At the July meeting of the Macon County Commissioners, the venue was moved to the fourth floor Board Room to accommodate the large number of citizens who wished to speak to, or observe the discussion of water-related issues. Even so, there was standing room only. Many well-thought-out and well-presented viewpoints were voiced.
In what was an apparent effort to diffuse this overwhelming wave of public opinion, the commissioners postponed voting on ordinance changes which had been proposed by a shadow committee (out of public view) and split the issue into three parts, to be voted on at subsequent commission meetings. We assumed that this would give the commissioners an opportunity to better educate themselves by meeting with hydrologists and engineers, many of whom were present at the July meeting.
At the August Commission Meeting, it became apparent that this had not occurred. Again, because of the large public turnout, the meeting was moved to the fourth floor. Yes, the agenda was lengthy and the meeting long. However, many of us were startled and hugely disappointed – more like “infuriated” – when public testimony was abruptly limited to the 12 persons who had just spoken, many of whom spoke about issues not related to the erosion proposals.
My voice was silenced. I had brought a proposal to the Commission to form a new committee, replacing the old one (if indeed, it ever existed), a committee which would operate in public view, contain no members involved in the decision-making process, and consult with those persons knowledgeable in the areas in which recommendations were to be made.
Above all, it would state the need for such a committee to be formed and the source of this need. None of that happened, of course. What did happen, at the very end of a four-hour meeting, was a very quick vote, allowing the change they had proposed – essentially doubling the allowable construction area exposed to erosion. The vote was 4-1.
Thank you, Danny Antoine, for listening to your concerned citizens. The September and October Commission meeting decisions will be critical to the health and safety of those who live close to our rivers, as well as to the protection of their property. We have a very effective Flood Protection Ordinance – it is imperative that no further changes be made to weaken it in the interest of those who will profit at the expense of their neighbors.
Doug Woodward, Franklin