Information in the blog concerning this issue has been collected over some time and as the designated Spokesperson for the approximately 200 residents that will be most immediately affected, I feel compelled to make this information available in a public venue that is not delayed and directed by traditional media. In most cases, the concerns expressed in these blog posts related to this issue are reflected by those residents of North Buckhannon (N.B.). I invite all responses as public argument and engagement is the hub of our great democracy.
To begin, it would be most appropriate to provide a summary (timeline) of what is going on and why 80% of the population has signed anti-silo petitions, voiced opposition in public venues and/or have contacted government voicing great concern. This is not a complete timeline as of this posting...updates will be made as more information becomes available.
- May 1, 2008: City of Buckhannon city council agreed to grant access across Harrison Avenue (a paper street) so that a railroad spur could be constructed onto property leased by David Rexroad to Weatherford International. The purpose for the use of this land at the time, was, according to some members of the council including Keith Queen, Jerry Henderson and Nancy Shobe, unknown. Access was granted.
- The week of May 19: An anonymous carrier attached flyers to the doors of the residents of N.B. announcing that a "Special Meeting" would take place so that the City of Buckhannon, The Upshur County Development Authority, the architectural firm Van Nostrand Architects and the energy corporation Weatherford International could present its intent to build proppant containing silos on property which runs directly parallel to the residents of this area of the city (view copy of flyer). No considerate effort to notify the residents was given by any of the presenters, a travesty given the importance of the issue and the effects that would be sustained by city residents.
- May 29: A special meeting in N.B. (a taped copy can be obtained from public access Channel 3 in Buckhannon) was held in which a presentation was begun by members of the above-mentioned entities. Rick Smith represented the interests of Weatherford International. The meeting quickly raised fears from those in attendance as plans were revealed to erect four 80-foot proppant (silica sand) silos, build a railroad spur that would enable the delivery of the proppant from outside the state (Minnesota) and operate as many as forty 30-40 ton trucks (on residential roads) between the hours of 5 p.m - 8 p.m. This information was in great contrast to that which was requested in a letter to the City, a letter that council based its decision on to grant access across Harrison Ave. The letter noted four forty-foot silos and ten trucks (copy of letter can be viewed here). The meeting ended with the residents furious that they had not been told of such intents, a feeling that information was being hidden from them.
- Beginning the week of June 2: A petition began to circulate through the community (a copy of the petition can be viewed here).
- June 5: During the city council meeting, it was agreed that the decision to allow access to Weatherford International to cross Harrison Avenue would be tabled based on the inaccurate, conflicting information submitted to the city in its application for access.
- June 10: Election for new city council takes place. A new major is elected, Kenny Davidson, emptying one council seat (which he previously occupied). All other council members remained the same.
- June 19: First submission of petitions made to city council meeting. No action was taken on them. I was selected as the Spokesperson for the Coalition Against the Construction of the Weatherford Silos in N.B. I presented to the council the concerns of the citizens as referenced in the petition.
- July 1: New mayor and five council members (minus the vacant spot) take office leaving and even number of voting members
- July 3: Council agrees to open the decision for council seat to letters of interest to be submitted by July 18.
- July 9: A special meeting with the following participants is conducted: Pete Galarneau, Dave Thomas, Kenny Davidson, Steve Foster, Skeeter Queen, Dave Rexroad, and Rick Smith. This was a closed meeting in which, in sum, it was agreed that a Special Meeting would take place on July 21 with the people of Buckhannon to further discuss the issues, since the meeting of May 29 came as a complete surprise. Also, it was agreed that on July 24, a special council meeting would be conducted for the purpose of voting for the access that Weatherford requested to use the silo property. Of particular importance in this meeting was an agreement that communication about future meetings and discussions concerning the silo issues would be promptly made to the residents of N.B. and the community as a whole. It was agreed that the announcement of the July 21 special meeting would be immediate. Galarneau made the following recommendations to those in the meeting (copy of recommendations available here)
- July 16: The first oppositional Letters to the Editor appear in the Record-Delta (copy available here )
- July 17: Official notice by the city of the special meeting of July 21 is, finally, made during the city council meeting. Prompt release of information in a manner that is evident and compassionate is still not a priority.
- July 21: On the morning of the day that the special meeting is to be held, after the Coalition had done an exhausting, magnificent job of notifying concerned citizens (a duty that should have been the concentration of the city) about the meeting, Weatherford representative Rick Smith cancels the meeting. Several people wait outside the special meeting place (16 Thurman Avenue) because they, apparently, were not informed of its cancellation. Residents said that these people included Senator Bill Hamilton and city attorney Dave McCauley.
- July 23: Notice is made in the Record-Delta that no vote will take place in a special city council meeting originally scheduled for July 24.
- July 23: More oppositional Letters to the Editor appear in the Record-Delta (letter 1 / letter 2) including my own as the Spokesperson for the people. In the letter, I reference the meeting of July 9 (copy available here) (letter 3)
- July 24: Meeting to vote on access is cancelled.
- July 28: No new meetings with the community have been scheduled.
- more timeline to come...
