The Village of Horseheads, in New York’s Chemung County, gave the green light last night to move forward with the construction of a Schlumberger facility that will support natural gas and hydraulic fracturing activity in the state’s Southern Tier. And while the process up to this long-awaited point has been laborious, time-intensive and at times contentious, the jury has finally spoken with the village’s board voting unanimously in favor of the project.

Horseheads Mayor Don Zeigler said “Little ‘ol sleepy hollow Horseheads is now on the map,” and another local resident said “What we are looking for now is enjoying the economic boom.”

Here’s a sampling of the early news reports on the village’s unanimous vote.

From WENY-TV:

Horseheads Mayor Don Zeigler says the board stuck to its job, addressed the public’s concerns and moved forward with the project. “I’ve had people try to intimidate us, to sway our vote, we stayed the course and I am ashamed for some of the comments,” said Mayor Don Zeigler. “Shame on those people who tried to sway our votes to do an honest job.” Mayor Zeigler says the board did an honest appraisal of the project and as far as he’s concerned it’s a done deal.

Others say, bring on the jobs. “Some of their early projects have already developed with local labor,” said Erin resident, Dave Blauvelt. “Speaking with some of the representatives, they’re very interested in having local labor involved, which is very exciting.” Project representatives say Schlumberger will fill 75 percent of the 400 positions with local workers. Mayor Zeigler says the company will bring more than just jobs. “What we are looking for now is enjoying the economic boom, houses are going, staff is coming in, they’re hiring people, it’s a first class company,” Zeigler said.”

From WBNG-TV:

“Little ‘ol sleepy hollow Horseheads is now on the map,” says Village of Horseheads Mayor Donald Zeigler. After months of study and debate, Schlumberger is coming to Horseheads. “We need new industry in Chemung County and these guys have a really good track record. They’re one of the top 500 greenest companies in America and I couldn’t be happier that this project has been approved,” says Michael Sincock of Pine City. The village board unanimously gave the gas drilling support center the green light Thursday night. It will open an 88 acre site here in Horseheads. And is expected to bring 300 jobs to the area. “What we’re looking forward to now is the economic boom. Houses are going. Some of their staff is coming in. They’re hiring people who have been laid off,” says Mayor Zeigler.”

From the Elmira Star-Gazette:

“Horseheads trustees gave final village approval Thursday to site plans for a proposed Schlumberger Technology Corp. gas drilling service facility. The unanimous vote ends months of review and controversy surrounding the project, which is expected to create 400 jobs, but also stirred environmental concerns. Schlumberger plans to locate its facility on about 90 acres it owns in The Center at Horseheads industrial park. The site will provide support services to natural gas drilling companies operating in the area.

Mayor Don Zeigler said the Schlumberger project is bigger than anything Horseheads has ever dealt with, and that the review of their plans has been exhaustive. “There has been some pressure put on us to do our job,” Zeigler said. “We did our job. We went to the horse’s mouth to check on a lot of stuff. “Some of the misinformation in the public has been an attempt to sway our vote. We came here to do an honest and fair appraisal of what came before us. I know we did it.”

From WETM-TV:

“A natural gas drilling services project in Horseheads that’s expected to create 400 jobs has been given final approval. After months of debate, the board voted to approve the site plan for Schlumberger Thursday night. … “I’m thrilled that they approved the project.  I think we need the industry.  I think the environmental issues here were overblown by a minority of the people,” said neighbor Michael Sincock. The mayor says the site plan approved addresses all of the concerns raised by neighbors. He says this has been a six month long process of review, discussion and public hearings. “This process started last spring and what is it now?  It’s October.  This is not rushing a project.  We spent a lot of time and money for our engineer,” said Mayor Donald Ziegler.”