Letter of the Day: Questions remain for group that opposes biodiesel plant

A group of 23 people claims to represent the best interests of all. They call themselves Iredell Neighbors for Rural Life.

Let’s make one thing clear: This group does not represent the farmers of Iredell County, nor do they speak for all of the families on the Snow Creek Road.

They claim to love and care about their neighborhood, the farm community they have moved into and the environmental concerns they have cooked up.

These people have proudly sued Iredell County and McLain Farms. By the way, when the county is sued, that is you and me and all the rest of us.

Take the time, go to the Iredell County Web site, click on Commissioners, then click on Minutes.

Click on Aug. 7, 2007, and read the words spoken. All people speaking on the subject of biodiesel were sworn to the truth. Be sure you read the questions raised by commissioners Steve Johnson and Ken Robertson and the answers received.

The minutes do not reflect the fact that Randy Bridges passed out prepared packages for his group to recite from. When you read the minutes, you will see the voodoo chemistry and fictional mathematics. This group claims the commissioners did not listen to what they had to say. Thank goodness.

Mr. Bridges raised the issue that the McLains had not filed a 47E to inform the neighborhood of a proposed industrial site.

Has Mr. Bridges filed a 47E for his long-standing junk yard? He has operated a junk yard in his back yard for more than 18 years, selling used cars and parts. Does Mr. Bridges have a used car dealer’s license? Did he list all the cars on his property tax? Does he have a permit to operate a junk yard in a residential setting? Was the count of 18 clunkers correct?

Mr. Bridges likes to talk about fires at biodiesel plants.

Is his interest in fire because there was a fire at his other junk yard at Union Grove? Let’s see, did the county find 52 or 54 junkers there? Since Mr. Bridges’ son works for the Iredell County Planning Department and is a department head, did he not warn his father about junk cars?

Question: How did Mr. Bridges convince the tax office to give him farm-use status? Is raising junk cars a farm crop now?

Question: How did the Iredell Neighbors group get a booth at the Iredell County Agricultural Fair to raise money to stop a farm family from converting their own soybeans, canola or sunflower seed to fuel? The McLains only use 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year. Why would they want to cut costs?

Question: The Iredell Neighbors held several public meetings in Iredell County. What happened to the drawings for cash prizes promised at the meetings?

Question: Why are the Iredell Neighbors not willing to give a list of their officers? They claim to have a tax number. Why would they not give that?

The Planning Board, commissioners and a judge all ruled against the Iredell Neighbors. They have the right to be wrong. To top it off, you got what you wanted — no industrial operation; keep farmland in agriculture. I hope the McLains get up and running by the time I get the new federal tax rebate. We are expected to spend it on American products. Bio equals bypass big oil, reduction of foreign oil usage and homemade in Iredell County.

Sounds good to me.


Sam G. Hall
Snow Creek Road