The Salisbury Post and Stanly News & Press provide a good recap of the Uwharrie Commission meeting on Wednesday night in Mocksville. The meeting included the presentation of a controversial study prepared for Central Park NC.
Here is a brief excerpt from the articles:
Salisbury Post
Report details benefits if state takes control of Alcoa-operated dams on Yadkin
Supporters of Alcoa Inc. bristled at a report that showed local jobs and millions of dollars could be available if North Carolina claimed control of four Alcoa-owned dams on the Yadkin River. ...
Larry Jones, president of the High Rock Lake Association, and Ray Barham, Alcoa’s relicensing manager, both spoke against the report after the presentation Wednesday afternoon.
Jones criticized the board for spending taxpayer money on the report he described as “propaganda” that pushed the commission’s agenda.
“The report that I saw presented up here is full of incorrect information, erroneous information and information that was addressed long ago,” Jones said, adding he hadn’t yet had time to thoroughly examine the report.
Barham said the report was flawed in the premise that the state could still recapture the license. Legislation to address the issue previously died in the N.C. General Assembly.
Click here to read the entire article.
Larry Jones, president of the High Rock Lake Association, and Ray Barham, Alcoa’s relicensing manager, both spoke against the report after the presentation Wednesday afternoon.
Jones criticized the board for spending taxpayer money on the report he described as “propaganda” that pushed the commission’s agenda.
“The report that I saw presented up here is full of incorrect information, erroneous information and information that was addressed long ago,” Jones said, adding he hadn’t yet had time to thoroughly examine the report.
Barham said the report was flawed in the premise that the state could still recapture the license. Legislation to address the issue previously died in the N.C. General Assembly.
Click here to read the entire article.
Stanly News & Press
Alcoa slams Uwharrie Yadkin study
Alcoa's Yadkin relicensing manager slammed a report funded by the Uwharrie Regional Resources Commission that seems to favor a recapturing of the Yadkin dams by the state and warned of a long legal fight if that action is attempted.
Commission Chairman Dr. Max Walser gave Ray Barham of ALCOA “three or four minutes in the interest of fairness” to respond to the report after the nearly hour-long presentation concluded.
“There’s not enough time to go into all the financial errors in these reports,” Barham said.
He said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission had never recaptured a project.
“They have already stated publicly in an environmental impact statement that recapturing is not an option on the Yadkin River,” Barham said.
“That don’t see it as being necessary and we’re already past the time permitted in the law before the license is up to be notified about recapturing.
“To continue down that path is really misleading and foolish. The state really shouldn’t be trying to look at controlling private dams and private property. It’s not what this commission is about. It’s not how you do economic development.”
He asked what would be next if the state began taking over private businesses.
“Would it be farm land or oceanfront property the state wants to turn into a casino or a hotel?” he asked.
“That’s the dangers you’re talking about when you bring up this issue.”
Barham said the reports overlook hundreds of years of federal law, common law and those regarding ownership rights in North Carolina and the United States.
“I think the Supreme Court rulings would be very different than what you’re hearing tonight,” he said.
“If it continues down this path, it’s a long and expensive legal fight that the state of North Carolina does not have the money at this point to engage in.
“I would think the money fighting over this would be better put in doing something real instead of some pipe dream.”
Barham argued that ALCOA has invested in economic development in Badin.
“We’ve spent $10 million trying to create jobs,” he said.
“We’re actually the only ones that have created jobs in the last few years versus this committee.”
He said the company would welcome the state commerce department to work with them in creating jobs instead of “chasing the pipe dream of a few.”
Commission Chairman Dr. Max Walser gave Ray Barham of ALCOA “three or four minutes in the interest of fairness” to respond to the report after the nearly hour-long presentation concluded.
“There’s not enough time to go into all the financial errors in these reports,” Barham said.
He said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission had never recaptured a project.
“They have already stated publicly in an environmental impact statement that recapturing is not an option on the Yadkin River,” Barham said.
“That don’t see it as being necessary and we’re already past the time permitted in the law before the license is up to be notified about recapturing.
“To continue down that path is really misleading and foolish. The state really shouldn’t be trying to look at controlling private dams and private property. It’s not what this commission is about. It’s not how you do economic development.”
He asked what would be next if the state began taking over private businesses.
“Would it be farm land or oceanfront property the state wants to turn into a casino or a hotel?” he asked.
“That’s the dangers you’re talking about when you bring up this issue.”
Barham said the reports overlook hundreds of years of federal law, common law and those regarding ownership rights in North Carolina and the United States.
“I think the Supreme Court rulings would be very different than what you’re hearing tonight,” he said.
“If it continues down this path, it’s a long and expensive legal fight that the state of North Carolina does not have the money at this point to engage in.
“I would think the money fighting over this would be better put in doing something real instead of some pipe dream.”
Barham argued that ALCOA has invested in economic development in Badin.
“We’ve spent $10 million trying to create jobs,” he said.
“We’re actually the only ones that have created jobs in the last few years versus this committee.”
He said the company would welcome the state commerce department to work with them in creating jobs instead of “chasing the pipe dream of a few.”
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