HomeMy Public PortalAbout2018.12.30 S Bechdel Midas Community Benefit AgreementFrom:Susan Bechdel
To:Jackie Aymon; Colby Nielsen; Bob Giles; Thomas Sowers; Melanie Holmes
Cc:Anette Spickard; BessieJo Wagner
Subject:Midas Community Benefit Agreement
Date:Sunday, December 30, 2018 4:09:34 PM
Dear Jackie, Colby, Bob, Tom and Melanie,
I am a 30-year resident of McCall. My husband and I had a successful outfitting business in
the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area and we saw first hand how important
untouched wilderness is to our economy. I am writing however, not on the merits or demerits
of the Midas proposal, but to urge you NOT TO SIGN the Community Benefit Agreement.
There are three main components of the agreement and each is reason alone to reject it.
First, the REPRESENTATIVE. It would be impossible to find an individual to represent the
diverse opinions of our community at the Midas table. It would be a very superficial
relationship. Alternatively, we would be better served by your establishing a McCall
committee to include the amazing resources we have here - including retired agency folk,
scientists, students of mining and policy. Require Midas to send a representative to our table.
Second, the LETTER. The agreement requires a letter to the USFS. As I mentioned above,
our community has too many varied opinions to be condensed into one letter. Whether they
admit it or not, Midas will put more weight on a letter from City Council than the ones from
individuals. I feel it would dilute my voice.
Third, the FOUNDATION. This a clear conflict of interest for the City. You would implicitly
or explicitly (and it doesn't matter) be stockholders in the company. The amount of money
promised is far too small to even serve as an incentive even if you could be bribed.
It's called a "Community Benefit Agreement". So far, all I've seen is Midas employees and a
few friends advocating for it. The overwhelming community response is not to sign.
Midas claims that transparency is one of their goals in community relations. Surely, they
wouldn't prohibit our participation in open meetings if we don't sign. We have nothing to lose
by not signing and as I see it, nothing to gain by signing. Not a hard choice.
I'll miss the hearing in January, but please add my name to the opponent list.
Thank you for reading my letter and for your work.
Susan Bechdel
1401 Highway 55, McCall
208-634-6815