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Blagg felt gagged by legal issues
BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
 | | Outgoing supervisor Lee Blagg says the wind energy issue, in particular, left him feeling like he couldn't say what he wanted as a board member. |
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MONTEREY - In what may have been his last regular board meeting, the usually reticent Lee Blagg, Highland County supervisor, took one last opportunity to speak his mind.
"I haven't said a whole lot in the last four years," he said Tuesday. "I've enjoyed my stay on the board. It has been quite an education. It was a little rough a time or two, but that was all right. I can take a whole lot. I have taken a whole lot.
"Without rehashing the wind (turbine) issue too much, one of the things that disturbed me most about the wind issue was three of us were unable to sit at a microphone between ourselves and debate the issue because of legal ramifications," he continued. "Some lawyer was telling us we can't say this or can't say that. That disturbs me. My freedom of speech was taken away for two years - both of you gentlemen, too - to say what we really think.
"Highland County is in not too good a shape. We have closed three school systems in my lifetime. We are well on our way to closing a fourth one. Unless 20 new babies are born every year in this county that will equal the graduating class of that county, we are not going to be here too long. And jobs, reduction in the tax structure that we have now, is very critical. You are all well aware of that.
"The local paper at one point after the election said that I probably lost because I was pro-growth and in favor of farming," he added.
"You either grow or you die. It's just that simple. We've talked about growth at different times. The wind issue - to me it was a common sense thing from the word go - the good Lord give you the wind, he give you the technology, he even give you the man to do it. If you turn that kind of things down - we don't get opportunities very often in Highland County. We turned down an $11 million worth of projects for whatever reasons I'll never know. It didn't happen. You can't go on this way and expect to exist as a county.
"We cannot continue to tax agriculture out of business. It is happening.
"I am glad to see we are going ahead with zoning for the slaughterhouse. That's going to help the local farmers somewhat.
"I am still interested in government. I probably won't ever be supervisor again, but I will be in the back of the room taking an interest."
Supervisors Jerry Rexrode and Robin Sullenberger thanked Blagg for his service to the community as a member of the board of supervisors and expressed hope he would attend board meetings after he leaves office.
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