What I Saw at the June 29 Tittabawassee Township Dioxin
Committee Meeting...

• Expectation... from residents hoping for the
  committee's decision on a resolution to recommend to the township board....
  from Len Heinzman who worked on and read River Voice's
  proposed resolution for township board acceptance.


• Curiosity... from residents attendees to learn
  for themselves about the workings of the dioxin committee and perhaps learn
  a bit more about citizen group involvement on the dioxin issue.


• Anger... from residents representing the
  environmental extremist group Lonetree, because they thought they had their
  angry anti-Dow agenda all wrapped up until River Voice formed
  to represent the majority of floodplain residents... from one citizen who is
  just angry because he thinks the dioxin issue has grown out of proportion,
  pitting neighbor against neighbor!


• Fear... from residents who don't know what to
  believe anymore and some who believe the extremist propaganda and are
  genuinely afraid of Dow Chemical, wondering what other bad stuff the company
  is putting into our river.


• Frustration... from a resident whose business
  depends to a great extent on tourism. Even though the portion of her farm
  used for tours by school children is NOT in the floodplain, school
  administrators are afraid to conduct tours at her farm just because of
  proximity! Ms. Granholm, are you listening?


• Deception... a litigant against Dow, claiming he
  is a scientist, does not want the words 'sound science' to be used. He also
  read off a whole string of prepared and frequently used 'information' from
  environmental extremists in an attempt to mislead those of us who believe in
  sound science.


• Rigidity... Environmental extremists refuse to
  budge in their thought, verbiage or attitude.


• Decision... A dioxin committee member who wants
  the committee to actually make a decision and stick by it.


• Indecision... Confusion on the part of the
  committee chair and his supporters. They really want to please their environmental extremist
  buddies, including some members of the Tittabawassee Township board, but
  need to justify why over 95% of the homeowners, in contiguous proximity,
  all signed the River Voice's petition to approve the
  resolution as written by Len Heinzman.