DOBSON — When the Surry County Board of Commissioners held an open forum at their meeting on Monday night, several citizens used the opportunity to voice their opinions on the commissioners’ recent move to ask Fibrowatt to communicate better with the community.

But what began with thanks to the commissioners for their decision led to some heated comments between a Fibrowatt opponent and Commissioner Craig Hunter.

Bill Walker of Elkin came up to speak during the forum. He started off by thanking them for their recent decision.

“Fibrowatt has not been a good neighbor to us so far,” said Walker. “We appreciate your support.”

He went on to say, “We’re for good jobs,” and that they were working to get jobs here. Hunter wanted to know who he was talking about when he said “we” and what they had done to get jobs. Walker told him about a recent banquet in Elkin sponsored by Citizens’ Alliance for a Clean, Healthy Economy (CACHE), a group that has been vocal in its opposition to Fibrowatt. At this banquet, people discussed plans for Elkin’s future.

Hunter said that he had not been invited to the meeting. Commissioner Jim Harrell later explained that he had been invited but had not been able to attend. The banquet cost $20 to attend.

Board Chairman Paul Johnson asked, “If I could arrange a meeting with CACHE and Fibrowatt, would you be willing to have a dialogue?”

Walker said that he personally would be willing but that he couldn’t speak for the group. A few commissioners then asked if Fibrowatt had had any presence in Elkin in the past few weeks, and Johnson said they had met with some city and county officials.

Walker went on to say that he felt like the state mandate for companies to use energy produced from things such as chicken litter should not have been legislated.

“Are you saying they were wrong?” said Hunter of the state legislators.

Walker said in his opinion he believed they were, but that many probably had been misinformed. He talked about the proposed site for the Fibrowatt plant being a few feet from the river and the damaging effects it could have on the environment.

“It’s not a few feet from the river,” Hunter contradicted.

Walker clarified that it might be a few hundred yards, but that it was still close. After some banter back and forth with Hunter, Walker said, “Why do you want to argue with me every time I come here?”

Hunter appeared to be agitated when he responded: “Cause you don’t tell the truth.”

After some more comments, Walker sat down and his wife, Judy, came up to speak. She explained that she lived near the site and has health problems. She wanted to know when she would find out if the plant was definitely coming, because she said she would move if it came.

Johnson said if Fibrowatt came it would be late 2012 before anything started. Timing is dependent on the purchase agreement now being worked out between Fibrowatt and power companies.

Hunter reminded Judy Walker that the property has been rezoned, and that the county plans to bring an industry there even if Fibrowatt doesn’t come.

“I don’t think other things could be worse,” said Judy Walker.

Another lady came up to ask the commissioners if they had done an environmental impact study, and the commissioners said they had done a study on the site before learning about Fibrowatt.

Tom Lux of State Road came up and said, “I think you’ve done the right thing by putting a hold ... on incentives.”

Water partnerships

After the open forum, the room seemed to settle into a more relaxed atmosphere. But later in the meeting, the commissioners discussed another controversial topic. County Manager Dennis Thompson said that Jack Gardin, water and sewer projects manager, had requested the board appoint a staff person and a board member to the provisional advisory committee for water and sewer partnerships. The creation of this committee was recently recommended by the School of Government team from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that presented to the county and local municipalities.

Hunter said he was not interested in serving on the committee after hearing that a member on the committee said he was not interested in “playing well with others.”

The commissioner was most likely referring to a quote from Mount Airy Commissioner Todd Harris printed in a recent story in The News. Harris was quoted as saying, “If you’re looking for (me) playing well with others, that might not happen.”

Harrell spoke up after Hunter and said, “I think this is one of those times we need to be grown ups.”

Commissioner Bill Hamlin and Gardin were then appointed to the committee, with Harrell and the county manager chosen as back-ups.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.