Dear Editor;
Why do county “responses” always lead to even more questions?
At the Feb. 7 BOCC meeting, I confronted the commissioners to provide an explanation for the misinformation they, and the public, have been told by the county attorney regarding the phosphate mining plan. We were told our consultants have been waiting more than two years for a response from HPSII to a Request for Additional Information (RAI) from hydrologist Schreuder that was “not reduced to writing.” In frustration at trying to find out the contents of the undocumented request, I took it upon myself to write to Schreuder, who promptly confirmed he finished his review in January 2020 and is not waiting for anything. The public deserves truth and it shouldn’t have to be me that provides it.
As a follow up to my comments, the Bradford Telegraph ran an article entitled “Why Are We Waiting?” that offered County Attorney Sexton a chance to clear the air. Unfortunately, it got more cloudy instead.
What Mr. Sexton offered are typically vague responses. He said the BOCC will be updated “in due
course.” It’s been six years of waiting for HPS to prove their concept and two years of misinformation. I’d say “due course” has long ago become overdue! Why is the BOCC not demanding REAL answers?
I used to work for lawyers and I am familiar with the language of “lawyer speak” that’s uses a lot of words that avoid facts. Mr. Sexton said staff has been working closely with “our” consultants, OEC, and with HPS “to ensure that the review of the materials… is thorough and complete.”
If that’s true, why am I the one to find out that Schreuder did NOT ask for more info and he’s now retired? Why, in March 2021, did OEC’s Hoyle and HPS’ lawyer Riley both tell Mr. Sexton they are
waiting for HPS to answer Schreuder’s questions? That doesn’t sound like close communication. Did OEC fail to communicate with their own subcontractor? Or did they know but chose not to divulge?
Mr. Sexton said he wasn’t in communication with the hydrologist and so couldn’t “shed any more light on what [Schreuder] may have represented to Ms. Mosley, which led to her comments at this morning’s meeting.” I notified the BOCC long before the meeting on the 7th, so Sexton could have contacted Schreuder himself to get a reality check if so desired. Schreuder answered me within days. If the county attorney, the contractor OEC, and the attorney for HPS have all been in the dark for two years, I would call that negligence rather than diligence, and no county commissioner took steps to make it right. They allowed public deception to continue despite my warnings of anomalies.
I fear our county could eventually find itself in a lawsuit with HPSII, which is suing Union County for hundreds of millions of dollars, if the BOCC are not careful. The last MMP submitted by HPS said they are ready for the hearing. There are laws that do not seem to be important to the county to follow, such as 125.022 which sets parameters for development orders. Or, F.S.119.0701, requiring records request information to be included in the contract compiled by OEC.
It is time to put this plan to rest. Does HPSII have a viable plan ready for review or was their submission six years ago premature, and intended as a place holder to keep the county from enacting a mining moratorium, rather than a plan ready to enact?
Only information presented at the hearing can be considered by the BOCC. All applicants naturally present their case in the most favorable light because their goal is a yes vote. The public counts on the commissioners performing due diligence so they know what questions to ask of the applicant. We need our BOCC to operate with eyes wide open so they can’t continue to be kept in the dark.
Carol Mosley
Good Wins Out
I never thought I could wear a mask into a bank and not be arrested
but my understanding of the world is now being tested
I must prove that I’ve had my shot
there are consequences if I have not
there are places I can go
there are places I’m told no
it’s hard for me to sleep at night
I no longer know what is right
but I’ll see if I can bring
an end to this awful thing
by doing the best I can
to somehow help my fellow man
and if I can lead the way
toward a new and better day
by doing the things that I should
helping others and doing good
and yes we know with each new case
it is something we must face
but be prepared to give a shout
‘cause end the end good wins out
By: Milt Starnes
February, 2022
Read Then Heed
Nothing ever remains the same
now there’s war in Ukraine
everyone says not our fault
we did what we ought
the whole world is filled with greed
with little understanding of the need
there’s got to be a way to score
short of starting a new war
but the leaders seem to balk
rather than sit and talk
this is not a one sum game
all our goals are just the same
we don’t need to fill just one cup
it’s better to raise all up
when you have some give and take
then it’s progress that you make
