Legalectric

OK, it’s time to get back to work, enough vacationing and loafing…

Photo stolen FAIR USE from the STrib.

On July 3, AT LONG LAST, the full Waseca County Board voted to join the Waseca Planning Commission, and adopted the Planning Commission’s denial of the Borglum’s four-part application for a tank course, 3 outdoor and one indoor shooting ranges and retail gun sales.

From the STrib’s article:

“I’ll be honest with you, I guess I had my head in the clouds,” Marie Borglum, Tony’s mother, said about the boisterous opposition to the project. “I knew there’d be opposition, but I didn’t know it’d be this much. And I didn’t know it’d be this aggressive.”
…
“It’s probably just us being unfamiliar with this type of process. But I guess we had our head in the gearbox and the dirt bucket too long,” she said.

They were asked at the Planning Commission hearing if they would accept approval of part of their plan, not the whole thing, and they said, EMPHATICALLY, that NO, they would not accept approval of part. So now they’ve applied for each part individually!

Here’s the full article:

Waseca County family won’t surrender on tank range

Here’s a Guest Column written by Marie Borglum and printed in the Waseca County News (yes, she’s the one who signed an Affidavit — probably written by her attorney — saying that I was a prostitute! Letter of David Gross & Affidavit of Marie Borglum):

How I caught ‘Green Fever’

Thursday, June 28, 2007

By Marie Borglum

About five years ago my youngest son developed an interest in historic military vehicles. That interest became a reality when he decided he had enough of his snowmobile and sold it on EBay, generating him a few extra dollars. My son found a gentleman who had a few vintage US military trucks for sale in Minnesota. A Deuce and Half was purchased, trailered home and became the focus of my son’s ability to “think outside the box.”

The decision was made that a search for an armored scout car, a Ferret should begin.

A few vehicles in the US were found for sale which had been imported from the United Kingdom. Too many middle men and too few choices left us wondering if we shouldn’t just take a trip to England. So a trip was booked and off to the UK my son and his best friend and partner in crime, his dad, went. A few days go by and I get a phone call that they had indeed found the-be-all-end-all armored vehicle used car lot heaven in England.

The two travelers return from their trip over the pond and I am informed that we now have to figure out how to import those six vehicles they promised to purchase. My son again does some research, and we learn that there are actually quite a few avid British armored vehicle collectors in the US who have successfully imported vehicles from the UK. I contacted one of the more progressive collectors; in fact, he has the largest private collection of various military vehicles in the United States. We are invited out to see the massive collection so we can see first hand the possibilities of our new found passion. Upon arriving at the “little tank farm,” we are introduced to the full time mechanic and manager and he opens up a couple of doors for us…literally.

Inside these doors are wall to wall, track to track, tire to tire military vehicles. There are vehicles from all over the globe, US, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Poland; vehicles from World Wars I & II, Vietnam era, Korean era the Cold War and even Desert Storm. I am amazed; I have never seen so much history crammed into warehouses in my life. As the “boys” check out each and every vehicle, I find a vehicle with a nice spot to sit on. As I sat there amongst all those camouflaged and olive drab colored pieces of defense history, I began to feel … something. I felt a huge wave of emotion. Fear, excitement, dread and anticipation.

The gentleman with the collection suggested that we take another trip to a newly opened US Marine museum in Virginia. The displays were laid out in the different theaters of war; you could experience American military history through a timeline. Since I tend to be “stuck in the 70’s,” I headed for the Vietnam War exhibit.

I entered the doorway and soon found myself inside what was an actual jumbo war plane. As I walked out of the hatch, I entered an area filled with native vegetation, sandbags, uneven terrain and sounds … gunfire in the distance, bugs, drone of engines, voices speaking in both American and Vietnamese etc. It was hot and humid and jungle-like. You were in Vietnam.

A couple of gentlemen entered the room behind me. As we exited the exhibit, the two men stopped. One man said to the other “Did you feel it?” The other simply replied “Yes.” Tears started rolling down their rugged, aged and weathered faces. Not tears of sorrow, but of raw emotion not experienced since they had been in Vietnam in the 1970’s. They said the smells, the sites and the sounds were exactly as they remembered. I asked them if it was a good thing for them or if it dredged up feelings long buried and forgotten for survival.

They both replied at the same time: “It is THE best thing that ever happened to us!” There was closure. There was dignity and respect. There were no war protestors and feelings of guilt. There was just the truth of how it was and what all those men and women did to survive a war that wasn’t respected at the time.

