My Address to the Lowndes County Commission 02-09-16

Mr. Chairman. Commissioners. In November of 2014, I came before this body, and pleaded with you to protect the citizens of Lowndes County from a corporation from several states away. The corporation wanted to appropriate the property of our neighbors in order to ram through the county a gas pipeline with gas bound for Florida. That would be the Sabal Trail Pipeline, and their parent corporation, Spectra.

After I finished, Commissioner John Page stood up and said, No one on the Commission was in favor of the pipeline. Consequently, on November 14, 2014, this Commssion passed a resolution against the pipeline. After a number of WHEREAS'S, I quote,

"NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners opposes the construction of the Sabal Trail pipeline in any portion of Lowndes County. The Lowndes County Commission has concerns with fundamental property rights and does not believe that citizens with small tracts should be forced to lose the use of large portions of their property for the Sabal Trail pipeline. The Lowndes County Commission does not see any long term benefit to the citizens of Lowndes County." (emphasis, mine)

The resolution was signed by the Chairman, Bill Slaughter. And those that led the fight against this taking of private property were very thankful for the Commission's support. That is what you should do, represent the interests of your constituents, and the will of the people.

Imagine my surprise, when two weeks ago, I found out that this Commission voted an easement to the Sabal Trail Pipeline across the Clyattville landfill by a vote of 4-1. It seems no citizens knew this was happenning until the morning of the vote, when it was rammed through at that evening's meeting. Obviously, things were going on in secret, behind closed doors, that no one outside of county government was privvy to.

Don't you think it is a matter of integrity - or lack thereof - for the Commission to say one thing, then barely fourteen months later turn around and do the opposite? Those that have fought to protect Lowndes County property owners from this rapacious, and evidently powerful, corporation, feel betrayed by your actions. Once again, I ask, how is it that a foreign corporation can have more power than the hundred thousand plus citizens of Lowndes County combined?

Why did you do this? For what was called a "good business deal?" A one time payment of $54,000? I might have considered $54,000 a year a good business deal, but $54,000 to a multi-billion dollar company like Sabal Trail/Spectra, is mere chump change.

But even more importantly, is that what your word is worth? That's what screams at us through this action. You have betrayed the trust of the citizens of Lowndes County for a mere 54,000 pieces of silver? That's really sad. And I'm really mad.

The only way you could redeem yourselves is to immediately rescind this easement to Sabal Trail and return their dirty money.