Friday, August 17, 2012

"I want my two dollars!"

In reading all these news articles about ODEC potentially scrapping this plant for.ev.errrrr. (trademark Squints Palledorous) something has been rolling in around in my brain as not quite right.

So I finally went through my stuff and checked it out.

Here's what's been bugging me:

In a recent Daily Press article, found HERE, my boyfriend, David Hudgins (who apparently isn't that into me) addressed the issue of proffers:

"Old Dominion's proffers to Dendron, including water system repairs, a new playground and new sidewalks, depend on whether the facility is built, Hudgins said. With the exception of a $50,000 advance that Old Dominion paid the town two years ago, the rest of the proffers are in limbo, he added."

See, that doesn't jive with the proffers that I saw and blogged about HERE:

The proffers I'm looking at (dated Jan. 21, 2010) seem to say that $100,000 is to be given within 90 days of zoning approval (pending, of course, challenge), and the remaining $500,000 for water to be given upon obtaining a "building permit for construction of any buildings associated with the power plant" or upon the "Town obtaining a sufficient grant to make all necessary repairs to the Town water system"--whichever occurs first.
 
ODEC gave Dendron an "advance" of $50,000, but they should have given them another $50,000 after this latest zoning approval, which occurred in early March--over 5 months ago.
 
That shouldn't be "in limbo." No lawsuit this time. Ninety days, over and out.
 
That should be paid, check cashed, and probably already spent by now.
 
So, what happened?
 
Did ODEC "misspeak" in the paper (again ::cough::)?
 
Did ODEC have a "miscommunication" (again ::cough::)?
 
Does ODEC think this is a "novel interpretation" of the proffers (again ::cough::)?
 
Did ODEC, knowing they would get unanimous votes this last round, modify their proffers before reapplying?
 
Given the enthusiasm Dendron's Mayor exhibited at the last check for $50,000 ("Look at all those ZEROS!!"), one would think she'd be knocking down ODEC's door:
 
 
"I want my $50,000!"
 
 
So, wassup, ODEC? You gonna pay these people who broke the law for you? Who did exactly what you asked them to do? Who held up their end of the bargain and rezoned 3/4 of their town to heavy industry? Who trusted you time and time again despite all the evidence to the contrary?
 
Or do they not rate, either?
 

Monday, August 13, 2012

We're not all laughing...

You know what's a bitch?

"Reply to All."

Yeah, buddy. Who among us hasn't hit that bad boy when we shouldn't have?

There's that email from your pal. A whole bunch of folks cc'd. And pure snark just waiting for you to share with your friend--the original sender. You type up your snazzy ol' comment and go to send it to your buddy and always right at the moment you hit "Send" you realize, "Oh no. 'Reply to ALL'"

Fuuuuuuuuuudge......

Hey, these are the things that make us human, right?

* * * * * * *

Backstory:

Last week my friends over at ODEC sent out an email.

Subject: We're proud to be part of this community!

Content: Eh...who knows...a bunch of crap per usual. BUT, there was one little piece that spurred a few emails from my friends (who, by the way, did NOT hit "Reply to All") pointing out a little piece of irony:

"In coming months, you may notice construction activity around the Cypress Creek site off Route 10 in the Town of Dendron, as our contractors relocate existing utilities and construct an access road."
Heh heh...for folks who are such a "part of this community" I guess they forgot their own address. Their property, and all the property in the Town of Dendron, is off Route 31....not Route 10.

Whooops.

So, you know, a couple days ago I dropped them a note to remind them where they own millions of dollars worth of acreage:

FYI,

That's Rt. 31 that runs through Dendron. Kind of an unfortunate slip for an email talking about how you're a part of this community.

Anywho, glad to hear you all have dropped this project....for now. Would really like it if you dropped it forever.

Yours,
Betsy



Here's the response I got:
From: Howell, Mary
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2012 9:33 AM
To: Betsy

Cc: Sherrod, Bill; Hudgins, David

Subject: Location of Dendron

Hello Mrs. Shepard –

I just wanted to introduce myself – I recently joined the staff of the electric cooperatives’ association and will be assisting with communications about ODEC power supply projects. 

Thank you for correcting my mental lapse about the location of Dendron, since the town is actually located on Route 31, a better description than “off Route 10.”  Your geographic clarification especially hits home since I grew up in Surry Courthouse, although my family moved back to Williamsburg when I was a senior in high school.

Best Wishes,
Mary Howell
Manager of Member and Public Relations
Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives
4201 Dominion Boulevard
Glen Allen, VA 23060

# # #

Bless her heart. She's even from here. But points for being polite and professional.

And THEN.....

A moment later another email.......

From someone on the cc list.............

David Hudgins..............

"Evil Santa" if you have to know................

"Colonel Sanders" if you're nasty...........

A man we know all too well..............

ODEC's Director of Internal and External Affairs.............

Here's his email:

From: Hudgins, David
To: Howell, Mary ; Betsy
Cc: Sherrod, Bill
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2012 9:40 AM
Subject: RE: Location of Dendron


Too nice by far, she doesn’t even rate a thank you…

# # #

Oh, snap!

I don't even rate a thank you.

Day-um, Dave....I thought we was tight.

Guess not.

My reply:

From: Betsy
To: Hudgins, David ; Howell, Mary
Cc: Sherrod, Bill
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2012 9:42 AM
Subject: Re: Location of Dendron


Oh, that darn cc.....

Yours,

Betsy

Which just made me laugh and laugh and laugh.....

And wonder...how do PR people fuck up PR this bad?

And will I hear back?

I mean, I know they hate me and all. But, technically I am the public.

Fifteen minutes later I got this reply (note, Davey got left off the cc this time....):

From: Howell, Mary
To: Betsy
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2012 9:57 AM
Subject: RE: Location of Dendron


We’re all laughing now! 

On another note, growing up in the Town Surry from 1971-1985, I recall the regularly scheduled siren drills for the nuclear power plant. Do they still have those drills and do you hear them out where you live in the county? 

Best Wishes,
Mary Howell

Bwahahahaaaa.....Really? "Look! Something shiny!" LOL.....Holy shit, where do they find these people?

Oh, Mary....you're not laughing, don't even fib.

Given the recent headlines, Old Dominion suspends permitting for coal plant, and the fact that y'all spent somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 million to generate less electricity than you could have with a 20 cent potato and some alligator clips, I'd say no one over at ODEC is laughing at all these days.

Oh, bother.





Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...