Good Morning Neighbor:Below is an article of interest and something that should be well thought out by our State Legislature. The EPD needs to have an arm of criminal enforcement - it has none at this time. It can only fine companies that are not in compliance. And, the PSC fine of $100,000 was the largest fine ever given to an industry in the State of Georgia. However, we know this does little for a company that is sitting on billions of dollars.
With regard to PSC, Derrick Williams of the EPD informed me not long ago that a plan for the removal of the solidification pit was to be submitted by May 1 so I have requested an update on the status of the removal. Also, our Task Force has requested over and over again that a team of government officials and community leaders be allowed to be a part of the closing of PSC to give assurance of their proper cleanup but our request has been refused. The clear message is that an industry can poison a community without being answerable to that community. The voice and the power of the citizen and communities across Georgia must be restored and we will continue to push to make that happen.Your neighbor,ConnieConstance Thomas Biemiller, ChairSouth Fulton and Fayette Community Task ForceWeb Site - http://www.thecommunityvoice.tv/770-314-6999As Margaret Mead once said:Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Criminal Charges?
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Silence a Gift
Good Morning Neighbor:I did the unthinkable this week. I shutdown my computer, my cell phone, my t.v., closed my books and I rescheduled all of my work appointments. For the past two days, I literally spent my time in silence from the time I took my son to school to the time he got home. And, what a gift these past two days have been - it forced me to enjoy nature - it forced me to pray and meditate. I wanted further clarity as to what the next step in life for me was about. As many of you know, I decided to run for State House of Representatives last May and now it is truly time to put my name on the dotted line. I was led to understand exactly what was the gift and the function I brought to the State House Table. And, this is what I was given:My gift is bringing people together that are equipped with different talents and facilitating their function as a whole to accomplish a task for the higher good.My function is to provide leadership that brings about positive outcomes - especially when facing circumstances that may appear on the surface to be too difficult to overcome for the individual and the community.We are facing such critical times ahead and I find it no coincidence that I am running for office at a time when the Environment is on top of the Georgia House list. I am so disappointed that our state officials did not do more to make sure that our Water Crisis was truly in hand. I am also very disheartened that the Gas Crisis was not dealt with this session and here we sit with gas and groceries at an all time high. You can absolutely count on me to be the one to be knocking on political doors next session to bring legislators together to create legislation that truly helps our community and State in the above matters. After I am elected in July, I will call a Town Hall Meeting soon after and we will begin as a community to create a list of priorities that we would like to see championed at the State Capitol in 2009.I am truly committed to making a difference in Georgia as we have here in the South Fulton and Fayette Community. We stand as a shining example of what can be accomplished. And, as I sign on the dotted line today know that all of you are in my heart and that I have absolute clarity as to my role in service to our community.Your neighbor,ConnieSouth Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force, ChairConnie Biemiller, GA House Candidate District 66Serving The South Fulton and Fayette CommunityP.O. Box 1593Fairburn, GA 30213-1593Web Channel - http://www.thecommunityvoice.tv/770-314-6999Connie is to be elected July 15, 2008Make a Campaign Contribution today atAs Margaret Mead once said:Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The Green Grocery Shopper
Good Morning Neighbor:It was so great to see many of our neighbors at the Tyrone Earth Day event. The presence of our Task Force at such an event truly shows that our community will always endeavor to make a difference in the lives of others. Our Task Force devised a Green Grocery Flyer and I am copying it below in case you were unable to pick one up this past Saturday. I also want to give you a local website for Spezzano's Village Market - http://www.spezzanos.com/ - you can purchase organic vegetables from their coop at a very reasonable price - they are located in Tyrone. Also, you will see information below for the Two Doves organic farm in Peachtree City. If you know of any organic farmers or coops in the South Fulton area, please let me know.On a more non-green note, it is important that you know that the Peachtree City Council decided to spray sewage effluent onto their recreational fields. I have posted The Citizen article on The Community Voice Forum for you to read and make a decision as to how you as a citizen should respond. This is not just a practice happening in PTC but is happening in many places and it is important that you find out what is being sprayed on your local recreation areas and if this is a risk that you want your children or your neighbor's children to take.Your neighbor,ConnieSouth Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force, ChairCandidate Georgia House District 66
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A New Adventure
