I thought the job of being a supervisor was to serve the people of Pittsylvania County to the best of our ability.
At the June 21 Board of Supervisors meeting five board members felt that representing the welfare of the citizens of Pittsylvania County was not their job.
I wanted to have the board send a resolution to Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and Department of Environmental and Quality to request Virginia Uranium Inc. to do testing of citizens' wells who live around the proposed uranium mine.
Wells would be tested before new exploratory drilling or mining takes place to establish a reference of quality.
Not one board member had the courage to second my motion to even have an intelligent discussion on pros or cons of this resolution to help protect our citizens.
A resolution from the Board of Supervisors would have more impact than a request from citizens.
Not one board member lives within one mile of the proposed mine. Would you want this in your backyard?
The Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to place covenants on the Berry Hill Mega Park stating that no mining or milling of uranium would be done there.
Isn't protection of human life more important than protection of a mega park?
Other counties and other states are taking steps to let Pittsylvania County know that they have a stake in what happens here. They are actively trying to protect their citizens' health and well-being.
Several citizens attending the meeting were very upset at board members for not even caring about them.
The chairman asked the deputy to escort them out of the meeting for speaking at board members when told not to talk.
Why can't this board see that we need to take action to do the same as other counties and states?
A do-nothing attitude is not in the best interest of Pittsylvania County's citizens.
Things will be on a fast track after December to push for lifting the moratorium on uranium mining in Virginia. (Mr. Davis was not present at this June 21 meeting).
Read more:
http://www.wpcva.com/articles/2011/06/29/chatham/opinion/opinion23.txt
