ArcelorMittal - Georgetown is worthy 'eyesore'

There has been talk recently in the City of Georgetown about doing away with eyesores along Highway 17.

A drive down Highway 17 — the most traveled entrance into the city — shows several buildings that are in need of attention by owners. Some structures more so than others.

The city has made a list of the problems which range from simple overgrown grass and bushes and litter, all the way up to “dilapidated” buildings that need to be renovated or removed.

“They are definitely eyesores,” said Georgetown City Councilman Paige Sawyer, who has been trying to get something done about problem properties for years. “I see the problem as irresponsible property owners and not enough aggression on the city’s part. 

A few, but very loud, people consider the ArcelorMittal - Georgetown steel plant an eyesore, too. I would recommend those people taking up some history lessons or venturing to the library to research more about the site the steel plant sits on. Though if that's too hard, I have provided some rich history right here.

Georgetown Steel was founded by Willie Korf in 1969 as a rebar mill in Georgetown, South Carolina. Initially, the mill was non-union, but in 1971, the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) began an organizing drive. The mill's management resisted the union drive and a strike ensued. The mill continued to operate using management personnel and any local labour that was willing to cross the picket lines. After nine months the strike was settled when the mill recognized the union. In the late 1970s Korf built a second mini-mill, designed to produce wire, in Beaumont, Texas. The debt burden resulting from this expansion and difficulties in competing with imports resulted in the mill being forced into bankruptcy. The mill operated in bankruptcy for some time because the creditors had no desire to try to sell the assets. In 1984 two events occurred that transformed Georgetown into a successful mini-mill: the mill developed a new business strategy, and the Government of Kuwait purchased an ownership interest in the mill. The new business strategy involved moving from the rebar market into higher quality, higher value-added rod markets. The infusion of capital by the new owners enabled the mill to make the equipment changes necessary to succeed in its new market. In 1995 Bain Capital, an investment firm, purchased Georgetown Steel and a mini-mill in Kansas City, Missouri that was formerly owned by Armco, and combined the assets. The mills are expected to complement each other. The Georgetown facility is providing leadership and technological expertise (several managers from Georgetown moved to Kansas City) and the excess melting capacity at Georgetown balances the excess rolling capacity at the Kansas City plant.

The mill currently produces approximately 920,000 tonnes of steel rod per year (table 4). About 80% of the production is high carbon and specialty steel -- there has been a steady move to higher proportions of the high quality steel.³ The plant consists of a melt shop, a rolling mill, a Midrex Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant and shipping facilities. The melt shop is composed of two furnaces: the first was installed in 1969, converted to Eccentric Bottom Tapping (EBT) in December 1987 and has an average heat size of 78 tonne s; the second furnace was installed in 1974, converted to EBT in December of 1986, and also has an average heat size of 78 tonne s. The mill's ladle refining facilities consist of an EAF that was converted into a ladle refining furnace in November 1984, and a second ladle furnace that was installed in 1988. The mill has two casters: the original four-strand Concast caster from 1969 and a five-strand Danieli caster installed in 1989. The rolling mill is composed of a two-strand, nine- stand roughing mill, an intermediate mill with six stands and a Kocks precision sizing mill, installed in 1991, and a no-twist ten-stand finishing mill. The mill began to make rod products in 1971, with the installation of the Stelmore deck. The rolling mill also uses a compactor and a hook conveyer system for material handling.

This steel plant has a lot of history behind. It also has a lot of jobs, too. The mill reopened after an 18-month idling and is on track to produce steel for consumption by the end of January 2011.

The so-called eyesore is even recognized by the City of Georgetown - as is the wood mill that held the exact grounds before the steel plant. I wonder whether or not if people put up with such negative talk then.

The need for an economic alternative to rice was met by lumber. The Atlantic Coast Lumber Company was incorporated in 1903. By 1914, it was the largest lumber producing plant on the East Coast. However, in 1932 ACL declared bankruptcy and Georgetown entered a period of immense economic decline. Recovery began in 1936 when International Paper Company built a plant here. By 1942 this plant had become the largest kraft paper mill in the world. Georgetown Steel and an array of other smaller plants have diversified Georgetown's industrial base. Commercial fishing has become a significant industry. In recent years, retirees and vacationers have contributed greatly to the well-being of the area. Tourism has become an increasingly significant element in the area's economy.

The steel plant isn't an eyesore. It's a lifeline to hundreds of people who work there and to the secondary jobs it spawns. I would hope people to appreciate such history, coexist and work together to find greater ways to improve upon what we have - and what made us unique - instead of selling out for a get-rich-quick scheme.

Residents, my friends, could eventually be considered eyesores, too. Especially with narrow-minded attitudes that include tourism being the save-all for the city.

ArcelorMittal - Georgetown is open for business. Soon, the eyesore will become a earsore as well.

And many, many people have been waiting for the noise - in a positive way.