Included in the email from Pastor Breedlove was a link to an email sent by him to the Jasper Utility Service Board and the Common Council. This link below is the article (email) posted by the Dubois County Free Press on June 14, 2011.
Along with the link, the email contained two sections: "Reasons to be concerned about biomass" and "Specifically you can lead now by helping citizens". My opinions are expressed for each point in each section.
In the "Reasons to be concerned about biomass" section one cannot dispute 2 of the 4 points addressed in the Rev. Doctor's email text, as they appear to be factual and indisputable:
- The release of particulate matter (PM) would spike an already compromised ambient air space and put lives and the health of nearby residents at a greater risk;
- we are in a non attainment classified area for PM; a biomass power plant would likely hinder local Dubois County Industry (Jobs) growth. Read Dr. Steve Hopf's letter;
- the use of federal dollars adds to the national deficit;
- a significant growing number of physicians, healthcare providers and citizens specifically oppose further negotiations with Catasein's Twisted Oak.
I have addressed The Rev. Doctor's section titled "Specifically you can lead now by helping citizens", after each point as indicated in my viewpoints below:
MACK's VEIW: The Healthy Dubois County groups clean air ordinance proposal definitely needs what I have coined as the IdTEC process, which is to Investigate, Discard or Implement, Test and Monitor, Evaluate, and Conclude. But, yes, I would advocate for a clean air ordinance if the ordinance would not have adverse effects on our economy and our citizen's rights. However, from my brief scan of the proposed ordinance (if it were planned to be enacted basically as it now reads) I found I would not be supportive of this proposed ordinance as a whole.
· encourage City leaders to reveal to date how much money has been spent by the city of Jasper on feasibility studies, outside consultations, negotiation expenses, and contracted attorney fees related to the power plant conversion to biomass (The Herald reported on expenses related to the library, the same should be done about the biomass issue);
· encourage City leaders to reveal to date how much money has been spent by the city of Jasper on feasibility studies, outside consultations, negotiation expenses, and contracted attorney fees related to the power plant conversion to biomass (The Herald reported on expenses related to the library, the same should be done about the biomass issue);
MACK's VEIW: I am in total agreement.
· ask city leaders to slow down this matter until after the November election;
· ask city leaders to slow down this matter until after the November election;
MACK's VEIW: I am perplexed by this point. The city leaders do need to 'slow down' to ensure getting it right, but the November elections are not relevant. I discussed the political ramifications in my previous post on this subject. Politics cannot be a factor in determining what is best for Jasper's citizens.
· ask city leaders to reveal who would be serving as the board members of the Jasper Clean Energy Center; ask current and future city USB and Common Council leaders to sign a pledge stating that they will in no way serve on the JCEC board or seek to financially benefit by any means from JCEC; - MACK's VEIW: The city should reveal how many members and in what capacity they would be serving on JCEC board if feasible. I need more information on the pledge logic. I believe the financial gain issue will (must be) covered by conflict of interest contracts.· ask city leaders to specifically and publicly speak to the growing list of physicians, health care providers and citizens for clean air and that are opposed to Catasein's Twisted Oak biomass proposal.
MACK's VEIW: Yes, to more and continued information and discussion with all citizens of Jasper and Dubois County. Physicians and health care providers should be listened to and valued for expressing their professional opinion. However, I do not believe members of this group should have more weight in their personal decision making than any other citizen.
I also want to comment on Dr. Norma Kreilien's article or letter, also in the Dubois County Free Press http://www.dcfreep.com/i-will-move-my-practice-if-this-agreement-is-approved-by-my-city-government/ Dr. Kreilien stated "I will move my practice if this agreement is approved by my city government." My apologies Dr. Kreilien, but in my opinion, her public outrage is silly. She should be even more concerned about your patients if the plant is approved. I am not a physician; however, I think Dr. Kreilien's position on leaving her patients 'high and dry' may be a violation of the Hippocratic Oath if taken by Dr. Kreilien. A couple of excerpts from the oath are as follows:
"I promise that my medical knowledge will be used to benefit people's health. They are my first concern. I will listen to them and provide the best care I can. I will be honest, respectful and compassionate towards patients. In emergencies, I will do my best to help anyone in medical need." .
Rather than move from our great city, Dr. Kreilien would do best by considering passage as an emergency for her patients, and her professional judgement should, indeed, not be influenced by political pressures. If Dr. Kreilien wants to move, she should move as a private citizen, not as a disgruntled physician.
In wrapping-up today's blog, I must say my phone conversation with the Rev. Dr. Breedlove was cordial and enjoyable for me. We had pleasant discussions on several topics. I thank Rev. Dr. Breedlove for his informational email and the corresponding links contained within. Although I have some disagreements with his position on the proposed bio-mass plant, we also found common ground on others. We have agreed to disagree in a civil and, hopefully, helpful manner for us and the citizens of Jasper
As always, respectfully to ALL citizens of Jasper,
Mack (Jeffrey Mack) Steffen
The Uncommon Candidate for the Common Man
Your independent and alternative choice for mayor of the City of Jasper.http://www.dcfreep.com/i-will-move-my-practice-if-this-agreement-is-approved-by-my-city-government/
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