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Herald
and News: Klamath Falls, Oregon
http://www.heraldandnews.com/articles/2003/10/08/viewpoints/letters/letters.txt
Taxpayers being sold out
H&N 10/8/03
When people fight for their livelihoods, they
usually are very determined and want to win. I'm
speaking in regard to the proposed Bonanza hog
factory that didn't fly.
Now the group that is opposing the Cob power plant
is a different ball game. Project Manager Rob Trotta
changed the high demand for water for the Cob, but
will still use the 1,500-foot Babson well and drill
three new wells.
This change from water-cooled to-air cooled is just
as uncomfortable to the neighbors. This new plan may
hit a snag and not work. If this happens maybe it
would be back to square one.
The biggest problem is siting an industry in an
exclusive farm use zone. One reason Trotta is doing
this, or attempting to build this electrical plant,
is the idea he is paying less money for a larger
acreage than would be necessary in an industrial
zone. Land is cheaper.
It seems to me (my personal opinion) that there is a
method to his madness.
Another incident happened when the Cob, or Peoples
Energy, came to Klamath Falls. Trotta attended a
Klamath County planning meeting and discussed the
best way to proceed.
The Cob was given by the powers-that-be a slicker
option bypassing Klamath County codes and going to
the Oregon Energy Siting Council in Salem.
Then Rep. Bill Garrard stepped into the picture and
sponsored a bill allowing the Cob to pay no taxes -
zero - if the Klamath County commissioners (two out
of three) would extend the enterprise zone to
Peoples Energy location near Bonanza. The Klamath
Falls City Council also needs to vote on their
issue.
The maneuver will save Peoples Energy between $4
million and $4.5 million a year in taxes. It is my
opinion both government entities will OK this idea
for zero taxes. This is how the government sells the
taxpayer down the river. Stop the Cob.
Nancy Roeder
Klamath Falls
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