A Different Legacy

Published in the News Register: February 7, 2009

by Susan Meredith

Despite the News-Register's disclaimer that Dan Hinmon's letter (Readers' Forum, Jan. 31) was personal opinion, he simply restated the marketing pieces Riverbend paid him to create last fall. At the Yamhill County Planning Commissio hearing in November, he testified in support of Riverbend's expansion application. Consequently, his statements cannot be considered unbiased and credible; in fact, many are misleading.

This compromises his position as chair of the McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce. How can he fairly represent the entire business community on an issue when he was paid to market a position that is favorable to one member of the community?

His reference to Riverbend being a "good neighbor" contradicts the testimony given by neighbors at the hearing regarding the stench, noise and visual pollution that Riverbend creates.

His statement regarding alternative technologies being unproven is simply not true. Waste Management currently utilizes alternative methods at other sites they own. It's true for several other companies at sites inside and outside the United States, and the installation cost is not borne by the local community.

The Arlington site owned by Waste Management is a viable solution. Our air pollution from trucks would decrease, not increase, because fewer trucks would come here. Riverbend states that the cost increase to ship to Arlington would be a little over a dollar per month.

What kind of local economy is going to survive with a looming 260-foot mountain of waste? The Yamhill County wine industry supports nearly 3,000 jobs and contributes over $20 million each year to our economy, plus ancillary revenue supporting myriad other local businesses. That makes Riverbend's contributions pale in comparison.

The best way to protect everyone's economy is to close Riverbend in 2014, as scheduled. That is the legacy that we should leave for the future.