By Commissioner Bob Main
Last Tuesday (8-27-13) there was a Coos County Board of Commissioner’s meeting. One of the items under discussion was the mosquito problem created by the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Bandon (artificial) Marsh. The Deputy Director, Richard Hannon, for the western region of the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Portland Public Affairs person for the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service were in attendance. Many people were in attendance expressing their concern and wanting something done to get rid of the mosquitoes. The Deputy Director stated that they would issue a permit to allow something to be done concerning the mosquitoes. However, they would not PAY for the control of the mosquitoes. They (U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service) created the problem.
(It gets better)
About a year and a half ago there was a meeting at the Bandon Library that was supposed to tell interested citizens about the new marsh that was created located on the north side of the Coquille River and abutting the east side of Bullards hwy 101 bridge. Instead, the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service proceed to tell about 25 citizens their plans to expand the marsh up to Riverton (4,500 acres). The worst part was that the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service had 5 uniformed, armed officers at the meeting. Now, back to last Tuesday’s meeting (8-27-13). While the discussion about the mosquitoes was going on in the Owen Building an Officer from the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service was parked in the credit union parking lot. No one, except the USF&W, was aware that an Officer from the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service was lurking in the parking lot. It should be noted that attending the BOC meeting was Sheriff Craig Zanni and Lt. Steve Smart from the OSP. Both were there because they had business before the commissioners. And, the citizens in attendance were upset by the empty words espoused by the Deputy Director, but respectful and no one threatened anyone. The U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service having armed officers to a public meeting reminds me of the history of pre WWII Hitler’s Germany where the government feared its citizens.
See the entire meeting on: http://coosmediacenter.pegcentral.com/
“My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.”
― Thomas Jefferson
