Clatsop C.C. Meeting, March 20, 2008

Highlights of today's County Commissioner's meeting:

And the Vote is 4-1 (Sam Patrick, no)
It was quite a spectacle to see our county commissioners tumbling all over themselves to help NorthernStar's LNG proposal overcome any obstacle that law or common sense presented.  It was acrobatic government at its worst.  It was the un-civics lesson you wouldn't want your kids to see.  It was appalling and disgusting.   Hard to believe we voted these oafs into office....

Thanks to the many NO LNGers who filled the Boyington Bldg. meeting room today - it was a high energy, well-informed crowd - who had to restrain themselves from laughing at the absurdities and groaning at the sell-out of our county by the commissioners. 

At the meeting Ann Samuelson suggested that our county's fire, safety, and law enforcement districts really don't need the safety and emergency resources and equipment they're asking for to respond to an LNG emergency; she suggested they're are just being greedy.  She said the districts' desire to have NorthernStar pay some of the costs is just taking advantage of the company, like winning the lottery.   Samuelson, Roberts, Hazen, and Lee loved the idea of making our districts negotiate w/ NorthernStar to get more "reasonable" amounts - they certainly did NOT want the county to make any demands on NorthernStar.   So are they worried about our safety or NorthernStar's balance sheet???

At the end of the meeting, Samuelson talked about the need for forgiveness and reconciliation.  That was so absurd coming from her that easily half the people at the meeting left, rather than listen to her babble on.  Samuelson has been such a dedicated advocate for NorthernStar and Bradwood - perhaps she can get them to hire her on....

Richard Lee stormed over to the county attorney to demand that the county eject Columbia Riverkeeper attorney Brett VandenHeuvel after he raised a point of order that the chair, Patricia Roberts, refused to recognize.   He also brought up the District Attorney's stipend - perhaps in his mind this is connected to LNG???

And although county road standards require a 500-foot turning radius on curves, the commissioners are on their way to approving much lower standards on Clifton Road for NorthernStar - 275 feet on one curve and 350 feet at another.   Final vote about Clifton Road is April 9.   I'm enraged that they willing to endanger all the residents and others who drive on Clifton Road.    Would any of the commissioners drive on a below-standard Clifton Road at night in a storm with an 18-wheeler coming at them???