Friends of the Ichetucknee,
In a previous e-mail, I wrote all of the considerations
I could think of
concerning purchase of the mines. Your comments are welcome in
response.
I will be taking the day off to discuss my
concerns with the Cabinet
Aides Wednesday, January 19 at 9 AM and again making a presentation
to the
Cabinet on January 25, at 9 AM.
The Cabinet meetings are held in the basement of
the Capitol Building; go
in the front or back door and receive a pass and directions from the
information booth in the lobby. The meeting is public and open.
My goal is to have at least one protestor from each
of the cities in
Florida who have been telephoning and e-mailing me for advice on how
to fight
the cement kiln. This is the time we need to appear in
Tallahassee.
I realize that many concerned citizens work, but
if you can take off just
January 25th, your presence at the Cabinet meeting will make an impact
on our
elected officials and on the press. Regardless of your stand
on the
Kirby/Anderson Mine purchase, being present for the debate will spotlight
the
issue, letting the Governor's Cabinet members know that we are watching
and
that we care about this connection between purchasing Anderson's mine
and
granting him an air permit for a cement kiln. We MUST insist
that we make no
connection or deal between the purchase of the Trace Mines and the
offering
of an air permit. One issue must not affect the outcome of the
other.
Please, please, please make an effort to attend
the January 25th meeting
in Tallahassee. Please respond to me via e-mail or phone (352-378-6603)
to
confirm that you will be in Tallahassee. I could help you arrange
carpooling
from the various cities in Florida.
While I am pleading, I am asking for the first time
for donations to keep
this effort alive. We have huge long distance phone bills responding
to
government officials and supporters of the movement. We need
to pay experts
for their time when they write letters, appear in court, and respond
to
documents with expert opinions. The money will be kept in an
escrow account
with Bill Ogle and will be used exclusively for cement kiln opposition.
Last, North Florida Journal, a local Gainesville
PBS talk show, will
feature Chuck Yeager, the Anderson Kiln manager; Don Odom, a Suwannee
County
Commissioner; Dave Bruderly, engineer, Sierra Club past president,
FDE Board
Member and opponent to the Kiln; Svenn Lindskold, President of SOS,
and me,
Chairperson of SICK. Taping is this week, date to be announced,
but probably
January 14.
Virginia Seacrist
Our efforts to inform DEP's Ombudman concerning the Intent
to Permit
reaped about 500 letters. Of those letters, two were deemed significant
challenges to the DEP air permit considerations. One of the letters
was
written by Dave Bruderly, whom I paid a token one-time payment from
contributions by supporters. Bruderly, among many, many others
volunteered
thousands of hours in 1999 fighting for SICK. At sacrifice to
other
financial pursuits Bill Ogle, Dave Bruderly, and others have given
liberally.
Virginia Seacrist
Chairperson, SICK
Judge Kinnon ruled in favor of Anderson/Columbia in Bill Ogle's
allegation that Suwannee County Commissioners violated the Comprehensive
Plan
in a case opponents of the Ichetucknee Cement Plant brought against
the
commissioners. Suwannee County Commissioners did not change the
Comprehensive Plan from agricultural use to industrial use, yet Judge
Kinnon
rules that no special exception permit nor a change in the Comp Plan
was
necessary. The case rested on the words "resource-based activity."
If an
activity uses the resources of the land, the activity is considered
"resource
based," although even a dairy must obtain a special us permit to change
grass
to milk.
However, Judge Kinnon did allow Bill Ogle's contention
that the
Commissioner's decision was a violation of the Constitution.
Both Attorney
General Butterworth and Attorney Ogle agree that their appeal of Kinnon's
decision has merit, especially considering that the Constitutionality
issue
will be allowed. The appeal will be filed during the week of
January 10,
2000. Ogle and Butterworth remain optimistic that their arguments
will
eventually be proven correct.
Virginia Seacrist
Stop Ichetucknee Cement Kiln: It makes us sick.
904-497-4471
352-378-6603