An Open Letter to the Mayor and City Council of Silverton

An Open Letter to the Mayor and City Council of Silverton, Oregon:

With regards to the request of Quikrete to open a mixing plant in Silverton, Oregon, I have some inquiries that I would like you to consider.

1. At the August 19, 2008 Planning Commission meeting, Commissioner Kay stated DEQ figures¬¬
that particulate matter from roads makes up 70% of the air congestion in Marion County? How can allowing a minimum (to start with) of 20 tractor trailer combinations and an unlimited number of dump trucks carrying sand, gravel and other aggregates, through
Silverton, help our air quality? This does not take into effect the ADDITIONAL amount
of particulate matter released by the Quikrete plant which they estimate at 1.6 tons per shift per year.

With Marion County trying to improve our air quality by reducing grass burning, why
would you invite a company into our town, next to a school, park, wetlands and residential areas that would not benefit our air quality?

2. How is it that a company that does not meet the criteria for “light industry” and provides
few jobs have an advantage over a company that is a better match for Silverton and offering 4
times the jobs?

3. Why were the citizens, of Silverton, not aware and/or invited the “Community Open House”
sponsored by Quikrete at the proposed site when every public official was? Was there a
“backroom” agreement to allow Quikrete in? A City Council member was heard to state that Quikrete was “a perfect fit” at this open house which coincidentally was before the first Planning Commission hearing.

4. Since the Chamber of Commerce solicited Quikrete to move to Silverton, I’m wondering if the City Council member who is also the Chamber President will recuse himself from the appeal process? This same City Council member was solicited for information from the Planning Commission at a “closed meeting” when those against Quikrete were not allowed to speak.

5. Is the City Council prepared to reimburse neighbors and the school district for the loss of
value to the properties near Quikrete? Are you ready for the decrease in Silverton’s
share of property taxes from these properties?

6. How do you propose the residents of Silverton maintain their quality of life with constant noise from the plant and noise from a stream of trucks going through our community and surrounding neighborhoods?

7. How far will our street maintenance budget go when these same trucks start their constant
use of City streets?

8. What do you think will happen to the adjoining Wetlands flora and fauna with the constant noise from trucks and reduction of air quality?

9. Do the City Council members realize they may lose valuable re-election votes if they side with a company that has constantly been protested against over the interests and desires of our citizenry.

Last but certainly not least: How is it that City Officials, namely Public Works Commissioner
Barstad and Assistant City Manager Newton are allowed to make disrespectful comments
before the City Council Meeting, September 9, 2008, about Quikrete protestors without being rebuked by the Mayor? The Council should be protecting the rights of the Citizens of
Silverton to protest without being denigrated.

Thank you for your consideration,

J. Koeppe
Silverton, Oregon

CC: Silverton Appeal Tribune
Salem Statesman Journal
The Oregonian