Carbondale Reporter

Illinois State Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Carbondale) gave an update Monday on Senate Bill 1068, which will bring a Copi fish processing center to Alexander County.

On Monday, Jacobs shared a video on Facebook of him explaining SB 1068 on the House floor. The bill authorizes the transfer of a property in Alexander County to Two Rivers Fisheries to open a Copi fish processing center. 

"SB 1068 authorizes the Director of the Department of Natural Resources to execute and deliver to Two Rivers Fisheries, for and in consideration of the appraised value as determined by a Certified General Appraiser, a quitclaim deed to specified real property located in the Alexander County. Effective immediately," Jacobs said on the House floor. "The property is called the Toll House. It is at the northernmost boundary of Fort Defiance. It has been maintained by the state at least since it was decommission in 1948. This bill will save the state on maintenance costs on this property."

SB 1068 was sponsored by Jacobs and received bipartisan support in both the Illinois House and Senate. The bill was introduced by Sen. John F. Curran on Feb. 22 and moved to the House of Representatives on May 8. It was approved on May 19, going into effect immediately.

The bill is expected to create 30 well-paying jobs in Alexander County. 

“This was an initiative of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. We are working to enhance awareness of the use of Copi, formerly known as Asian Carp," said Jacobs' Facebook post. "Two Rivers Fisheries plans to open a plant to process Copi for the purpose of transporting the fish as food to locations around the world."

Two Rivers Fisheries runs processing plants in Wickliffe, Kentucky and Eddyville, Kentucky and has workers contracted to work out of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, the Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.