FROM:
Mikey O’Connor
Buffalo County Business Owner and Resident
S1287 Wisconsin State Highway 88, Box 38, Gilmanton, Wisconsin 54743
Email: mike@haven2.com
DATE: March 2, 2014
TO:
Senator Thomas Tiffany, 12th Senate District Chair, Senate Committee on Mining
Representative Mary Williams, 87th Assembly District Chair, Assembly Committee on Mining
Senator Kathleen Vinehout, 31st Senate District
Representative Warren Petryk, 93rd Assembly District Member, Assembly Committee on Mining
TRANSMITTED VIA EMAIL
RE:
SB 632 and AB 816
Dear Senators Tiffany and Vinehout, and Representatives Petryk and Williams:
I am a business owner and resident of Buffalo County, currently under siege by an out-of-state sand-mining company attempting to launch a multi-location frac sand strip mining and rail loading facility here.
I’m also a member of an informal group of people striving to bring order and fair play to the process of siting mines and rail facilities here in the County. Many of us are farmers and small business owners. We see the businesses we have worked hard to build threatened by a pell-mell rush to introduce 19th century mining jobs into this region.
Buffalo County is well positioned to expand its economic base by competing on the world stage for 21st century Information Economy jobs – but that opportunity will vanish if the region is hurled back into a 19th century extractive economy. We are united in the idea that decisions that have such profound impacts on local businesses and residents should be made locally.
- These bills will harm our ability to bring the awareness and knowledge of local stakeholders to bear on decisions that will impact our health, safety and welfare for decades. ‘
- The consequences of your actions will put some of us out of business.
- And, by destroying the amenities which make this area attractive first-tier information workers, our residents and children will be at a permanent disadvantage in the worldwide Information Economy.
Please vote against these bills.