"KING" of the hill

As I read the accounts of the County Delegation meeting, I’m struck by the level of arrogance these County politicians display on a regular basis. It appears that whatever they lack in credible knowledge is substituted with large quantities of arrogance. The latest display of this style of politics was by Rep. Fred King over the “County Performance Audit”.  Reading the newspaper accounts gives you a good idea that this is a “Good old boys/girls club”. Rep King has long believed that he’s the “KING” of Coos, ask him, he’ll tell you. (He’s a legend in his own mind) I’m not sure why County positions seem to attract people with this type of personality, but it does. It seems that you need a super ego to run for these positions and the result is that you end up with people like Fred King, Paul Grenier, Bing Judd and Tom Brady. Now mind you, these are the folks that fire off letters to Concord and Washington about whatever they deem to be important to the North Country and its residents. They seem to feed off each other, wallowing in collective ignorance of issues, but at the ready to proclaim magical insights into those same issues. Keep in mind that these ego driven Commissioners fired off a letter of support to the State for the Laidlaw project, either not knowing or ignoring the position Berlin had taken on the Laidlaw issue. Their collective opinion came from one source of enlightenment, Paul Grenier, who was gathering ammunition for his campaign for Mayor of Berlin. These are the same people who in the past year have displayed utter contempt for people like Roger Brooks, Peter Riviere, Peter Powell and now the professionals who did the County Audit. It is said that in a democracy “we have the leaders we deserve”. What did we ever do to deserve this bunch of self serving individuals? Answer; We didn’t bother to be involved!

Comments

[Wing Nut]

Although I have not yet attended any of these meetings, the way they are reported in the BDS makes it sound like the Commissioners act quite childishly on a regular basis. A pattern does seem to be developing with them. It seems that nobody is right except for them and you better not criticize them or suggest something they don’t agree with because they'll simply crush you (even if they are wrong). I've said it before; we don't exactly have the best politicians up here in the North Country. And, the good ones that do get elected (like Mayor Bertrand) don't seem to last very long. I chalk it up to good old North Country ignorance on the part of the voters and a lack of good quality candidates to choose from. If this is the best that the North Country has to offer in the form of political leadership then we are surely destined for failure. Hey, who are we to criticize our local politicians? The ones in Washington & in Concord seem to be just as bad as the ones we have locally. A broken system at all levels. Isn’t it great!

[Wing Nut]

A new study done by Landvest (at Laidlaw's request) conveniently shows enough biomass available on a sustainable basis to fuel their 70 MW plant. Landvest says their original study (which shows a shortage of biomass) was wrong. How convenient for Laidlaw. I wonder how much Bartoszek paid Landvest to come up with the right numbers for him. In my personal opinion the State now has an obligation to do their own independent wood study to confirm the Landvest results. The State study should be funded by Laidlaw but conducted by the State. Thoughts anyone?

[Voice of reason]

Wing - I am sure it was around the same amount CPD paid to get the wood study numbers they wanted.

VOR - Keep the faith wing things will work out for the best in time.

[Bob Kare]

Sean Brungot, owner of LLEG stock and Jon Edwards should pay for the study.

[Jon Edwards (the fat bald guy)]

Berlin began today.

[Voice of reason]

Come on Jon don't leave us in suspense. Berlin began today must be good news for LLEG huh.

VOR - Jon spill your guts you will feel better.

[Jon Edwards (the fat bald guy)]

VOR, Nothing really to keep you in suspense about. We were provided with a schedule pertinent to the application process, and details pertinent to the upcoming mill site tour and hearing in Berlin. We were also provided with details regarding other hearings pertinent to Laidlaw that will happen in Coos county in the future. It appears the SEC wishes to have this application process take place in Coos County as much as possible. No word yet as to intervenor status. Other than scheduling there really wasn't much news yesterday, though I think it is good that Coos County will host more of this process. Most of us were thinking this would be a Concord process, yet the SEC is being clear to point out that they understand the region needs to be very much a part of the process.

[Wing Nut]

Jon or Rocky,

Do you have any comments about the new wood study? Just wondering what your take is on this issue. It appears to show enough "biomass" available within a 100 mile radius of the plant. It would be nice if the State would commission its own independent study (at Laidlaw's expense) but I'm not sure if that will happen. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

[Voice of reason]

Jon - That is good to hear. Berlin's voice needs to be heard with the pros and cons of the project. Too bad Berlin didn't get the chance to hear the pros and cons of CPD's project. Well the council did at least LOL.

VOR -

[jon]

I agree VOR, as I think a great many more people would be against the Laidlaw project if they knew more about the potential Clean Power brings to the area without risk to the sustainability of the Coos tax base (other operating biomass facilities) and higher electrical rates (by having to transport wood chips from a 100 mile radius)

[Rocky]

WN, I wasn't ignoring your request,....I really haven't spent the time necessary to have an opinion about the "new" wood study. I think the wood study by LandVest will be challenged by people who know the wood business more than I do. The economics of trucking biomass 100 miles don't add up unless Laidlaw has a way to get paid more or additionally for the fuel. We know that PSNH has the mechanism to reach in the ratepayers pockets for the extra cost, I just don't know if the law allows them to pass that provision to someone else who they contract with. Someone needs to ask that question at the hearings.

[Jon Edwards (the fat bald guy)]

WN, The entire key to the Landvest study is whether or not transportation from 40-100 miles from Berlin is profitable which is dependent on fuel and chip cost. As Rocky suggests, Laidlaw's ability to pass additional costs of fuel and chips onto the consumer can change the entire price structure of chips in an upward direction if the state allowed for pass through to occur. The state has allowed pass through before. The direct result of pass through could be that many wood commodity businesses may have trouble competing with Laidlaw if chip price is inflated and due to their inability to pass the cost along to the consumer.

This "free enterprise" at its worst could cripple many businesses in Coos county, sending their employees and indirect jobbers (loggers) into unemployment. Some of them could then be hired by Laidlaw perhaps. The net result of jobs gained is questionable. The net result on Coos County lost assessed value could be overwhelming to the towns hosting any of these wood commodity businesses and to coos county's tax structure.

I'm providing an informative, timely, unbiased link, that I think addresses the subject of cost quite accurately.

http://snrecmitigation.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/pipes-trains-and-trucks-how-to-move-biomass-cost-effectively/

[warren]

Hey Jon, How's that Intervenor Status thing going for You?
Are you sure you can intervene on behalf of self interest
alone? How did you make out on your property eval? Dont
bother, 50cents can find out... bet your looking forward to the day you will sell out and retire somewhere nice!