<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">I just called the Williamstown city offices and learned that Monday’s BZA meeting will be live on YouTube (non-interactively), but the public is invited to attend the meeting to be held in city council chambers in the city building at 7:30 p.m. I am not inclined to attend such meetings during COVID, but I have already posted a letter addressed to the mayor, city council, planning commission, and BZA on the city’s website at Williamstownwv.org. Who know, though. Maybe I’ll heavily mask up and attend. This issue is important to me, and I really want Ms. Bender to understand that there are permits and fees required, and I want city officials to ensure that laws are completely followed. —dawn<br><br><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPad</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Dec 2, 2020, at 9:58 PM, Julie Zickefoose <juliezickefoose@gmail.com> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">So does this mean another Zoom meeting accessible at the Williamstown city website? <div><br></div><div>JZ</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Dec 2, 2020 at 9:05 PM Barbara Stewart <<a href="mailto:barbhoney@gmail.com">barbhoney@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div dir="auto">On the Williamstown FB page.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div><div><IMG_9431.jpg></div></div><br></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Nov 13, 2020 at 10:01 AM Stephan McCarthy <<a href="mailto:steve.mccarthy@realliving.com" target="_blank">steve.mccarthy@realliving.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px"><div>Just to let everyone know, Bender's partner is Pat Rauch, pronounced "rouw". I sure hope we can get this stopped!</div>
<div>Steve</div>
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<div><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><b>From</b>: "Barbara Stewart" <<a href="mailto:barbhoney@gmail.com" target="_blank">barbhoney@gmail.com</a>><br>
<b>Sent</b>: Thursday, November 12, 2020 2:53 PM<br>
<b>To</b>: "Schramm, Michael" <<a href="mailto:michael_schramm@fws.gov" target="_blank">michael_schramm@fws.gov</a>><br>
<b>Cc</b>: "Dawn Hewitt" <<a href="mailto:hewitt@earth-maker.com" target="_blank">hewitt@earth-maker.com</a>>, "Julie Zickefoose" <<a href="mailto:juliezickefoose@gmail.com" target="_blank">juliezickefoose@gmail.com</a>>, "Shila Wilson" <<a href="mailto:janet.shila.wilson@att.net" target="_blank">janet.shila.wilson@att.net</a>>, "Dave McShaffrey" <<a href="mailto:mcshaffd@marietta.edu" target="_blank">mcshaffd@marietta.edu</a>>, "nellie howard" <<a href="mailto:nhoward8@frontier.com" target="_blank">nhoward8@frontier.com</a>>, "Stephan McCarthy" <<a href="mailto:steve.mccarthy@realliving.com" target="_blank">steve.mccarthy@realliving.com</a>>, "Marcy Wesel" <<a href="mailto:wesel62@sbcglobal.net" target="_blank">wesel62@sbcglobal.net</a>>, "Brent Bailey" <<a href="mailto:Brent@wvlandtrust.org" target="_blank">Brent@wvlandtrust.org</a>>, "Green Sanctuary List for Environment Issues" <<a href="mailto:green@fuusm.org" target="_blank">green@fuusm.org</a>><br>
<b>Subject</b>: Re: [EXTERNAL] Williamstown Women's Club meeting today on wetlands</span></div></span><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px"><div>
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<div dir="ltr">Marty Seufer is on board with this???? Wow. Mr Bee City USA.</div>
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<div class="gmail_attr" dir="ltr">On Thu, Nov 12, 2020 at 12:05 PM Schramm, Michael <<a href="mailto:michael_schramm@fws.gov" target="_blank">michael_schramm@fws.gov</a>> wrote:</div>
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<div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Thanks to Dawn for attending this meeting! Wonderful notes and a very good picture of what's going on. I wanted to add one thing though: Rod Smith, a Williamstown resident who originally came to me after a sleepless night, confirmed that he was at the City Council meeting on October 20th. He confirmed that Pat Roush and Chris Bender gave a joint presentation outlining their plans, and noted that there are other investors involved as well, but he didn't know who they might be. </div>
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<div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Talking to him today, I tried to parse out exactly what was said. Though he is certain she plans to completely destroy and fill the wetland, this was NOT explicitly said. Instead, the gist of her presentation was that she has allegedly been sued twice (she didn't say what about), and that in order to avoid future lawsuits she wanted to close the wetland and build a new road access across the wetland. She also mentioned wanting to get variance to build a casino. (the meeting for this has apparently been moved to December 9th). Rod said the mayor and the individual who led the effort to make Williamstown a "bee city" were both on board. He claimed the mayor said, of the variance and of the whole project, that they "would make it happen."</div>