Good Morning Neighbor:I am so excited to greet you this morning. I have so looked forward to this day when I could share with you about the Environmental Institute of Georgia - a vision that has been in the works for many months now. As we have always known, good will always reign supreme and this Institute is born out of the goodness of many, many hearts that want to make a difference in our world. The enclosed article really says it all and I hope that you will join EIOG in the days and months ahead as you learn more and more about the great things it brings to not only our local community but to the State of Georgia.Also, if you are out and about this weekend, make an effort to stop by the Earth Day Celebration in Tyrone this Saturday. Our Task Force will have a booth there with a special emphasis on providing our community ways to shop for pesticide free grocery items. EIOG will also have a booth where you can sign your children up for summer biology camps and while they are at the booth look through a microscope at a lot of creepy things (too creepy for me) - as Dennis Chase says, " he will never make a biologist out of me"!!Once again, I walk this earth today feeling so very blessed to be a part of something greater than myself and knowing that people who stand together for the higher good always, always make a difference!!!Your neighbor,Connie
Constance Thomas Biemiller, ChairSouth Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force770-314-6999As Margaret Mead once said:Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Recent Onion Smell Reports
Good Evening Neighbor:The City of Fairburn has reported smelling the "Onion Odor" since last Thursday - please see my follow-up email from Assistant Director, Jim Ussery of the EPD. Also, if you have been smelling anything "onion like" please contact the EPD at 404-656-4863 or 1-800-241-4113.You must listen to Ben Nelms latest Podcast about our community and others who have been chemically poisoned, as well.http://www.thecitizen.com/~citizen0/audio/play/27113Your neighbor,ConnieDear Ms. Biemiller,Thank you for contacting EPD on April 3, 2008 regarding potential odors at the PSC Plant in Fairburn. Our investigation, conducted on April 3, 2008, did not detect any strong or unusual odors. I have attached a copy of our inspector's trip report for you information. If you have any further questions, please contact Derrick Williams at 404-362-2537.Sincerely,Jim Ussery
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Residents skeptical about no-harm conclusions of onion-odor study | The Citizen Online
Good Evening Neighbor:You will find a great article written below by Ben Nelms with regard to the Final Health Consultation. I encourage you to click on to this article and then blog underneath it - it only takes a second to sign-up to blog and it would make a great statement that this community is not compromising on this subject! I will then send this link to our Legislators and State Agencies showing the blogs as well from the community.Make your voice heard!!Your neighbor,Conniehttp://www.thecitizen.com/~citizen0/node/26953Constance Thomas Biemiller, ChairSouth Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force770-314-6999As Margaret Mead once said:Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Protest and Home Damage
Good Morning Neighbor:Please see the pictures below from Saturday's protest across the street from Vulcan Industries. There are several things to take note - the new pavement shown in one picture in front of Vulcan is compliments of the Quarry Task Force. We were protesting Thursday Evening and by Saturday the road was newly paved. I wish I had a picture of it prior to this because it is a wonder there were not many wrecks in this area - there was virtually no road left - the tires of cars dropped off the road every time they drove by us. Secondly, the pictures below are of a home just down the street that has been ravaged by the blasting - Vulcan even came to the house to pick up all the damage that occurred outside the home but has never bothered to help compensate for the indoor damages. I met the lady who lives at this residence - she is expecting a child and they do not have the money to rebuild the inside -plus they feel even if they did it would only be a matter of time again before the ceiling caved in again due to the blasting. Their insurance company turned them down because they do not cover earth movement damage.A person's home should be their sanctuary and for most of us it is the largest investment we will ever make. There is a moral imperative on Vulcan's part to see to it that they do not damage their surrounding community and there is a moral imperative by the State, County and City to see to it that there are no homes built nearby this industry. Everyone wants to throw their hands up once again and say, " well the quarry was already there or the land was already sold to developers" but does that really make any of this okay? Just like none of that meant that PSC's operations were okay because that site was built before the surrounding community was built. The fact of the matter is that those that we pay to protect us did not do their job and they must wake up and start protecting us now.Your neighbor,ConnieConstance Thomas Biemiller, ChairSouth Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force770-314-6999As Margaret Mead once said:Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.IMG_0015.JPGIMG_0016.JPGIMG_0024.JPGIMG_0025.JPGIMG_0026.JPGIMG_0027.JPGIMG_0028.JPGIMG_0029.JPGIMG_0030.JPGIMG_0031.JPGIIMG_0034.JPGIMG_0035.JPG
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Residents want Rock Quarry to Close - SF Neighbor News - Forum | thecommunityvoice.tv
Good Evening Neighbor:Please see the article published today in the South Fulton Neighbor. The Quarry Task Force will be holding a protest to stop the blasting that is damaging their homes and health - tomorrow and Saturday. Please come be a part of the effort! We must not be complacent - we must take action for the betterment of all!http://www.thecommunityvoice.tv/forums/topic/39504?page_no=1#118355Your neighbor,ConnieConstance Thomas Biemiller, ChairSouth Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force770-314-6999As Margaret Mead once said:Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Pushing the Stone Away