I decided then and there that if I could bring that feeling to just one person back home, it was worth any amount of red tape and complications. After months of waiting, I get an email that two vehicles are ready to send to their new home in the U.S. Our first shipment arrived in February.

Amid protests and complaints, we parked our pride and joy armored vehicles one by one on our property. Not to ridicule, make light of, or disrespect the military; but to honor the brave men and women who stepped up the plate to defend their beliefs and the vehicles that helped them accomplish their missions.

I realize that there are veterans out there that want to forget, that take offense to us and our project. I don’t expect everyone to understand my project. I don’t expect everyone to support it. The Waseca County Planning & Zoning Board requires that I demonstrate a need for my project. Gosh that is a tough order. I cannot seem to come up with the words to validate the need for a living, hands on, touching, real life tribute to armored vehicles in Waseca County Minnesota, USA.

So, I decided to tell my story and how the idea became a reality from my heart. It is not fabricated, fiction or the loose screws in my head talking, you can make fun of it, you can print it, share it, throw darts at it, forward it or delete it as you so desire.

Per the STrib this a.m., McCain has a “dip in fundraising.” There’s the dip in the background of this photo… Pawlenty.

Facing a crisis from a drop in fundraising, McCain cuts staff

This is good, because this guy has done enough damage as Governor, the thought of him maneuvering for Pres is more than I can stomach..

Fair Use stolen from STrib – this photo captures Sviggum’s essence!

As reported across Minnesota –

In STrib:

Sviggum named labor, industry Commissioner

In St.PPP:

Veteran legislator Sviggum named head of Labor and Industry

Associated Press on Minnesota Public Radio:

Sviggum to leave House, appointed Labor Commissioner

Winona Daily News:

Sviggum to leave House; date for special election uncertain 

The Gov’s Press Release:

Gov. Palwenty appoints Sviggum Labor and Industry Commissioner

… and from the MPR page (it may be radio, but they consistently manage to capture these guys as they are! Remember that Micheletti photo???)

Here’s the most recent Overland photo of him, from the Candidate Forum in Zumbrota just before the last election:

Last but not least, here’s Sviggum with his toady Ray Cox (stolen from Ray’s site). Steve’s the guy who as Speaker sent letters threatening felony charges for serving pie and popsicles at public events, grossly misinterpreting campaign law. Ray was a benefactor of the pie letter, but in the end, Sviggum and Cox had pie on their faces:

Looking for a demonstration of his judgment and character? Check this! Is this the kind of guy we want as Commissioner of Labor and Industry?

Coal plant proposal of the day: Cash Creek

Another proposed coal gasification plant is under scrutiny. The Cash Creek IGCC plant is the subject of a public hearing later this week. If it receives reasonable public scrutiny, if the emissions information is public, how could it receive anything but a loud DENIAL of the permit? It’s happened in Minnesota and Delaware, IGCC plants have been found to be not what the proposers spin would indicate. Georgia turned down an IGCC plant recently too. It’s time for another to go down…

PUBLIC HEARING

CASH CREEK AIR PERMIT

Friday, June 29, 2007 @ 6:30 p.m.

Henderson County Courthouse

20 North Main Street

Henderson, KY

Phone: (270) 826-3971

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Here’s the Draft Air Permit, thanks to Valley Watch:

Cash Creek Draft Air Permit

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So I called the Kentycky Air Permit Division, and because Jim Morse, the contact listed on the Cash Creek page (502-573-3382) was on the phone, and so was transferred around several times trying to get information on the deadline for written comments and the process for submission.   Finally I got someone who said that yes, Comments could be submitted by mail and email, and to go to the Notice page, which he directed me to.  OK, fine, so the Notice says Comments may be submitted for 30 days after the publication of the Notice, by mail they must be postmarked by that date.  What’s the date of the Notice?  MAY 20, 2007!!!!

