Notes from a Publisher: Mallard Lake Landfill Issue IS Important
Had a nice cup of coffee and conversation with some people today and was introduced to the Mallard Lake Landfill Issue. I have to admit my ignorance on the subject. (Before the meeting, between other writing gigs, I'd Googled it and saw that it's been going on for 30 years.) All I can say is ... wow. I was instantly reminded of my experience with the CAFO problem in Indiana. As I listened and jotted notes, I was amazed that this was still going on and that more people weren't wanting to know exactly what was going on. (So many questions!)
I was told the local *cough* newspaper *cough* - The Herald Bulletin, thought the issue was 'old news' and not really important. (I was also given some other news tips they passed on that I want to follow up on as soon as I have time. Some good news type of stuff that the HB should be reporting on...) Anyway, as publisher of Anderson Free Press, I have to publicly say that my curiosity as a a citizen and as a journalist is piqued, especially with Killbuck Elementary being involved and ACSC talking about closing schools.
There's a lot of research to be done - or looked at hopefully, provided by the people who have been documenting and researching the whole complicated mess for many years. There are a lot of questions that need to be answered. Someone has to actually ask the questions, though. I don't have time to start digging on my own at the moment (buried in day to day work and some other big projects), so I wanted to bring the issue up here at AFP and ask for reader's input on the issue - especially those of you who have lived here a long time.
The fact that this has been dragging along for so many years is a story in itself, I think. When time opens up next month, I want to start trying to get video interviews of all the major players - members of the BZA and others in the Madison County Building. Perhaps we'll have the same format as with other AFP video interviews - you ask questions and I go ask them. If the people refuse, that needs to be noted publicly.
AFP's really never taken up a cause or found a niche (well, our BREAKING NEWS in the scanner thread, maybe...smile...), but maybe this can be something we, the community at AFP, can come together on and work together to finally put the issue to rest.
I'm going to be researching the whole topic a little here and there over the next few weeks and I'll share what I learn here (with links...)
From the Anderson Airport (important for a lot of reasons, especially if Anderson is to start to boom), to Killbuck Elementary (a very high performing school, from what I've been told), to corporations and the love of money (trash is big, big business), to politicians that may think no one is watching or paying attention (the American population is generally apathetic, but AFP might be a way to get people excited about the process again, the fact that things can be changed for the better, that Anderson could be ready for a rebound into the 21st century), to the potential health problems with Anderson's water, to local media who don't think the whole issue is important or of interest to the citizens of Madison county -- that's long winded and probably put better other ways, but the Mallard Lake Landfill issue is complex and strung out over three decades. It is important, though,imho.
It's going to take a lot to unravel everything and shine the light where its needed to get answers, but I think AFP is mature enough (and has a large enough audience) to handle the task. And even with as little as I know about the whole issue currently, it seems to be something that needs to be looked into. What do you, the AFP community, have to say?
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Should be interesting. Bet the HB will be watching.
“If you treat an individual as he is, he will stay as he is; but if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Thanks, Bard. I'd hope they see this and realize the importance and start 'doing their job' (having more resources than I do at the moment) and start asking the questions that need to be asked... Til then, I'm going to start looking under rocks and listening to see what I can find out. I want to hear from other AFP readers, though.
Maybe most are too filled with apathy.
I miss Bob Hertzog. Heh. I read his 'letter' printed in AFP the other day. It was a fine piece of writing describing what AFP was to him.
Anyway... thanks for the comment, Bard. We shall see what other members think about the issue. Or at least see if the lurkers lurk on the thread a lot...
The old expression, 'follow the money', has never been more appropriate than it is now when looking at the Mallard Lake landfill battle. A bankrupt and allegedly virtually destitute small-time businessman and his kid wage a quarter-century plus battle with seemingly unlimited funds to pay several high-dollar law firms to keep the opposition at bay. Where's that money really coming from? The KCCA's website claims the developers' accountant admits they never paid for the land but haven't lost it in foreclosure. I'd like the name of that bank so I can refinance my house and not have to pay them back!
The developer admits whichever company buys his proposed landfill (he's said he'll sell it immediatley to highest bidder) won't accept local waste but, in a letter which was published in the BULLetin in December, he says the county's citizens have lost $20M because he can't get permitting to operate and accept their garbage. He can't even keep his stories straight!
The County's elected and appointed fathers and (mothers) all say they oppose the dump (that's politically expedient) but allow their hired gun attorneys, paid with our tax dollars, to block it from being heard by the BZA where the facts would come out and the dump issue would be defeated, once and for all. And finally, the school corporation names Killbuck Elementary, one of its best performing schools which just happens to be across the street from the dump site, as its first round pick for closure to save money. When that plan was challenged by the citizens in recent meetings, they made closing it just one of four possible 'scenarios'. Did I mention I have some oceanfront property in Kansas I'm willing to sell cheap?
You go, KPaul. Dig into the facts, find out why our County officials won't take a stand against this plan to build a mountain of East Coast waste in Madison County which will almost certinaly pollute our water, further reduce our home values and create serious birdstrike hazards for flights in and out of Anderson Airport. Then, publish what you find out so the citizens will finally become aware of what's going on behind the scenes. Oh, and after you do, make sure you keep your outside lights on all night.
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. - Thomas Jefferson
Thanks, NB. You have a link to the KCCA website? Thanks.
www.supportkcca.org
I knew these folks had been fighting this dump for 25+ years but I had to look it up when you asked and found that it's been 30 years! The 'chronology' section of their website takes a while to read through (back to 1979) but a pattern emerges that is unmistakable in its implications. Our rights as citizens obviously don't count but J.M. Corporation and its financial supporters have carte blanche with the County. Why????
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. - Thomas Jefferson
Ooops. Hit 'post' twice. Sorry.
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. - Thomas Jefferson
Kpaul have you spoke to a lady with the first name of Helen?
"if" you havent let me know I'll p.m. you her contact info.
I'm in! Let me know what I can do.
NoBull, thanks for the website. It links to that chronology of events I've been looking for....the one that makes it apparent how much of a travesty this landfill is, and how our county officials and their hired help have apparently colluded in continuing to press this illegal and disasterous project on Madison County residents.
“If you treat an individual as he is, he will stay as he is; but if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
If there is actually a lake or some body of water there, perhaps it could be listed as a national wetland. That would probably end any chances for a dump there. But one would think that 30yrs off oppisition would send a message that the community for the most part is not interested.
the hardest part of doing nothing, is knowing when your done.