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<div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)">At very least, its clear she doesn't want the trail to be there or for the wetland to be a publicly accessible park. She had told me, personally, that "it used to be a mowed lawn" (not true) and that she wants it to go back to being that way. This lends some credence to Rod's sense that this is actually her goal. But again, she did NOT explicitly say so to the city council. Only that she wants to build a driveway aver the wetlands and a casino.</div>
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<div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)">I have attached the city council meeting agenda.</div>
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<div style="margin:0px;font-size:15px;color:rgb(32,31,30);text-align:start;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Michael Schramm
<div style="margin:0px">Visitor Services Manager</div>
<div style="margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px;font-size:13px">Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge</span></div>
<div style="margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px;font-size:13px"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/3982+Waverly+Rd+%0D%0A%0D%0A+Williamstown,+WV+26187?entry=gmail&source=g" target="_blank">3982 Waverly Rd</a></span></div><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/3982+Waverly+Rd+%0D%0A%0D%0A+Williamstown,+WV+26187?entry=gmail&source=g" target="_blank">
</a><div style="margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px;font-size:13px"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/3982+Waverly+Rd+%0D%0A%0D%0A+Williamstown,+WV+26187?entry=gmail&source=g" target="_blank">Williamstown, WV 26187</a></span><br>
<span style="margin:0px;font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:white">Phone: (304) 375-2923 x117</span></div>
<div style="margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px;font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:white">Cell: (304) 588-7494</span></div>
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<div style="margin:0px;font-size:15px;color:rgb(32,31,30);text-align:start;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><i style="font-size:12.67px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">"It would be absolutely useless for any of us to work to save wildlife without working to educate the next generation of conservationists." - Jane Goodall</i></div>
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<div dir="ltr" id="gmail-m_6857064477005917657m_-122052075976539892gmail-m_-6158538913998307721divRplyFwdMsg"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt"><b>From:</b> Dawn Hewitt <<a href="mailto:hewitt@earth-maker.com" target="_blank">hewitt@earth-maker.com</a>><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, November 10, 2020 10:40 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Julie Zickefoose <<a href="mailto:juliezickefoose@gmail.com" target="_blank">juliezickefoose@gmail.com</a>>; Shila Wilson <<a href="mailto:janet.shila.wilson@att.net" target="_blank">janet.shila.wilson@att.net</a>>; Barbara Stewart <<a href="mailto:barbhoney@gmail.com" target="_blank">barbhoney@gmail.com</a>>; Dave McShaffrey <<a href="mailto:mcshaffd@marietta.edu" target="_blank">mcshaffd@marietta.edu</a>>; nellie howard <<a href="mailto:nhoward8@frontier.com" target="_blank">nhoward8@frontier.com</a>>; Stephan McCarthy <<a href="mailto:steve.mccarthy@realliving.com" target="_blank">steve.mccarthy@realliving.com</a>>; Marcy Wesel <<a href="mailto:wesel62@sbcglobal.net" target="_blank">wesel62@sbcglobal.net</a>>; Schramm, Michael <<a href="mailto:michael_schramm@fws.gov" target="_blank">michael_schramm@fws.gov</a>>; Brent Bailey <<a href="mailto:Brent@wvlandtrust.org" target="_blank">Brent@wvlandtrust.org</a>>; Green Sanctuary List for Environment Issues <<a href="mailto:green@fuusm.org" target="_blank">green@fuusm.org</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [EXTERNAL] Williamstown Women's Club meeting today on wetlands</font>
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<p style="text-align:center"><strong> This email has been received from outside of DOI - Use caution before clicking on links, opening attachments, or responding. </strong></p>
