I attended two meetings recently regarding the Brightwater issue. Both were attempts to placate citizens’ concerns with the location of a sewer plant, but no public comments were allowed at either meeting. At the March 21 executive advisory committee meeting, members included many mayors from the communities involved. It was obvious that nothing would ever be accomplished, as the committee has no power and any recommendations will probably not be considered.

At the April 4 UNOCAL site community task force meeting, I didn’t see any member who actually represented the citizens of Edmonds. The five community members were involved with the Edmonds business community, the Port of Edmonds (which has never taken a position against BrightWater), the Snohomish Audubon Society, waterfront concerns and the city of Woodway. These members did raise pertinent questions, but these were the same questions that had already been presented to King County back at their Dec. 10 meeting.

I know of no one in the city of Edmonds who is for Brightwater. When the issue of odors was raised, Michael Popiwny said that there is only a frequency of four days per year when odors occur with modern plants. When someone suggested visiting the West Point Sewage Plant, Mr. Popiwny said that maybe a tour could be arranged to go to the Vancouver plant. The West Point plant obviously has not been upgraded to recent technology.

Edmonds