No Drilling Please

The county I live in is the only local government to support seismic testing and drilling for oil on the southern U.S. coast.  At the last meeting, after the vote to support was discovered (usually very few attend these meetings), residents spoke out.  The commissioners asked for further information and there was a proposal to change their vote to a neutral stance.  At tonight's meeting there was a large group of residents present to support the change.  The gentleman that was charged with the research stated the pluses and minuses of seismic testing.  He stated that most of the petroleum was thought to be located inside the 50 miles prohibited limit, but the last test was done 34 years ago.  He stated that at the present time, the local taxpayers would receive little or no financial benefit from the oil, except fro the possibility of new jobs.

Bottom line:  Frank Williams recused himself.  Pat Sykes and Randy Thompson voted for the neutral stance.  Chairman Scott Phillips and J. Martin Cooke voted to support the testing.  2-2.  The tie keeps the original bill intact.  

Extra's:  - (1) Lady who relocated from Vermont asking to protect the coast, and (2) Oil guy upset that someone chuckled when he stated that there is no harm to sea life by seismic explosions.

I was impressed by how cordial everyone was during the meeting.