Mine opponents appeal to county commissioners

The battle over a proposed surface mine and gravel crushing operation west of Sisters was thrust into a new arena this week as a group of concerned Sisters residents appealed the county Hearings Officer's decision approving the mine.

Mine opponents filed a notice appeal of the decision to the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners on Monday, October 9.

"The basis of the appeal is that the Hearings Officer misinterpreted and misapplied the law and the facts as they apply to the mine and a de novo hearing before the county commissioners is needed for a fair and complete record," said John Hornbeck, one of a committee of Sisters area residents formed to fight the mine proposal.

The appeal asks the commissioners to hear the appeal on a "de novo" basis allowing new testimony from any source. The commissioners could hear the appeal on that basis or they could confine hearings to the existing record.

Or they could decline to hear the appeal at all, in which case the opposition would have to appeal the case directly to they state Land Use Board of Appeals.

It has been alleged that at least one commissioner has stated that the commissioners would not hear an appeal because the mine issue is so politically charged.

But mine opponents believe the commissioners will, after all, hear the appeal.

"We heard that rumor as well," said James Massey, attorney for some of the of mine opponents. "My clients are hoping the commissioners will hear our appeal. They feel it would be in their (the clients') best interest."

"This issue between a mine and the town of Sisters is clearly the biggest issue this county and these commissioners have ever faced," said Hornbeck. "It is inconceivable that they wouldn't give the citizens of Sisters a chance to present their case."

Mine opponents are collecting signatures on a petition to ask the commissioners to hear the appeal. They plan a motorcade from Sisters Middle/High School to Bend on October 25 to formally present the petition to the board of commissioners.

"We want them to know that the citizens really care about our town," said Adele Sommer. "We urge people to join the motorcade to really get a town feeling... to show they care."