Submitted to Shelton Blog by Christine Armond Mason County Progressive
PUBLIC GIVES HEARTFELT THANKS TO THURSTON COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS AT MORATORIUM HEARING ON 2/7/11
Just under 100 people packed the hearing room in the ThurstonCounty Complex to express their views on the year long
moratorium implemented by the County Commissioners.
Citizens from Mason County joined those from Thurston Countyin support of the moratorium. The hearing went on for 2 hours,
with each speaker having 3 minutes to comment. Out of all the
statements made, only 2 did not support the moratorium!
with each speaker having 3 minutes to comment. Out of all the
statements made, only 2 did not support the moratorium!
Shelton Port Commissioner Jack Miles (3rd row from left, 3rd person in)
sat with his constituents, & later made a statement to the Thurston
Commissioners: "In Mason County, citizens have had biomass
incineration shoved down our throats. We asked for
an advisory ballot & were told no."
sat with his constituents, & later made a statement to the Thurston
Commissioners: "In Mason County, citizens have had biomass
incineration shoved down our throats. We asked for
an advisory ballot & were told no."
Pat Rasmussen, World Temperate Rainforest Network& concerned citizen of Thurston County: "Simply
declaring biomass carbon neutral does not make it so."
Another concerned citizen of Thurston County & graduate ofEvergreen State College: "I am ashamed to call myself an alumni
of an institution that supports biomass incineration."
Leah Balmer, Grapeview: "What it all comes down to is GREED! What's needed is common sense over dollar $igns!"
Bob Stone, Shelton: "We wish the Mason County officials had the guts to have their own moratorium."
Beth McBain, Concerned Citizens of Mason County & HiawathaHome Owners Assoc. Board: "I would like to take our houses at
Hiawatha & tow them across the Mason/Thurston County line!"
(The proposed ADAGE incinerator project would literally be in
the back yards of the Hiawatha community & elementary school.)
Bonnie Phillips, Olympia activist: "Thurston County is theonly county in the country that has employed a moratorium.
A waiting period for study of biomass incineration is vital."
Tom Davis, Shelton: "I applaud you!"
Commissioners Sandra Romero, Karen Valenzuela, & Kathy WolfeTHE CITIZENS SPOKE...
THE THURSTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LISTENED!
THE THURSTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LISTENED!
Two days after the Moratorium Hearing, the Thurston County Commissioners met in a public work session on Wednesday, Feb. 9th, & promptly agreed to keep the moratorium in place, stating that there was nothing heard during the public hearing that had persuaded them to change their minds.
SHELTON BLOG NOTE:
Link to Concerned Citizens of Thurston County:
www.ccthurston.net
Our heartfelt "Thanks" go out to each of the Commissioners. They have remained strong under tremendous pressure to do otherwise; we are very proud of them!
ReplyDeleteThe joint community effort was also strong -- in those who wrote letters and those who could also attend this important hearing. We citizens do have a Voice and it is just getting Stronger!
A win, after several significant losses, was heartening. I would like to believe only the best, that we are gaining traction (the air-breathing community), but the lack of an industry presence speaking against the moratorium causes me a little concern.
ReplyDeleteAre they so confident that their pro-biomass friends in the legislature have their back that they did not even need to make a statement for the record against the moratorium?
The legislature definitely does have their back, based on a review of recent proposed legislation. But is the industry so confident the legislature has their back that they don't need to appear to speak against the moratorium?