Decision Announced at Buckhannon City Council, September 18, 2008
There are so many things I could say right now, but I think that, through this blog, through the voices of the residents of North Buckhannon, and through some very important officials who have never, once, diverted from their support of us, all of the arguments have been made.
Tonight the Council announced that Weatherford International's main office, the one that was always supposed to be located on the "CJ Martin" hill will be built, employing 85% of the 200 Weatherford jobs promised when all of this started at the beginning of May.
AND THE SILICA SILOS WILL NOT BE IN NORTH BUCKHANNON!
Though the location of the silos was not revealed in the meeting, Mayor Davidson said that they would not be in North Buckhannon.
The resolution is what our Coalition has always said was the best resolution. The resolution guarantees the jobs as our Coalition always said it would. Innocent lives are not put at stake just like the Coalition always said was possible.
But it took a group of citizens who stood up and enacted the freedoms granted by our great country. We did not sit on our hands like so much of America does. We worked hard, dug in, wrote letters, talked to congressmen, lobbied and lobbied and lobbied. Civic duty is not easy that is why so few Americans engage. For so many Americans the answer always is "Well you can't fight City Hall." But our Coalition has shown that this just isn't true.
If you feel danger you react. As a person. As a community. The residents of N. Buckhannon reacted.
And the resolution was the best for everyone.
I am proud and overjoyed for my family and for my new family: my neighbors. But I remain cautious. If such an event as this could happen once, it can happen again...in North, West, South, or East Buckhannon. If an event such as this can lead to the hated comments that pit neighbor against neighbor while corporate interest stands on the sideline eating popcorn with a smile, then each of us has the responsibility to pay attention. Watch out for those who would use a system that is lean on checks and balances and heavy on diversion and invisibility. They could take your freedom, your choice, your life.
If it happened to us, it can happen to you.
God bless those who did the right thing.
-Pete Galarneau
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2 comments:
I first would like to say thank you to Peter and his wife doe this blog and for helping to fight the good fight.
But after sitting though the whole meeting tonight I need to say we won the fight but maybe not the war..
The City still wants to help Mr. Rexsroad bring industry to is land in N. Buckhannon. Which is a good thing. But we need to keep a eye on the people that run the city to make sure that it is a industry. That we all in Buckhannon can live.
For three years I was aware that Mr. Rexroad had bought property next to my father and the stillness about it was deafening. I could sense deep inside of me that it was not good. At the only public informational meeting is when all of my bad feelings were confirmed. I was in total shock to know that a plan could be fully developed without the knowledge of the community involved!!
I believe that God heard our prayers and gave all of us the strengh and endurance to stand together with grace and dignity to defend our God given rights. He has also opened our eyes to see the corruption and unethical practices in our goverment. And, for that reason, I believe that our work is not done. God is doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves and we must continue on with what we need to do for ourselves.
There are not enough words to express my appreciation to Peter for his dedicated service in representing all of us with such dignity and intelligence to confront the extreme forces! Also, to Peter's lovely wife and mother in law, I thank them for there honorable and most graceful support to Peter and to all of us!!!
I am so proud to say that North Buckhannon is my home!! We all stood proud against the odds and endured much criticism and have become much stronger together.
Now, we must stay together to ensure that we can go on with our lives and not be threatened by such a plan as this again...AND, I hope that I speak for all of us when I humbly ask Peter and his supportive family to continue representing us.
WITH UTMOST RESPECT,
Debra K. McQuain
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