Sep 18, 2014 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Greene County Commissioners passed a resolution Thursday regarding the EPA’s proposed clean power plan, saying they thought the EPA was being too harsh regarding the requirements to cut carbon emissions from power plants.

Commissioner Blair Zimmerman, a retired coal miner, said the impact of the plan is especially hard on the coal industry, impacting miners, their families and the county as a whole.

“We are asking the EPA to reconsider (the plan),” Zimmerman said, noting the changes being proposed cannot be completed in the time frame specified.

According to the EPA, the proposal is a flexible one that “can cut wasted energy, improve efficiency, and reduce pollution, while still having the power needed to grow the economy and maintain a competitive edge.”

Ed Begovich, district representative of United Mine Workers of America District 2, told the commissioners he appreciated their effort on behalf of the coal industry.

“It is very important to my members,” Begovich said. “It is too much too fast and will be devastating to the economic base here.”

Begovich called the EPA’s plan “misguided and irresponsible” and said it would result in the loss of millions of dollars in sales of coal that would “destroy the tax base” of Greene County.

“We want clean air and clean water for generations to come,” Zimmerman said, noting he did not think the EPA’s clean power plan was the best way to achieve it.

The commisisoners also noted at their regular meeting the county received a clean financial bill of health from auditors Maher Duessel of Pittsburgh, according to county controller Dave Balint. Balint said the firm, which was retained by commissioners Thursday for another three years through 2016, was very easy to work with and completed everything necessary for the audit in a timely manner.

Balint said the “pension fund is overfunded” and the county is doing well financially, across the board. There is currently $4.35 million in its general fund, according to Balint.

In the ongoing project to bring retail development to Greene County Airport, commissioners approved a proposal from Widmer Engineering to prepare a subdivision drawing for the lots at the airport. Widmer will also provide engineering services and an updated airport layout plan serving as a repository for all related documents pertaining to the project the airport.

In other matters, the commissioners issued a proclamation declaring the week of Sept. 21-27 as “Employ Older Workers Week.”