Mount Pleasant leaders excited about Foxconn news, some residents frustrated

MOUNT PLEASANT (CBS 58) - After months of questions, Foxconn says they are following through on their promise to build a manufacturing plant in Mount Pleasant.

The company wants to start building the main manufacturing plant starting in June, with products rolling off the line by the end of 2020.

But even with the big news, residents still have questions and they are frustrated at the lack of answers.

“A great day for the Village of Mount Pleasant, Racine County and obviously for Foxconn.”

That was the message by community leaders after news that the long-promised manufacturing plant is being built.

“We’re very excited,” said Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave.

He says the news is a big step in creating hundreds of jobs in the county.

“We’ve got a lot of workforce initiatives aligned here to that we can get as many people employed here in Racine County as possible, that’s always been our goal,” said Delagrae.

“It’s been 2 years in the making that we’ve been working with this company, a lot of information has been gathered and a lot of action towards this day,” said Jenny Trick, Executive Director for the Racine County Economic Development Corporation.

It’s a relief for some residents.

There have been lingering questions about whether anything will be built in Mount Pleasant.

“That never was an issue for me,” said Delagrave, “we hope that, we should be scrutinized of course but we hope that people are rooting for Foxconn and rooting for Racine County.”

But not everyone is so confident.

“I’m not holding my breath,” said Kim Mahoney.

Kim and her family are still fighting to stay in their home in the Foxconn zone, and they say they are still left with questions.

“They don’t really want people to ask questions and they aren’t giving the true answers,” said Mahoney.

During a public informational meeting Monday, there were several questions from those in attendance about what Foxconn is making, and about assurances that the company will end up following through.

But even with some hesitation from residents, leaders say Monday’s news is great for the community.

“It’s going to be truly transformational, it already has in terms of road construction and infrastructure construction,” said Delagrave.

This next phase will create more jobs and it’s what Foxconn needs.

Their tax incentives are tied to the number of jobs they create, if they fall short of their goal they don’t get their tax relief.