I just returned from a community meeting (Thursday evening) in my hometown (Clarksdale) with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Environmental Quality.

The EPA has determined that a site in Clarksdale warrants further inspection, after four-to-five years of preliminary work, to determine if  it might be a Super Fund Eligible Site.

I was mayor in 1987 when we abandoned a city street to allow the company to expand, adding jobs to our city.  We were assured by people I trusted that there was NO pollution at this site, that the company follows all pollution directives, that the concern from the surrounding community was a matter of misinformation and borderline hysteria.

Apparently, they were wrong.

This is the third issue in the last five weeks that as Chair of the Conservation And Water Resources Committee I have had to contend with on environmental issues.  One dealt with a request from land developers to lighten up on our wastewater treatment laws because they are losing money selling home properties around lakes.  The other is the ongoing BP issue, and now this latest one is in my hometown.

I have had other hearings at pollution sites in Hattiesburg, Crystal Springs and Columbus.

But, this last one cuts deep.  I trusted the people at the chemical company.

I have been burned.  I will not be burned twice.  I have listened to business; I have understood business; but, I have had enough.  I will not trust what any business says when it comes to them saying taking care of the environment is negatively impacting its bottom line.

God gave us the environment to be good stewards, not make the god almighty buck.