January 5, 2006
by Rebecca Koleno
Assistant Editor
Excerpt reproduced with permission.

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CLARENCE -- Is it blackmail, muscle-arming, a bluff, or a catch-22?

A standing-room only crowd of more than 70 people packed the Snow Shoe Township Building Tuesday to discuss their views and what they believe the supervisors should do in response to a proposed interchange off of Interstate 80 and using local roads to accompany a landfill project in neighboring Rush Township. Many of the residents from the township, Snow Shoe Borough and Cooper, Burnside, and Huston townships said they want the supervisors to say "no" to everything in relation to the project.

Rodney Preslovich, supervisor chairman, said township officials met with the township solicitor, representatives from Rush Township and also Resource Recovery LLC, the company proposing the landfill in Rush Township. Mr. Preslovich said they were told the company will be applying for permits in March. He said they were also told they have a choice, back the proposed interchange, but be totally against the landfill and say no to traffic through town. He said trucks would then be fined $1,000 if they used the local roads.

"If we don't go along and try to fight this, (they could) apply for traffic through town," he said, adding the permit would call for 3,500 tons or 150 trucks, one way, a day.

Previously, Snow Shoe Township Supervisors voted not to change zoning for the landfill, which originally encompassed both Rush and Snow Shoe. Rush Township, however, signed a host agreement for the project.

Residents of Snow Shoe and surrounding communities are still fighting to stop the project and said they do not want the traffic coming through the town. People Protecting Communities is continuing its efforts to raise funds and distribute information about the project.

Tuesday, residents said they want the supervisors to stand tough and not bow down to the pressure from outside sources.

"Say no to everything and we will back you," said Linda Padisak.

"Why can't you... write a letter saying you're vehemently against local road use?" asked Ken Hall. He also supplied a draft letter for the supervisors to send to the corresponding agencies.

In that letter, it stated the use of local roads is "totally unacceptable to our residents, and we would like to voice our total opposition to the granting of said permit. These routes are the routes our school buses traverse and our children are standing along these routes most days in the dark waiting for buses or walking home. A landfill is not an approved use in our township in this area, and to force our residents to bear the burden of another township's traffic is unconscionable."

"We are against the landfill, the only thing we're here for now is traffic," said Mr. Preslovich, saying no action would be taken Tuesday, and that he would ask the County Commissioners to attend next month's meeting. "You guys did a good job fighting this."

JoAnn Gillette said Mr. Preslovich made it sound like there were only two choices, with Terri Burbidge adding, there is a third choice -- say no to everything.

Rance Morey said supporting anything associated with the landfill will be opening Pandora's Box. "If you agree, you're opening it up and once they get their foot in the door, there is no stopping them," he said. "One bit of approval in any shape, any way, and it's over."

Mr. Preslovich said one thing residents will never hear is the supervisors supporting the landfill, but he is just trying to protect the residents from the traffic if the permit is applied for that way. Many residents said to wait and see what happens before making any decisions or taking any action.

"You're putting the cart before the horse," said Calvin Quick. Residents said, "There is one simple word for this, and it's blackmail."

Ron Johnson added the company needs the township to continue its plans.

"They need to drum up as many supporters as they can; you're in the driver's seat," he said. "If it's only a one-shot deal (no interchange then the permit is denied), they are trying to muscle-arm you and you're falling for it."

Dan Mottin, who lives along Gorton Road, said he has a lot to lose if the project goes through. He said he thinks they need to keep "pounding on" the landfill company and "to take a stand as a community and not give them anything to go on."

Tom Hoover said representatives from the company have changed their minds many times since they met with the township.

"Let's play poker, and see if they will change their minds again," he said.

"Say the worse-case scenario is they get the permit, then you can always say the only access is I-80," said Mrs. Gillette. "Let it go to (the state Department of Environmental Protection), there's a lot more to the DEP permitting process than traffic."

She said one issue that has to be studied is the harms-benefits analysis.

"There's a whole list of agencies involved, and it's not going very well for Resource Recovery," she said.

Mrs. Burbidge said the company cannot apply for the highway occupancy permit or DEP application until there is access to the site.

"Say no to local roads, no to the interchange and no to the project," she said. "It's all or nothing and we want nothing."

The next meeting of the supervisors will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 7.

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©2005 People Protecting Communities • last updated Jan 7, 2005
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