Sioux City Journal

We don't need development with substantial risks

Posted: Thursday, May 15, 2008

VERMILLION, S.D. -- I attended the recent Policom economic development promotion in North Sioux City and listened to another concert from the Hyperion Hallelujah Chorus.

Not surprisingly, the chorus sang no verses about the families around Ground Zero whose lives and living spaces will be changed dramatically. Should we regard them as collateral damage, a few dead raccoons in the ditch, a few dozen broken eggs for someone else’s omelet? Not even passing notice was made of the environmental or health issues, or any calculations concerning the infrastructure costs of this project. Is this all in the spirit of promoting half-truths to complete truths?

Union County is not a county where folks have poor wages, poor health, poor schools and poor defenses against exploitation. According to the Census Bureau, Union County has an employment rate of 96.7 percent, is growing almost as fast as Minnehaha County and has the second-highest per-capita income of any county in South Dakota. How can anybody stand to live there?

“If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” would seem to have some credibility as an argument. In so far as this point is correct for Union County, then Hyperion and their parade of petroleum pimps are like surgeons sharpening their knives looking for patients not in need of their services.

We do not need our economic development with the multiple and substantial risks which this oil refinery would bring. Those concerned only with dollars are putting their half-truths on stilts and cutting other concerns off at the knees. -- Tom Cooper

Story Comments

You could be home now. wrote on May 19, 2008 11:30 AM:

" Brett,
I'll sell you my place, a few acres
of fertile land. An old homestead,
a couple of out buildings. Near the State Park. Hunting, Hiking close to the Missouri River and the U. A 360 view
Only 10 minutes from work, save hundreds on gas, commute time, grow your own food and meats. No closed in feeling.
500K. I throw in all equip and furnihings 1 Million. "

Jobs. wrote on May 18, 2008 11:01 AM:

" Brett,
Of course there will be great jobs.
You can get one with an engineering degree, have journeyman experience in the trades, have great admin. skills.
OTHER jobs will be cleaning up, mowing
chipping metal, painting metal, being a fireman, being a security guard, but I doubt that will make you a rich man.
Of course you will be paying at least
$300. a month to commute and higher rent. The other jobs will be at the coffee stop, burger joint, or bar. "

Not our future wrote on May 17, 2008 9:37 AM:

" Brett, An Argus editorial suggests that you might not be up to date either. "Whatever you think about the proposed Hyperion project in Union County, it is not hard to see why it is controversial. It's a messy business, and oil is in many ways our past and present - not our future."
The editorial (not reader's letter) is new today (May 17) and refers to a Transmission line ruling. "

brett wrote on May 16, 2008 6:56 PM:

" "to a mom", you are sadly mistaken. This refinery will need hundreds of people to work it at GREAT wages. A oil refinery cannot be ran by a simple few people. But then again, you are still sleeping and dreaming that this world is still back in the early 1800's and we don't need oil and gas. So you might want to put that SUV away, get out your moped or have the kids walk or take their bikes to their next practice and school cuz your SUV is taking all of the gas that I need to get to work! "

to the life long resident of EP wrote on May 16, 2008 12:44 PM:

" How can you say what portion of EP supports or is in opposition. I think that is what the vote is for...or maybe you can just call the court house & tell them of your findings & will save some a trip to the polls! C'mon people. If you don't have something smart to say---don't say anything at all. "