Pend Oreille County Commissioners, Senator Shelly Short Refuse Public Involvement

Pend Oreille County Commissioners, Senator Shelly Short Refuse Public Involvement

There is a serious situation unfolding in Pend Oreille County and about to get worse.

Silicon smelter protesters were shut-out (ignored) at the Pend Oreille County Commissioners public meeting. In attendance was Senator Shelly Short, Mike Manus, Karen Skoog and Steve Kiss.

The meeting started late because someone called Short and reported that a large group of protesters had arrived to protest the silicon smelter project she has endorsed. After the meeting started, Commissioner Mike Manus (as usual) left the meeting, scurrying out the back.

Protesters and KXLY news crowded the small meeting room with many protesters waiting outside in the foyer, patiently waiting for the topic of the smelter to be brought up. At the end of the meeting, one of the Commissioners informed the group that the smelter would not be discussed. The room exploded in anger, because once again, the Commissioners have refused public involvement in the decisions to bring the toxic silicon smelter to the town of Newport, Washington.

Shelly Short scurried out of the meeting like a rat and several protesters attempted to speak with her, but she refused. Anger boiled over at this non-representation by an elected official.

Several people confronted the two remaining Commissioners, Steve Kiss and Karen Skoog. I've compiled their commentary as best I can here (thank you to the contributors to this report, I have edited your comments here for inclusion).

Meanwhile, KXLY interviewed several people including Micheal Naylor, Karen Hardy (candidate for Senate to replace Shelly Short) and Axle (someone update me with his last name please).

KXLY aired a tiny, highly edited segment later that night, I got a chance to see it and apparently, it contained almost nothing of the actual interview conducted. Once again, the local media fails the citizens of Newport on an issue of critical importance.

The Newport Miner newspaper has supported the toxic silicon smelter and has steadfastly refused to accurately report the rising anger and resistance rapidly rising in Newport. The Miner was informed in writing about the dangers of smelting operations over a year ago when Usk was the location, and deliberately chose to ignore the story (biased reporting is a Miner specialty and why very few people buy this paper).

Commissioner Kiss reported that only 50% of the people were for or against the smelter (even split), which is patently absurd and a bald faced lie. Even in the deceptive reporting in the Miner, the actual survey results reports less then 25% "support" from uninformed people who admit knowing nothing about it. Virtually 100% of the people who are correctly informed about the silicon smelter are 100% opposed to it (data gathered from door-to-door and the recent CANSS meeting with nearly 300 in attendance), due to its high toxicity, poisonous emissions and long term lasting effects upon the town, the people, our health and the environment. Both the Miner and Kiss are lying to the public and now they're doing it to our faces.

Commissioner Karen Skoog "admitted that the Commissioners have not read anything about the objections to the smelter" and another reported, "they have no idea about the Kalispel Tribe's rejection of the Preliminary Air Quality Report" and its misrepresented data.

It gets worse. Both Commissioners are simply not interested in any public input, apparently now or forever. They are going to simply rely on the "process" of permit approvals and the public involvement and concerns are effectively irrelevant. They will have zero effect upon the outcome.

Neither were reported as having any awareness whatsoever of the serious health concerns, pollutants, emissions or effects caused by silicon smelting operations. The same person reported that "they had no interest in what has happened to other towns with silicon smelting operations".

I find this absolutely unbelievable and shocking to say the least. All three County Commissioners have literally rolled out the red carpet for HiTest Sands, Inc. (a foreign corporation) to setup shop here - and have publicly admitted that they have NO IDEA what this actually means for the poisoning of this town. They are not aware of any health concerns, any pollution issues, any environmental effects and apparently, do not even care enough to find out.

Public involvement and commentary in this project is a total sham. They don't want it, they refuse to entertain our concerns and they expect us to stay quiet about it. Shelly Short has categorically refused to address any of our concerns and needs to be thrown out of office.

I will ask this again - what kind of government are we actually living under here? Shelly Short has helped ramrod this monstrosity through and totally refuses any public involvement. The County Commissioners have created a sham "Executive Committee" by appointing themselves to the positions and their HiTest Project Manager Greg Dohrn!  

The Executive Committee is an absurdity, and is designed to roll over any opposition to this poisonous industry landing here.

This should be illegal, and if it isn't, why not? Public money is being spent to endorse the smelter and pave the way for this toxic monster to industrialize this entire town.

They admitted to no understanding of the risks to the entire community that are being brought up and worst of all, they have no intentions of finding out: "the claim made was they would do nothing about investigating the health concerns or risks or what has happened to other towns". And finally, "the issue of public voting on a project that affects the entire region was brought up, and there was no response to this question except more dancing around the topic".

It's always been clear that the Commissioner have refused to even consider the community and their opinions about the toxic smelter, but now we know that they also have no interest in a public vote on the matter. As already reported here at an event that occurred in Diamond Lake, WA - they don't need or want or input, they're going to decide everything for us.

What in the hell are we paying these people for? What kind of assholes do we have in public office here?

I honestly don't know, but there is a major, growing problem in Newport that needs to be fully investigated by the Washington State Attorney General's Office and the Pend Oreille County Prosecuting Attorney (although I expect little help there).

We are in serious trouble people. I've already explained that the false narrative being promoted about the smelter, and how this includes the point that the review process is designed to grant permission for construction and operation of the plant. At no point will our comments, concerns, objections, property values, health issues be factored in. We are not a part of the process and never will be.

Almost forgot - the topic of property taxes did come up and they told everyone at the meeting that property taxes are going to increase.

So now you get the pleasure and privilege to pay for the smelter to poison your town, ruin your life, make you sick, unhealthy and perhaps die a horrible death.