Writer urges Aquila Resources to follow the law
August 27, 2019
Eagle Herald
Dear Editor,
Aquila Resources title heading — local agreement — named parties are: Menominee County, City of Stephenson, Lake Township, Holmes, Daggett and the Village of Daggett.
The language used in the local agreement tries to make it appear to be a cooperative effort. This statement about obligations is arrogant and likely not to be accepted by local units of government. These local agreements demand that participants agree not to oppose the mine or take any action which would serve to delay the construction of the mine.
There is no public trust in this project. Public trust is part of 632 mining agreement and is this an attempt to create an illusion of public confidence? There is none.
Government must comply with the Open Meetings Act. All transactions must take place in the public forum. There are concerns that members of Lake Township are meeting behind the door, private meetings, which are highly inappropriate for governmental units.
There is no transparency. If the final agreement terms were made public without public input, then it’s a private agreement without public input. Is this bribe money? Aquila has stated they do not like the Open Meeting Act rules of government meetings. Several times, the company has set up dates to make presentations and then canceled after meetings are set up. This happened recently in July of 2019.
As for the scope of the agreement, to date, there have been no positive impacts presented and adverse issues and concerns have been ignored. What about the people — their health, safety, welfare, property values; and the air and water that are the two basic forces of life? There is no social license to operate. Follow the law.
Whatever you do to the earth, you do to your children.
Jeffery J. Budish
Peshtigo