Decision 'sends a message'

"Orland is open for business."

That's what Mayor Wade Elliott said Tuesday morning about City Council's decision Monday night to deny an appeal of Crystal Geyser Water Co.'s application to build a 112,500-square-foot sparkling mineral water bottling plant on County Road 200.

Monday's action followed the Technical Advisory Committee's approval of the application Dec. 16 after months of review and a five-hour- long public hearing in November.

"The outcome of the decision sends a message that Glenn County and Orland are open for business, especially light industry," Elliott said.

Trish Saint-Evens, a member of an opposition group, heard a different message. The council "just set a precedent. Any bottling plant can come in here and pump the water all they want," she said.

The common reaction from members of Save Our Water Resources and Friends of Orland, who filed appeals, to Monday night's decision was simple: "I'm disappointed."

Proponents of the proposed plant were thrilled.

"It's a positive, wonderful step forward," Nancy Kraemer said.

Ramon Zabala echoed what many speaking in favor of Crystal Geyser said during the public hearing portion of the night.

"I'm glad," he said. "There will be more work for people in Orland and more revenue for Orland. I feel good inside that something went through. I hope this is a new beginning for everybody."

But Saint-Evens said, "We're not done," and her husband Angus Saint-Evens added that "there may be further action."

She also complained that City Council members "didn't even ask our attorney any questions about CEQA," the California Environmental Quality Act.

The group hired Sacramento attorney Sabrina Teller to plead its case. Her focus, as with a majority of appellants, was the need for an environmental impact report.

Joanne Overton commented that "no one seems to care about the health and welfare of the people."

She also said she was glad she didn't have to the make the decision that City Council had to make.

Crystal Geyser spokesman Alec Van Ryan "their discussion said it all," referring to the council's public deliberations. "Their decision was based on fact."

The next step for the company is "putting together a community outreach group that will help us become the best citizen in the city. That doesn't just happen - it takes effort. We want to bring Crystal Geyser and the city into a long-lasting relationship."

The outreach process will begin in March, Van Ryan said.

Richard Weklych, Crystal Geyser's vice president of manufacturing, complimented the opponents and proponents who attended the meeting, noting that "everyone was very civil."

Van Ryan noted, "We respect the process. It is what makes this country valuable and special."

Elliott was pleased with how well speakers on both sides of the issue handled themselves. "It was truly a fine example of how the democratic process is supposed to work," he said.

Now that the decision is made, "the whole community needs to come together," Kraemer said.

Contact Lydia Harris at 934-6800 or lharris@tcnpress.com.