Good Morning Neighbor:Whether you are Christian, Jewish, Buddist or Muslim, today has great significance - it is the day that we are all reminded that the Large Stone that covered the Tomb - the one that no one person should be able to move - was moved and can be moved!!!!! We are a community who continues to prove this in so many ways - we have shut down plant operations that everyone said was not possible, we have begun Senate testimony and we are continuing to bring light to the injustice that our government agencies have been able to carry out for many years. The victory of the stone being pushed away is telling us we must never give up!! Things like this Final Health Consultation can make us all want to say, " we the people can never win". However, our job is to go beyond this thought and remember that the stone has already been moved we just need to help others to see it.Everything we continue to do as a community matters - it really, really matters!! We are making a difference!!!Have a beautiful day!!Your neighbor,ConnieConstance Thomas Biemiller, ChairSouth Fulton and Fayette Community Task ForceWeb Site - thecommunityvoice.tv770-314-6999As Margaret Mead once said:Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
PSC Final Health Consultation
Good Morning Neighbor:Please see the email and Final Health Consultation below. It should have just been called the Final Non Report. Over 200 public comments were submitted and not one objection from the community made a difference in the final report. We must by no means back down - we must stand on the facts - we all know we were sick - we all know we were poisoned - we all know the truth and we are not a community of liars. Remember their way around all of this is to call this a Consultation "we just talked to a few people, collected some written information and this is what we gathered". Remember not one person in our community has ever been physically examined by a physician from the ATSDR. This whole study was a huge waste of tax payers dollars because an in-depth study was never conducted which would have truly benefited our community and the State of Georgia.Once again, I ask who do these agencies serve?Your neighbor,Connie
Constance Thomas Biemiller, ChairSouth Fulton and Fayette Community Task ForceWeb Site - thecommunityvoice.tv770-314-6999As Margaret Mead once said:Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.From: "Franklin Sanchez" <fjsanchez@dhr.state.ga.us>Date: March 18, 2008 9:20:47 AM EDTTo: "Biemiller, Constance Thomas" <dcbiemlr@bellsouth.net>Subject: PSC Final Health ConsultationConnie,The final version of the health consultation with public comments addressed on the PSC methyl mercaptan release site in Fairburn has been published. Attached is the final version for your records. Please share with Task Force members.Regards,Frank
Monday, March 10, 2008
Town Hall Meetings
Good Morning Neighbor:I attended Congressman Scott's Town Hall Meeting on Saturday and they were gracious enough to let me go beyond my two minutes to give the speech below.Please take some time and read it - after learning so much over the past two years - the need for Buffer Zone Legislation is where we are heading. I do not have to tell you that Georgia has none. I am also including a new posting by the AJC today on pharmaceuticals found in drinking water all across this country. Once again industry told them, there were no harmful levels found even though municipalities did not even have testing for pharmaceuticals in drinking water. It wasn't until the Associated Press hired independent researchers that all of this was found. This article gives a summary of the published results. If you remember, we have been told the same thing that our drinking water is safe yet there is no testing for Ethoprop in our drinking water so how could anyone have ever told us we were safe!!http://www.thecommunityvoice.tv/forums/topic/37711?page_no=1#118115Last, but not least, I want to remind everyone of the Quarry Town Hall meeting this Wednesday at 7pm. It will be held at the Burdette Gym off of Burdette road off of Old National. Remember, what is happening to our Quarry community touches us all!!!!Your neighbor,ConnieConstance Thomas Biemiller, ChairSouth Fulton and Fayette Community Task ForceWeb Site - communitytaskforce.tv770-314-6999As Margaret Mead once said:Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Monday, March 03, 2008
221 Signatures and Counting
Good Morning Neighbor:The first day out petitioning to Stop the Blasting with the Quarry Task Force was a great success. Once the word got out that there was a petition to be signed, people started driving over to participate. The stories told were horrendous - water pipes dislodged, gas pipes dislodged, decks and driveways separating from the house, garage floors caving in and the list goes on. There were some who knew something was going wrong with their home but did not know it was the blasting - the blasting occurs while they are at work.As one gentleman put it on Saturday, "there is a lot of love in the air". And, it was so true, people coming together to make a difference from all over South Fulton and Fayette. Ester Cosby from Oakley Township holding posters on the street for the cause - Dot Goodwin from Fayette coming to sign the petition - Michael Venable from the Old National Association coming to collect forms to get the word out and many, many others.The Quarry Task Force will be holding a Town Hall meeting on March 12 at 7pm at the Burdette Gym on Burdette Rd. Government officials will be invited and the community will begin to formulate plans to move forward to protect their homes and health. All are invited to show solidarity in this effort.Also, on other fronts - Oakley Township has been told by Fulton County that DR Horton will have the Detention Ponds repaired within the next 30 days!!-Peachtree City Council received the SFF Task Force Letter asking them not to use the sewage water - Councilmen Haddix and Sturbaumresponded but it still appears that they are fixed on spreading the sewage effluent onto the recreation fields. See the Editorial Ben Nelmswrote regarding this issue -http://www.thecommunityvoice.tv/forums/topic/36892?page_no=1#116326And, last but not least, U.S. Congressman David Scott will be holding a Town Hall Meeting this Saturday - March 8th at City Hall in Union City at 2pm. This will be a time to come and give public comment with regard to problems in our community or successes such as PSC. Take these moments when you can get them and let your voice be heard!!Your neighbor,ConnieConstance Thomas Biemiller, ChairSouth Fulton and Fayette Community Task ForceWeb Site - communitytaskforce.tv770-314-6999As Margaret Mead once said:Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
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