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<div>Friends,
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<div>I seem to be involved in three mutually exclusive groups, all of whom oppose plans (stated or not) to fill the wetlands. I am sending this email to two of those groups: The Green Sanctuary Committee of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Marietta (of which I am co-chair), and an unaffiliated group of local birders. </div>
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<div>This afternoon I attended the Williamstown Women’s Club discussion of the Williamstown Wetlands and the rumor that owner Chris Bender plans to fill it. Part of the challenge is that Ms. Bender has not publicly stated such intentions. Eight people (including two men!) attended the discussion, and seven of the eight were clearly protective of the wetlands. One gentleman was silent, but was clearly friendly with the others in attendance. Six people there were residents of Williamstown (although two lived just north of town limits on Waverly Road), and one is with the Little Kanawha Resource Conservation & Development organization, which, is the legal sponsor of the $95,000 grant monies that turned “The Swamp” into the wetlands. </div>
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<div>Although I’m attaching my poorly organized notes from the meeting, let me give you a nutshell of the highlights: </div>
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<div>Today’s group was under the impression that Chris Bender attended a Williamstown Planning Commission meeting last night seeking a variance for a casino. Apparently, a town ordinance prohibits casinos from locating within 1,000 feet of each other. HOWEVER, I have a friend (Martha McGovern) who serves on the plan commission, and she told me tonight that the commission did not meet last night, and that she has heard nothing about plans for a casino on DaVinci property, nor about plans to fill the wetlands. </div>
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<div>The Women’s Club is also under the impression that Ms. Bender will need a permit from the Plan Commission to fill the wetlands before she can go to city council to make the proposal, but Martha said that the Plan Commission has no such power. She said the Plan Commission does research and advises city council, but has no real power and does not grant permits or variances.</div>
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<div>Several people at today’s meeting noted that Bender has attended several city council meetings lately, but her plans for the wetlands have never been on the agenda. Some are worried that she’s working under the table—similar to how a gun range was approved south of town, with no public knowledge or input. </div>
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<div>D.J. Allen, of the Little Kanawha R.C. & D., has a huge file folder of all the historic paperwork regrind improvements to “the swamp." Attached are photos of the 2006 and 2007 agreements to improve the wetlands from D.J.’s files. She is concerned that her agency will have to repay $80,000 in grants if the wetlands is filled in! Chris Bently won’t be liable, since she had no involvement in the original contracts, refused to renew the agreement in 2017. The women’s club is very willing to continue paying insurance for the wetlands (as they historically have done) and to fund maintenance it. But without a contract, they can’t. </div>
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<div>They said if Bender is concerned about liability, she should sign the contract and let the Women’s Club continue to pay the insurance! Liability is not Bender’s primary concern about the wetlands. However, she might reasonably want better access to the parking lot via Waverly Avenue. Getting into and out of DaVinci’s parking lot from Highland Avenue is a genuine issue. Maybe the win-win would be to figure out a way to develop parking lot access from Waverly Avenue that doesn’t damage the wetlands. </div>
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<div>One person in attendance, Fred Cannon, wants to make sure the public is well aware of Bender’s plans. The group presently plans to attend the City Council meeting on November 17, and during the public comment period at the end of the meeting, get a crowd of people to state opposition to filling the wetland—even if such plans haven’t been made public. Nip it in the bud! Write letters to the editor! Write letters to the Army Corps of Engineers and to the WV Department of Environmental Protection! To city council members, and state legislators. Make a stink ASAP. “We’re too old to be patient!” </div>
