We only have power if we speak out

Opinion

Discussion

March 28, 2008

Anonymous The News Courier Fri Mar 28, 2008, 07:28 PM CDT

The state legislature has once again treated Limestone Countians like children who are to be seen and not heard.

We have no control of and little input into issues that impact our lives and, when we are forced to beg favors from those in control, we are told “no” and sent away.

The latest example of this came last week when a Legislative committee made up entirely of people who live outside Limestone County refused to allow a bill to the Senate floor for a vote that would have allowed Limestone County Commissioners to have a voice in whether or where companies locate rock quarries.

The issue currently at hand is an attempt by the Rogers Group to move its current quarry operations from the Cross Key community to a site in Tanner. Residents in the area have voiced concern about the site’s proximity to Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant and Swan Creek Management Area, which is home to endangered species.

Because Limestone County does not have Home Rule, our commissioners have no control over where Rogers Group puts its quarry. If the Alabama Department of Environmental Management issues a permit, Rogers Group can open for business.

Members of a Senate committee heard from Limestone County and Athens officials about their concerns with the quarry’s location. The committee also heard testimony from two people who directly benefit from Rogers Group — Billy Norell, director of the Alabama Road Builders Association in Montgomery and Stacy George, a Morgan County commissioner who received campaign donations from Rogers Group.

Committee members chose to side with two people who do not live here and will not be adversely impacted by the quarry. They chose to ignore the concerns of the people who live here.

Those on the committee voting against the bill were Lowell Barron from Fyffe, Hank Sanders from Selma and Zeb Little from Cullman. Arthur Orr from Decatur and Harri Anne Smith from Slocomb voted in favor of the bill. Two others on the committee — Pat Lindsey from Butler and Roger Bedford from Russellville — left the room before the vote.

This vote comes on the heels of the refusal by local legislators to bring a bill to the House floor that would allow Limestone County Commissioners to have some control over annexations by outside municipalities.

Members of our legislative delegation who refused to support this measure also live outside Limestone County — Rep. Mac MacCutcheon of Capshaw, Rep. Micky Hammon of Decatur and Orr.

Thousands of acres have been taken to date, including 5,000 taken Thursday night by Huntsville.

Without adequate representation in Montgomery, Limestone Countians are left powerless.

Again and again, our state legislators prove our voices do not count.

To protect ourselves from outside entities, we must support Home Rule for our county.

In the past, residents have been so fearful of any government “control,” they have denied our county this power. The result? Those around us do have power and they now make the decisions that impact us. Governments are controlling us, but they are governments that do not have our best interests in mind.

We need to take back control of our land, our neighborhoods, our voices.

Our only hope to be heard is to be louder than those who hope to silence us.

Call County Commission Chairman David Seibert and offer your support. Write your legislators to tell them they disappointed us.

Let them know they won’t keep us down.

Let them know we will not sit quietly by while outsiders decide what is best for us.

We will be heard.

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