortunately, a private developer is planning to purchase the 9-acre property on Richland Avenue that was once the County Hospital.  Turner Development has recently shown its proposed mixed-use plan for the site, and one of its stated objectives is to build out a new space for SRNL operations. This proposal has wide and enthusiastic acceptance in Aiken.  It would provide for condominium housing, office buildings and retail/restaurant amenities on site.  This proposal is a perfect fit for the City and it is a logical location, given the short distance to the new advanced manufacturing facility that is being created at USC/Aiken right now. 

Dr. Townsend, I do not believe that Battelle, SRNL or DOE wish to embroil themselves inwhat would be a long-term, contentious site selection.  The responsibility for this sub rosasituation lies with Aiken’s current city council.  Your organization can easily avoid the contentious future that lies ahead if this current proposal is approved.  Rather, it would be a true “win” for everyone if the SRNL were to occupy new space under the Turner Development plan.  If I may suggest: whatever you do decide to do about the location of SRNL operations, do it openly, soliciting public input often, and do your planning out in the open for Aiken citizens to see.  Only then will SRNL be welcomed as good neighbors and responsible partners with our city.

Sincerely,
Robert N. Sawdon