Cash Creek Notice – May 20 2007

 The Comment period ended June 19 or 20, 2007, depending on how you count.  So I called back, got Jim Morse (502-573-3382) and asked about that, and he didn’t regard that as a problem.  “So what would you like me to do about that?”  I said that the Comment period should be extended to provide for submission of Comments some time after the public hearing.  He offered some lame nonsense about being bound by regulations, and I said that I doubt the regulations expressly limit extension of that deadline.  “And who am I talking to?”  I told him and told him of our experience with Mesaba and that I’m working on getting the air emissions information out to the world, to other jurisdictions where IGCC plants are being considered, because the MPCA analysis and the MN record demonstrated that IGCC is NOT what it’s cracked up to be.  He said I should take it up with the Director of the Division, who has already denied two requests for extensions!  Yup, this is how it goes in Kentucky.  He said I should find someone who will be there to submit comments.  OK, fine, I will…

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 Check out this article, and register your comments — registration at the site is a bit of a pain, but it’s worth it to weigh in on this project:

Cash Creek Impact: New EPA rule raises concern

By Mark Wilson (Contact)
Monday, June 25, 2007

With the region facing the challenge of soon having to meet tougher air pollution regulations, environmentalists and local officials are concerned about the impact the proposed Cash Creek power plant in Henderson County, Ky., could have on air quality in the Evansville area.

They’re expected to raise those concerns at a public hearing on the Cash Creek air pollution permit at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Henderson County Courthouse.

The area learned last week that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing tighter standards on ozone pollution which many counties, including Vanderburgh and Warrick, may have difficulty meeting when they take effect in 2008. In addition, both counties already do not meet federal standards for fine particulate pollution.

“On behalf of the City of Evansville, I would like to reiterate my concerns about the negative impacts a new power plant would have on our region’s air quality,” wrote Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel in a three-page letter to the Kentucky Division of Air Quality on June 18.

Warrick County Commissioners and Newburgh also have filed letters of concern about the power plant’s possible impact on air quality.

A representative of the Erora Group, the Louisville, Ky.-based company developing the Henderson County power plant, said Friday the facility’s use of “clean coal” technology will cause it to have little impact on local air quality. Building and operating the power plant, they say, will be a boon to the economy.

Despite those assurances, Weinzapfel has asked Kentucky environmental officials to take extra steps to require strict pollution controls and reduction strategies.

The latter includes conducting pollution monitoring both before and after building pollution sources and conducting modeling that would examine the impact of plants such as Cash Creek on air quality in Vanderburgh and Warrick counties.

The plant would be located on Kentucky 1078 near the Green River and next to Patriot Coal Co., which is expected to provide most of the Western Kentucky coal that developers are pledging to use for fueling the plant.

The estimated building cost, $1.5 billion, will create more than 1,000 construction jobs. The plant would employ an estimated 200 people when in operation.

“We are always looking for jobs,” said Paul Kuerzi, board chairman for the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce. “Yes, we are concerned about the environment, but our take is this appears to be as clean a project as you could have in this particular industry. The technology they will be using is quite advanced.”

Cash Creek would use a still-fledgling process called IGCC (integrated gasification combined cycle) that would convert coal into a synthetic gas of mostly hydrogen and carbon monoxide that would then be burned to power turbines and create electricity. The plant is expected to produce 630 megawatts of power for sale.

“We believe it will be the cleanest plant, certainly in Kentucky, if not in the country,” said David Schwartz, an Erora Group spokesman.

Although Cash Creek would have pollution controls for both particulate pollution and ozone-causing nitrogen oxide pollution, according to its proposed permit, it would still have the potential to generate more than 700 tons a year of nitrogen oxide pollution and other pollutants.

“Clean technologies not withstanding, Cash Creek would emit hundreds of tons of air pollution each year and may negatively impact our air quality,” Weinzapfel wrote.

John Blair, president of Evansville-based environmental group Valley Watch, said he will argue at Friday’s hearing that Kentucky officials should treat the plant as if it were going to be located in an area of non-attainment for air quality standards.

“This plant should be built with offsets (equivalent reductions in pollution) as if it were in a non-attainment area,” he said.

“This plant will have an impact on Vanderburgh and Warrick counties, particularity Warrick.”

The St. Paul “hazecam”this a.m.

The STrib reports that it’s not a good time for those of us who breathe:

Take note today, as hot air and humidity combine for pollution health advisory

It’s ozone and PM 2.5 — an obvious demonstration of why we don’t need to be building any more coal plants, incinerators, and other combustors anytime soon. Or exempting them from emissions laws… or relaxing Waste Combustor regulations… or exempting “biomass” from regulation (if it’s so “clean” why would it need exemption, eh?).

Today’s forecast from the EPA

Specifics for:

MINNESOTA

DELAWARE

The Baltimore “hazecam” (there isn’t one for Delaware, but it’s raining, dreary…)