By DAVID E. SUMNER
It was exciting to see so many turn out for the Killbuck Concerned Citizens Association meeting on April 17 — the second-largest crowd I’ve seen in nine years of attending these meetings. Killbuck Concerned Citizens has a new generation of leaders who are carrying the torch forward with more energy and commitment than ever. Widespread opposition to the proposed Mallard Lake landfill has never been stronger or more vociferous.
Mike Fox, a Highland High teacher, gave a talk at the meeting about how he lived in Anderson for several years and always thought the landfill debate originated from Not In My Back Yard (NIMBYs). Not until he read the experts’ studies and legal records did he recognize the serious geological hazard this dump threatens for whole county — not to mention its threats to airport and school funding.
Likewise, I didn’t get involved in this fight until 1998. After I started reading the original court papers, geological studies and legal documents, I became outraged about the injustice that a few greedy people have inflicted upon 100,000 people. If a dump goes in, it will affect your water, your airport and your schools.
Why does the Board of Zoning Appeals refuse to meet with the public? Neither the BZA nor the county attorney who advises them are elected, and they are obviously not trying to be accountable. The BZA approved a trench landfill and now JM Corp. plans an above-ground landfill. Gerald Shine is absolutely wrong in stating, “The order that was made years ago was for a sanitary landfill. That’s on record.” No. I’ve read the records.
Here is what a friend told me: “I know the BZA and the citizen of Madison County were misled by JM Corp. back in 1979. I was at the meeting where they presented plans for a trench-type landfill. That is what was presented to the BZA. JM Corp. has never presented anything locally in regards to an above-ground landfill.”
If you read 28 years of newspaper articles about this controversy, as I have, you will learn that only about five people in Madison County have ever spoken publicly to support the Mallard Lake dump and three of them are Reed family members. Hundreds, if not thousands, of citizens and public officials have spoken or written against it.
If you want to learn more about the landfill’s potential consequences and those officials to whom you can protest, visit this Web site created by Highland High students: http://hhssocialstudies.tripod.com. And draw your own conclusions about why we’re still fighting this stupid dump.
David E. Sumner is an Anderson resident and is not a KCCA officer or board member.
Letters
Reader Viewpoint: Landfill protest must continue
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Letter: Consumer-driven economy will pay off debt
To save America some money — by acclimation of course — let’s not have a presidential election in 2012. We already have a good president who will do his best to kill all Republican bills (DOA) and, consequently, create more good-paying jobs in the $30 per hour range.
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Letter: Gingrich cashes in on political amnesia
Rasmussen says that Romney has flattened nationally. Why?
Two reasons seem to tell the tale. Gingrich has shown that he will fight, and Romney is a Mormon, believed to be a “cult” by a majority of evangelicals. -
Letter: Hiring Winkler not wise spending
As a taxpayer I want to know that my taxes are being spent wisely. Hiring Greg Winkler at a salary of $126,000 is not wise spending.
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Letter: Bill of Rights being nullified by new law
President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act on New Year’s Eve. I doubt many Americans noticed its implications because they do not yet comprehend the big picture. This law, coupled with the Patriot Act, is paving the way for America’s direction toward tyranny.
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Letter: $14 trillion debt started by previous president
I’m a proud atheist who’s lucky enough to know the difference between fact and fantasy.
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Letter: Economy putting people in the gutters
We are now getting the results of putting people in the gutters. We need to take a second look at our government and its policies. It’s not working.
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Viewpoint: Look at Creation Museum from an educational, scientific perspective
I encourage any and all who have interest in this vitally important topic to “go to the source,” to invest the time and energy into exploring The Creation Museum for themselves.
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Letter: Blame the voters for our Congress
Why is insider trading legal for Congress and illegal for the rest of us? They make and enact laws for all of us, but then exempt members of Congress. Somehow this doesn’t seem to pass the smell test.
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Letter: Smith’s firings appear vindictive
Anderson is a city of negative publicity and actions. Why else is Sears leaving? Can we stand four years of vindictive actions and negative reporting?
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Letter: Planned devaluation of dollar is coming
I’ve submitted letters regarding the existence of a global elite for years now. I’m now submitting another one in which I hope readers will take note of.
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Letter: Consumer-driven economy will pay off debt