This is only a brief timeline summary and I will expand upon these items as time and information allows. For now, please know that I will make every effort to keep the community updated from the perspective of those concerned about the industrialization of North Buckhannon.
This blog, too, will serve as testimony and case study for other communities facing similar problems.
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2 comments:
Be prepared for long exposition. But, despite that, it is overwhelmingly important to read. I beseech you.
Vigilia pretium libertatis translates as "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." Our beloved Founding Father Thomas Jefferson once articulated "Educate and inform the whole mass of the people...They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty." He also said that "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."
For the Citizens of the City of Buckhannon who are truly alert, you may have witnessed that the recently elected Mayor is acting as a threatening autocrat. Some have witnessed that within a mere fortnight into his term, he verbally announced that he will have any person arrested that willingly expresses a contrary opinion against his executive and legislative measures. Now, if he truly did express such sentiments - public or private - then he himself, our Chief Executive, has the character that may be defined as a Tyrant. Residents ardently opposed to the Weatherford International silica sand silos in the North Buckhannon neighborhood were in attendance at a City Council meeting in early July. When addressing themselves to the Council, they displayed only firm diplomacy and dispositions of inquiry, nothing more. It is written truth, according to the Elkins-based "InterMountain" newspaper, that Davidson's view of the meeting "...got out of hand." And when a prospective town hall meeting was to be held days later at a local church to continue the debate, he declared "that will not happen this time." So, where does he get the power or authority to control and / or silence his own citizens? Besides, he is lying. These honest and upfront residents were in no way rowdy or out of control.
These ordinary residential citizens were not behaving out of hand. If anything, they were expressing passionate concern for their own well being and property rights. The city has no right to allow a "corporation" to implant itself into a "residential area" when there form of business is factually proven to be a sincere danger to the corporeal safety of humans, and even wildlife- fauna and flora. Weatherford can still add to the city's economy, but on a site suitable solely for industrial use in especially an "industrial park" outside of city limits. ...And if need be, still have access to the city and county's major thoroughfares and the railroad. There honestly is enough vacant land in Upshur County no where near "civilization" that could accommodate Weatherford's silo project.
But, apparently the new Mayor despises his own People; the People that elected him into office. Whether they peaceably assemble, petition the[ir] Government for a redress of grievances, or exercise their Freedom of Speech, Mayor Kenny Davidson is certainly not a man whom desires deriving his power from the Consent of the Governed. He is constantly changing his position on the Weatherford subject depending on who he speaks to- publicly or privately; he is very much a flip-flopper. It seems no one can be certain of his true stance. This behavior is not only disingenuous, but it is very Clintonian. But, his actions speak louder than words. He is indeed for the Weatherford silos to be located in North Buckhannon. It can be said that underhand dealings have been made with Weatherford and other insidious individuals proving that Davidson is guilty for "maladministration" and "neglect of duty." He is so adamant for the people to hear Weatherford's case than listen to the voice of his own citizens. The citizens have done volumes of diligent, exhausting research factually proving how dangerous silica sand is. It does major damage especially when airbourne because the microscopic crystalline pieces can enter people's or animals' lungs and slowly but surely develop into lung cancer. And since the proposed site is so close to real people, the decline of health and devaluation of physical land properties is all too inevitable. So, why can't Common Sense dictate the actions and choices of our Members of the City Council? With hope, our Representatives will finally acknowledge and accept the People's petitions. Then ultimately, the vote for this project will be a solid "NO."
But, there are some choices that can be made. I, Elijah Luthor, age twenty-four, am not a man of patience. I expect my government, which is legally obligated to represent its people, to make decisions that are not contrary to the Safety and Aspirations of its People. If the Council refuses our petitions and will not accept the truth that is constantly presented to them, then the People have the Right and Duty to alter or abolish their government. I personally hope it actually comes to this because Buckhannon's city council has been guilty for maladministration in passed years. Some may want a judicial injunction or a recall election, but I am all for starting over.
From the Declaration of Independence-
..."Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
Obviously, the municipal government of Buckhannon "should not be changed for light and transient causes." Meaning, the government should not be changed "for the sake of change" or "for the Hell of it." But, it is absolute truth that the City Council is honestly guilty for unrighteous governance. I swear upon the Alter of God.
In Article III Section 3 of the Constitution for the State of West Virginia-
[Rights reserved to (the) people]
"Government is instituted for the common benefit, protection and security of the people, nation or community. Of all its various forms that is the best, which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety, and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration; and when any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community has an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter or abolish it in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public
weal."
So, in closing, if the Council neglects its duty to serve and represent the People, then I say "DISBAND THE COUNCIL!!" I will cast a vote of my own, "A Vote of No Confidence." Those who are honestly like-minded and believe the corruption within our City as fact, I say let "We the People" declare the council members as being unfit to be the leaders of a Free people. "When the Government Fears the People, there is Liberty; when the People fear the Government, there is Tyranny."
"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong."
- Voltaire
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
- Edmund Burke
"What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms."
- Thomas Jefferson
"No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session."
- Mark Twain
"A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."
- Declaration of Independence
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