Group not "small"

Published in the News Register: February 7, 2009

by Mickey Anderson

The "small but vocal group of citizens" Dan Hinmon refers to (Readers' Forum, Jan. 31) can count among its members representatives of the Oregon wine industry, which, according to a 2005 study, contributed nearly $1.4 billion to the Oregon's economy.

In 2007, Yamhill County's share of this billion-dollar industry was 38 percent of Oregon's wineries and 30 percent of its vineyards, producing over 42 percent of its raw material: grapes. These business owners bring credibility to the table, along with many concerns.

They look beyond the aromatic nature of garbage, noise and visual pollution. Their worry is a loss in property value, a real concern measured by the lending rules of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. As principal underwriter of mortgages, HUD excludes funding of properties within 3,000 feet of a landfill. One estimate of property impacted by Riverbend indicates that today, over 1,200 acres could potentially be blocked from any future development requiring HUD support.

Mr. Hinmon expressed concerns about the environmental impact of not expanding Riverbend, but it isn't clear if he considered that the bulk of the waste originates from the Portland metro area. Given the opportunities of waste transfer out of Portland by means other than trucks, e.g. rail, a reduction in cost and environmental impact seems more likely, particularly when coupled with a railhead in Yamhill County.

Noted by the editor was Mr. Hinmon's prior contractual commitment to Riverbend and his current position as board chair of the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce. On behalf of its members, this organization supported Riverbend and Waste Management's position on the landfill expansion. I hope Mr. Hinmon and fellow board member George Duvendack, general manager of Riverbend, reclused themselves from any dialog, peer influence or vote.