Friends, feel free to share this with your lists if you think it will be helpful…
I started calling the IUB at 515-725-7300 at 8 AM today, Thur 11/5. After getting busy signals a couple of times, I got an answer. My advice: start dialing them as soon as you can. If you get busy signals, KEEP DIALING until you happen to catch them in between other callers. This really stinks, of course, but it may be what we all have to do to get one of the 2-minute speaking slots.
I was asked for my full name, address, and whether I was speaking to oppose or support the pipeline. She said she could not tell me when I’d be called to speak, it could be any time after the 9 AM start time throughout the day. L. I intend to arrive at the Boone County Fairgrounds building well before 9 AM and do what I can to check in with the IUB staff and verify that I am on the list to speak.
Good luck, and have at ‘em. If you get totally frustrated with trying to get through, maybe call the governor’s office at (515) 281-5211 and file a complaint about how the IUB is handling this, and ask/demand that the governor’s office require IUB to add more phone lines or rollover lines with more staff assigned to take these calls.
Patrick Bosold
Jefferson County, IA
URGENT! PLEASE IMMEDIATELY FORWARD THIS NOTICE TO YOUR MEMBERS
The Iowa Utilities Board has announced yesterday, November 2, that anyone planning to speak at the November 12th day of public comment in Boone, MUST CALL THE IUB THIS THURSDAY, Nov. 5, OR THIS FRIDAY, Nov. 6, TO RESERVE A TIME TO SPEAK. This is the only way to guarantee that we will have the opportunity to speak. Only if time is left after all scheduled speakers have given their comments will anyone not scheduled be allowed to speak.
Here’s how to reserve a spot to speak:
1) Call the Iowa Utilities Board’s general number, 515-725-7300, between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., either THIS Thursday, Nov. 5, or THIS Friday, Nov. 6, to sign up. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT, IF POSSIBLE, YOU CALL EARLY IN THE DAY.
2) Callers will need to state their name, address, whether they want to speak in favor of or against issuance of the permit.
3) Waiting lists will be assembled as necessary.
4) The Board has indicated that comments will alternate between those for and against the pipeline and that each person will be given two minutes to speak.
PLEASE FORWARD THIS NOTICE IMMEDIATELY TO EVERYONE WHO MIGHT BE PLANNING TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS TERRIBLE IDEA FOR IOWA.
AND PLEASE, DO NOT ALLOW THE IUB TO DISCOURAGE YOU FROM JOINING US NOVEMBER 12TH. WHETHER OR NOT YOU’RE ABLE TO RESERVE A SLOT TO SPEAK, WE NEED YOU THERE.
See you at the Boone County Fairgrounds, November 12th.
The Bakken Pipeline Resistance Coalition Communication’s Team