Church Gas Compressor Station Discussion in Dimock

2/22/2013 (Updated 11:09:12 PM)

As we've reported, plans are already under way for a third gas compressor in the Dimock area, but what does that mean for residents?

Ali Warner was at a meeting in Dimock Friday night. 

It was a meeting that caused some controversy from area residents concerned about the impact the compressor will have on the community--and from residents who weren't let inside the meeting. 

Some action in the Montrose Senior Junior High School Friday night, just down the hall where a meeting was being held by Williams- the company constructing the church gas compressor station in Dimock Pennsylvania.

The meeting was only open to residents living within one and a half miles of where the station will be built, angering some of those who  weren't allowed inside.

"Community has not given this project a thumbs up, the know that, and so we're concerned they're having top secret meetings that only people that are invited can go to," says Craig Stevens, sixth generation landowner.

A Williams representative says the meeting was to address area residents concerns.

"...get the answers that they need so they can feel confident, and what we find is the more people know the more comfortable they are with our facilities," says Helen Humphreys, spokeswoman for Williams.

Company representatives were on hand to address environmental impact, noise and traffic concerns.

"Well, we came just to see what kind of impact it's going to have on us traffic wise so on and so forth," says Pete Staton of Dimock.

Some were impressed.

"We've never had a problem with the whole process so far but we like to keep it that way so we want to keep informed basically," says Staton.

While others want more questions answered.

"I would like Williams to not just pat us on the back.  I want more truth," says Janis Winschuh.

Meanwhile, some residents didn't have a chance to ask their questions.

"Once you make things top secret you get peoples curiosity up, like me.  We're just curios neighbors, tax payers, that want to know what is happening," says Stevens.

The superintendent of the Montrose Schools say he spoke to Williams on Friday and told them he wouldn't rent them office space in the school again unless the meeting is public, although he wasn't going to call off the meeting just hours before it was supposed to take place.

Ali Warner, Fox 40 HD News.




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