The decision looms ever closer...

.
.
.
.

Topic of oil terminals causes tension at Hoquiam City Council meeting

Mayor Dickhoff responds to criticism by project opponents

TERRI HARBER: Tue Sep 27th, 2016 6:45amNEWS





It wasn’t included on the Hoquiam City Council agenda for Monday night’s meeting, but the two crude-by-rail terminal projects proposed for construction in the city took up most of the meeting and caused tension between city officials and some of the opponents of the projects.

Hoquiam Mayor Jasmine Dickhoff became upset with some of the opponents who were making comments from the audience about the initial permitting process for Westway Terminal Co. LLC and Renewable Energy Group, Inc., formerly Imperium Terminal Services, to construct the terminals.

She said defending the system works well when it benefits you, but criticizing it when it results in an unfavorable outcome is “hypocritical.”

The negative comments from the audience in response to that statement became louder and she looked out to a specific section and told one person, “I’m not getting in a debate with you.”

She defended City Administrator Brian Shay regarding criticism about his demeanor, specifically his appearing not to make eye contact when the subject comes up during public meetings.

Shay has been working for the past two years with the Department of Ecology to find a solution and he “is making detailed notes, not looking away,” Dickhoff said.

Opponents collected more than 8,500 signatures on a petition addressed to Dickhoff, Shay and the Washington State Department of Ecology stating their concerns about the projects’ impact on the region and its residents and presented them to the council Monday night.

When another opponent asked the council to make its feelings about the project known, council members Richard Pennent and Dave Wilson said they were against the project.

Pennant said he’d prefer the city be sued by the corporations than the Quinaults and “other friends,” so that it would be best to deny the permits.

Dickhoff has expressed opposition to it in the past as well.

The final Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be made public Friday, and the city will decide what to do in the coming weeks and months, Shay said.