Mack Steffen, Independent Candidate for Jasper mayor, announces he is against the proposed biomass plant

Thank-you for including me in the conversations on the matters of the proposed bio-mass plant and the clean air ordinance proposal.

I am vehemently opposed to the city’s current biomass plant proposal. There are way too many unanswered questions for the city officials and the people of Jasper and Dubois county to make an educated decision of worth versus risks. I am opposed to the city hurriedly trying to get this contract signed this year, much less, by the end of July. I will actively support all those opposed to the current power plant proposal. This said, I must say I am in favor of an air-quality acceptable bio-mass or other alternative fuel power plant in Jasper’s future. There is a distinct difference in my positions for this proposal and for any future proposal. Any city proposal of this magnitude must be left to the voters to decide via referendum.

I am also in favor of a clean air ordinance. However; again, I must qualify this statement also. Very briefly, first, after looking over the proposed ordinance, which I admit I only read portions of it, I am fearful that requirements within the proposal may violate personal freedoms and liberties. Secondly, the proposed clean air ordinance appears to be very technical and needs explanation in terms in which the ordinary citizen can ascertain the facts and form their opinions. With knowledge, the people of Jasper as a whole should have say over what goes in, or what should go out of the proposed ordinance. This appears to me to need as much study and public input as the bio-mass plant should have received.

I will use this opportunity to address the news media’s part in disseminating information on the bio-mass and library issues, not to mention Jasper’s mayoral election. I witnessed the chastising of the media by one speaker who spoke at the 06/20/2011 USB meeting regarding incomplete, misinterpreted, or lack of information presented to the public. I must also have to chastise the media for their past lack of diligence in addressing all of the issues important to Jasper’ citizens.

I personally do not recall a mayoral election in which so many important issues face the City of Jasper. It appears that the media either does not care, is incapable of caring, or is being told not to care about the important issues that face Jasper and its citizens. I am attempting to get monthly dialogues among the candidates for mayor initiated so that the citizens of Jasper can determine who best can lead our city into the future. I am urging our media to get involved as a civic duty to their readers, watchers, and listeners. All opposing views on any important issue whether pro or con must be fair, just, and non-selective.

Respectfully,

Mack

Jeffrey Mack Steffen