Why are the county commissioners allowing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deny due process to the citizens of Jackson County in the coming environmental disasters of the elitist, artificial compounds of “Webster Ridge” and “Riverrock” (Legasus Corporation)? The North Carolina Division of Water Quality has already declared the Tuckaseigee “impaired”, which means its polluted.(1.) If the government won’t act, citizens can take the developers to court for the harm that they cause our county. (2.) Developers hate a bad public image and hate to lose money too.
Speaking of public relations and losing money; despite the $300,000.00 fine (3.) [negotiated down to $150,000.00. (4.)] imposed on the Balsam Mountain ‘Preserve’ for causing the Scotts Creek disaster of 2007, a has-been golf professional officially opened the trout-killing course on the anniversary (June 7) of the Scotts Creek disaster. (5.) Why did the BMP “re-engineer” the course and consequently construct an illegal (so says the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) dam which caused malicious civil harm against the citizens of Jackson County. (6.) Is it possible BMP could care less about harming Jackson County’s (ours) trout waters? Does this have anything to do with a county commissioner who has a full-time job (‘table scraps’) at the BMP? (7.)
This whole sad state of affairs has become a “Jacksongate” where the taxpayers get their pockets picked and their land stolen and raped one more time by free-booting buccaneers. If the citizens of Jackson County aren’t getting the shaft from a herd of greedy developers, they’re getting it from our elected and appointed officials! (8.) Why won’t you, the Jackson County Commissioners, take a strong stand against re-building the dam on the BMP golf course and take immediate legal action to force the Army Corps of Engineers to hold a public hearing/public comment on the “Webster Ridge” debacle? These and other offenses have been “white elephants” on the taxpayers for too long. All we’re getting is a huge mess costing us hundreds of thousands of dollars (perhaps millions) and destroying our county with no end in sight. Is anyone else demanding positive leadership on these issues? Call the chairman now and ask him why he won’t stop his political posturing and act for all the citizens of Jackson County.
Bibliography
1. “Creeks, section of river, termed ‘impaired’”, The Sylva Herald and Ruralite, 02/07/08
2. “Citizens have powerful tools to stop sedimentation pollution”, The Smoky Mountain News, 5/21/08.
3. “Lawyers delay appeal of fines triggered by June 7 dam failure”, The Sylva Herald and Ruralite, 07/26/07
4. “Golf course community agrees to pay county $150,000”, The Sylva Herald and Ruralite, 04/24/08
5. “Palmer officially opens course”, The Sylva Herald and Ruralite, 06/12/08
6. “Agencies oppose new golf course dam at BMP”, The Smoky Mountain News, 05/21/08
7. “Golf course community agrees to pay county $150,000”, The Sylva Herald and Ruralite, 04/24/08
8. “Residents object to vested rights given to Legasus’ developments”, The Sylva Herald, 04/10/08
