Supervisor Marshall Ecker's report/Resolution on ban mining and milling of uranium at the Berry Hill Mega Park

Comment:  Thanks Mr. Ecker for all you do and listening to your people about the problems of uranium mining!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 9:17 AM EST

The New Year has started out with a new chairman of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.

Thanks to Banister District Supervisor William Pritchett, the board voted 4-3 to elect Chatham-Blairs District's Hank Davis as chairman.

Let's hope things will change for the good for all Pittsylvania County.

I still believe that the chairman should be rotated to all board members and not dominated by one person.

That is why I voted for Mr. Davis, plus I feel he will do a good job.

2010 will be a tough year with less money from state, dealing with new budget demands from all departments and trying to find ways to pay for it from local monies.

Last year I introduced a program to have employees come up with ways to save and eliminate waste.

The board vote 7-0 for this proposal, but to my knowledge no one has taken advantage of this program.

I would like your input on what would be good suggestions on how Pittsylvania County can save your tax dollars. We all need to work together in these tough times.

Uranium ban

This leads me up to the resolution to ban mining and milling of uranium at the Berry Hill Mega Park.

The resolution did not ban uranium mining or milling in all of Pittsylvania County or at Coles Hill.

This was to protect your tax dollars - all $222 million- in a 20-mile radius around the Berry Hill project.

If the Regional Industrial Facilities Authority (RIFA) has no intention of mining or milling of uranium in Berry Hill Mega Park, why not pass a resolution to protect future business investments?

Our neighbors to the south (North Carolina) are concerned about the Dan River, which is a source of their drinking water.

Virginia Beach is concerned. They are spending almost half a million dollars for a study on the quality of their drinking water (most comes from or flows through Pittsylvania County) if the moratorium is lifted in Virginia.

Here in Pittsylvania County, those in position of power are failing to make any decisions. The resolution failed 4-3.

Our job as leaders in Pittsylvania County is to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens. When will be the right time: before or after something happens?

Board packet

To get the Board of Supervisors' packet or other information, you need to go to Pittsylvania County's home page, www.pittgov.org , and click on large letters Agendas/Minutes/Packets/Public Hearings.

This is a tool for all citizens to use and help to keep a watchful eye on county business.

Feel free to contact me by telephone at 434-335-5967 (Please, no phone calls after 9 p.m.)

Or you can e-mail me at any hour at marshall.ecker@pittgov.org.

I want to know your thoughts or ideas on issues that are important to you.

Marshall Ecker represents the Staunton River District on the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.

Read more:
http://www.wpcva.com/articles/2010/01/28/chatham/opinion/opinion07.txt