annexation meeting

Annexation meeting tonight was just about what was expected- a whitewash, an overemphasis on the benefits of annexation and short shrift of the potential problems. They continue with the ridiculous statements about going after the owners of polluted properties and making THEM pay for the cleanups. Of course if those companies have been defunct, and out of business fro the past 20 years it will be IMPOSSIBLE to squeeze blood out of that turnip. Superfund has been broke for years. The state and county are broke and facing billion-dollar deficits. WHERE is the money for any needed cleanups going to come from? Corradino admitted tonight that the FEC properties are pretty polluted, and the proposed annexation properties are right next door. He said he didnt THINK it would be a problem but, is that enough? If the County is PRETTY SURE most of the contaminants have been cleaned up and pose no future problems, they wont have ANY problem signing an agreement that states THEY will be responsible for any further cleanups, right? WISHING and HOPING we wont get whacked with a multimillion dollar cleanup is gambling, and BAD business. We need considerably more assurances than that before we decide on annexation! Dr. Mel Johnson