Reader questions “fast tracked” mining resolution

To the Editor:

The Oneida County sulfide mining referendum (50-2018) on Nov. 6, 2018 resulted in 62 plus percent of the voters saying they want no mining at the Lynne mineral deposit! The significant voter turnout of approximately 84% was directly associated with the perceived importance of the mining referendum!

Chairman Dave Hintz spoke on WJFW shortly after the votes were tallied and said as a result of the vote, (paraphrased), Oneida County will no longer seek mining at the Lynne deposit as a goal to be pursued by the board.

Then, out of the blue, two “unsolicited requests” involving potential leasing of the Lynne mine site are recently received, and chairman Scott Holewinski, (whom I believe holds a pro-mining position), drives to Madison on Aug. 12, 2024, to meet with one of the company’s representatives? Really??? Under who’s authority is this meeting warranted? Was our corporate council advised of this meeting and was it considered appropriate? Was anyone who stands with the wide majority of voters that remain opposed to mining in Lynne invited to attend and exactly what agreements, promises or partnerships were discussed? Was any other pro-mining advocate there? Oneida County Board’s friend, attorney Larry Konopacki, lives in the Madison area, and he loves to talk about mining opportunities! (Seems picky, but the chairman’s notes he offered from this meeting appear a little sketchy for a 500 mile, face to face Madison meeting on an issue that has great importance to Oneida County residents! Hope you enjoyed the day, or two, trip. Who bought lunch? Next time, if such a meeting is even appropriate, use the phone! Our county has limited financial resources!) Is it understandable how the lack of transparency makes a person’s mind wander? Does the deck seem stacked, or a little sticky, before any of the cards are dealt to the voters?

On top of the total lack of transparency and absolute disregard for due diligence by the Oneida County Board and its chairman regarding the handling of these two separate lease requests, resolution 75-2024 appears with great urgency today. In the past, I recall such outside inquiries to the county board would be forwarded to a committee responsible for researching such requests and upon the review completion, recommendations for further action would be sent back to the full board for their consideration. For some reason, this request appears to have been provided a “fast track” for urgent consideration and a resolution vote, without any committee level involvement and limited public comment. Also, I suggest we could have provided the county board with a room full of enthusiastic voters today willing to remind the board of their feelings, if we only had some additional notification of this resolution a little sooner! Somebody’s in a hurry to move this along today!

So it appears that a meeting with county board member Russ Fisher, chairman Holewinski (Bob Almekinder was invited, but was unavailable) and a Green Light Metals “director” took place in Madison (Who authorized those travel expenses?) at WCA last Monday, Aug. 12. Now, just eight days after that Madison meeting, we are urgently seeking a vote of the county board to see how the current board “feels about” the leasing of the Lynne deposit for sulfide mining, even though chairman Hintz publicly stated to the voters that mining would no longer be pursued there, which supports the wishes of 62% of the referendum voters. Sounds like chairman Holewinski wants to find out how many mining friends he has on the board, versus those who prioritize the wishes of their constituents as their number one objective! I truly believe that chairman Holewinski remembers the referendum results, he just doesn’t care how the voters feel.

We’ll see soon enough.

*Remember, this comes from the current board chairman overseeing the next rewrite of the Oneida County Land Use Plan! I bet there’s a bunch of mining options discussed there as well! Anyone want to bet?

Just one last question: Isn’t the Oneida County Board supposed to work for the citizens of the county? 

Really!!!

Jeff Brown

Tripoli