Yet another County Commission tries to side-step its duty to represent
its own people against profiteering companies from far away,
while at least one local resident keeps reminding them.
John S. Koch wrote for Suwannee Valley Times 31 July 2014, Concerned Resident says Proposed Gas Transmission Line Dangerous,
Live Oak resident Debra Johnson used the public comments portion of the [most recent] meeting [of the Suwannee County Commission] to raise safety issues about the proposed gas transmission line that would wind its way through Suwannee County and other parts of North Central Florida.
“What I am asking for is a public forum to be held by the commission dealing with this issue and to seek information that the people can use to educate themselves on this issue.”
According to Johnson, the point she was trying to get across to the commission is that they have the authority to set safety requirements through ordinances or land development regulations as seen in several states. Johnson provided to the county attorney documentation of counties and communities that successfully banned fracking in the state of New York and a small community in Maine that banned a compressor station. Johnson showed evidence that some appellate courts have upheld the rights of local towns and communities to set limits and requirements for companies wanting to construct pipelines or compressor stations in their communities.
The article contains more of what Johnson said about the hazards and lack of benefits or need for the pipeline. It concludes:
The response from the commission was minimal as they felt they have no reason to get involved at this point. According to County Attorney Jimmy Prevatt the talks concerning the proposed route of the transmission line are currently underway and are about to conclude with a proposed route that includes the crossing of some very sensitive environmental areas. Once that is done Prevatt said the company will have to return to the county for permits and conditions where it concerns the use of public crossing and right of ways. Until that happens the commission feels that making any comment or holding discussions are premature.
-jsq
Short Link:
“Until that happens the commission feels that making any comment or holding discussions are premature”; Dare I suggest, the conversations can’t happen too soon!! There NO CONVERSATIONS after the fact, so I say !et’s ta!k about this ad nausea if that’s what it takes!!!