Cob was blessed

Herald and News 5/5/04

I went to the public hearing at the Lorella Community Center on Oct. 21. The hearing was to accept comments on a standard air contaminant discharge permit for the Cob energy facility. Some alarming facts came out during the DEQ presentation.

One fact that really bothers me more than some of the others would be the emissions released into the air. The question that was asked was, "What harm could these emissions cause to the surrounding community's residents?"

DEQ staff members tried to circle around the question by saying proposed emissions met the air quality standards, but, eventually, they finally did admit that these air emissions could affect children with asthma and older adults with possible breathing problems later on in life. Why in the world would anyone, especially county officials, allow private industry to affect the safety and well-being of the surrounding area population?

I have heard, on numerous occasions, our county commissioners say that they do not have any input to the current situation because Cob chose to take the siting process through state planning agencies, not county planning.

But think about this: Haven't the county commissioners already approved property tax relief incentives for the Cob energy facility?

It seems to me, that by taking this action, the county commissioners have already blessed the Cob energy facility's existence within the rural farm community.

William S. Thornton

1528 Ogden St.

The writer is a candidate for county commissioner, position 3.