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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2018.08.16 Andrew Mentzer Fwd_ Midas Community Agreement FeedbackFrom:Erin Greaves To:BessieJo Wagner; Anette Spickard Subject:Fwd: Midas Community Agreement Feedback Date:Thursday, August 16, 2018 6:32:40 PM Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Andrew Mentzer <singlespeedicus@gmail.com> Date: August 16, 2018 at 6:25:52 PM MDT To: Erin Greaves <egreaves@mccall.id.us> Subject: Midas Community Agreement Feedback Hi Erin, Please feel free to distribute my pereonal comments regarding the Midas Community agreement with Mayor Aymon and members of the council: Dear City of McCall leadership, Midas Gold has worked diligently over the last year to formulate a transparent, viable process and platform for communities to have a strategic voice once the mine is permitted and operational. This is part of Midas' moral and cultural fabric of engagement and transparency. Some members of the community have indicated that they would like to know more about the project before the city comes to the table. To me, the order of operations for this approach may be a little misguided. As a member of Midas' Community Agreement steering committee and as an independent board member, I have worked alongside Midas' team to elevate discussions that originated with the America's Best Communities competition years ago, and make sure the mine is informed about regional and local variables. Unfortunately, there seems to have been a muddying of information that is based purely on politics and emotion, which may threaten otherwise productive conversations now and in the future. Midas is asking the cities and counties throughout the region the following central question: Would you like to have a conversation that helps us be a better neighbor? It is my opinion that the answer to this question, no matter who the business is and no matter what the industry is, should be a resounding YES. It is the responsibility of the Forest Service to oversee the permitting of the Stibnite Gold Project. It is the responsibility of the cities to engage in a manner that serves citizens, present and future. The specifics of the restoration and operational elements tied to the project have nothing to do with the community agreement in question. I ask that you remain diligent and objective in your consideration of whether the City should be at the table, and leave the analysis of permitting to the Forest Service and other state and federal agencies charged with that task. Kindly, Andrew Mentzer 13980 Turner Road McCall, ID 83638