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<div>The group wondered what should be their plan of action if bulldozers start filling in the wetlands in the middle of the night. Maybe call the WV Department of Environmental Protection? </div>
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<div>Mark Mondo, who is developing land between Williamstown and Henderson Hall, plans to include a fancy restaurant and casino as part of the development. Bender fears that will draw patronage from DaVinci’s. So, she, too, wants a casino to compete. </div>
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<div>A group from the Women’s Club plans to draft a polite and respectful letter to Chris Bender tomorrow (Wednesday) to ask her about her plans for the wetlands. If they can get her to state her plan, they are in a better position to oppose it, rather than fighting rumors. And they will start with a soft approach, aiming for a win-win. </div>
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<div>If you want more information, see my notes from the meeting, attached. If you would like to examine more paperwork regarding the grants and agreements establishing the improved, maintained wetlands, D.J. Allen, Coordinator of Little Kanawha R.C. & D. is your woman. Contact her at BOTH of these email addresses: <a href="mailto:dj.allen@lkrcd.com" target="_blank"> dj.allen@lkrcd.com</a> and <a href="mailto:dnrallen@220minternet.net" target="_blank">dnrallen@220minternet.net</a>.</div>
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<div>I have a list of contacts for the others who attended today’s meeting as well. Most active is Kittie Clark, who seems to be heading up the team who will draft the letter tomorrow. </div>
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<div>—dawn (pleased that she remembered to attach the attachments)</div>
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<div><div><2007 agreement p1.jpeg></div></div>
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</blockquote></div><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><b><font color="#990000">Julie Zickefoose<br>Artist/author</font></b><div><b><font color="#990000"><br></font></b></div><div><a href="https://redstartbirding.com/collections/print-books-booklets/products/saving-jemima-life-and-love-with-a-hard-luck-jay" target="_blank"><font color="#990000"><b><i><br></i></b></font></a></div><div><font color="#990000"><b><i><a href="http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/Baby-Birds/9780544206700" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://redstartbirding.com/collections/print-books-booklets/products/saving-jemima-life-and-love-with-a-hard-luck-jay" target="_blank">Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay </a></i><a href="http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/Baby-Birds/9780544206700" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://redstartbirding.com/collections/print-books-booklets/products/saving-jemima-life-and-love-with-a-hard-luck-jay" target="_blank"> </a><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><span style="color:rgb(153,0,0)">2019</span></span><i><a href="http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/Baby-Birds/9780544206700" target="_blank"><br></a></i></b></font></div><div><font color="#990000"><b><i><a href="https://www.juliezickefoose.com/book/babybirds.php" target="_blank">Baby Birds: An Artist Looks Into the Nest </a> </i> 2016</b></font></div><div><b><i><font color="#6fa8dc"><a href="http://www.juliezickefoose.com/book/overview.php" target="_blank">The Bluebird Effect: Uncommon Bonds With Common Birds</a></font><font color="#990000"> </font></i><font color="#990000"> 2012</font></b></div><div><b><i><font color="#ffe599"><a href="http://www.juliezickefoose.com/book/overview.php" target="_blank">Letters from Eden: A Year at Home, In the Woods </a></font><font color="#990000"> </font></i><font color="#990000"> 2006</font></b></div><div><b><font color="#990000"><br></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#990000">blog <a href="http://juliezickefoose.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Julie Zickefoose on Blogspot</a></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#990000">site <a href="http://www.juliezickefoose.com" target="_blank"> juliezickefoose.com</a></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#990000">insta:</font> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliezickefoose/" target="_blank">@juliezickefoose</a></b></div><div><b><font color="#990000">twitter</font></b>: <a href="https://twitter.com/harpyeye" target="_blank"><b>@harpyeye</b></a></div><div><font color="#990000"><b><i><br></i></b></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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