Phillips Named to Commission Despite Resident Complaints
By Patricia Sanchez and Doug Spoon A retired environmental health specialist and Menifee resident was named to the Menifee Planning Commis...
http://www.menifee247.com/2013/08/phillips-named-t-commission-despite-resident-complaints.html
By Patricia Sanchez and Doug Spoon
A retired environmental health specialist and Menifee resident was named to the Menifee Planning Commission by city council member Greg August Tuesday night, drawing criticism from some residents who oppose his findings regarding environmental health in the community.
Earl Phillips worked for 15 years with San Diego County, specializing in environmental planning and safety. He is a registered environmental health specialist whose inspection of Audie Murphy Ranch and the new site of Santa Rosa Academy concurred with other experts testifying that the use of sludge by local farmers years ago does not pose a health threat to residents.
Sludge -- biosolids used as fertilizer by some local farmers until its use was banned in 2001 -- has been the subject of controversy in Menifee because of allegations by some that contaminated soil exists here. Even though several environmental experts testified in a March 4 public forum that no danger exists, some residents are convinced otherwise.
Moreoever, two spoke in opposition of the selection of Phillips (left) during the public comments portion of the meeting before August's official announcement was made.
"This is a position Mr. August took away from Anne Pica," said Menifee resident Susan Rood, a cancer survivor who believes sludge in Menifee is a health hazard. "Although I have no doubt Mr. Phillips is an educated individual, it concerns me that he has such close ties with Mr. August. In February, Mr. August emailed me, trying to convince me there was no reason for concern regarding sludge because he (Phillips) said so."
Katie Minear, a longtime activist regarding the sludge issue, also criticized the choice of Phillips.
"After Greg August came on the council, he wanted me to meet with Earl Phillips and (council member) John Denver, just to dissuade my opinion," she said. "Not one of them wanted to see the documents I brought.
"Earl Phillips claims to be an expert. If he was, he would've been at the city forum."
Interviewed after his appointment to the Planning Commission, Phillips said his intent is to help Menifee continue to grow, in whatever way is needed. He said he had hoped the sludge issue was in the past. But when asked for a reaction to Minear's allegations, he was firm in his beliefs.
First, he said, he was at the public forum, where an associate of his testified about the safety of soil in Menifee. Second, he said he tried to attend a community forum organized by the Committee Against Toxic Exposure in January -- only to be denied entrance.
"I was kicked out of their meeting," Phillips said. "That led me to believe that whatever information they had to present there was suspect.
"I'm not going to let this dissuade my personal agenda. I'm vitally interested in doing what I can to help get the city's general plan adopted. I'm not coming in here to deal with sludge. I'm confident there is no danger from sludge dumped 11 years ago."
After the council meeting, Phillips was welcomed to the Planning Commission by Matt Liesemeyer, chair of the commission, and commissioner Leesa Sobek.
"Over the last 2 1/2 weeks, I interviewed 22 people for this position," August said in making the appointment of Phillips. "Every applicant in my mind was well qualified for the position. But I have chosen Earl Phillips, whom I have known for more than a year and who has shown me not only his vast experience about environmental issues, but a phenomenal work ethic."
A retired environmental health specialist and Menifee resident was named to the Menifee Planning Commission by city council member Greg August Tuesday night, drawing criticism from some residents who oppose his findings regarding environmental health in the community.
Earl Phillips worked for 15 years with San Diego County, specializing in environmental planning and safety. He is a registered environmental health specialist whose inspection of Audie Murphy Ranch and the new site of Santa Rosa Academy concurred with other experts testifying that the use of sludge by local farmers years ago does not pose a health threat to residents.
Sludge -- biosolids used as fertilizer by some local farmers until its use was banned in 2001 -- has been the subject of controversy in Menifee because of allegations by some that contaminated soil exists here. Even though several environmental experts testified in a March 4 public forum that no danger exists, some residents are convinced otherwise.
"This is a position Mr. August took away from Anne Pica," said Menifee resident Susan Rood, a cancer survivor who believes sludge in Menifee is a health hazard. "Although I have no doubt Mr. Phillips is an educated individual, it concerns me that he has such close ties with Mr. August. In February, Mr. August emailed me, trying to convince me there was no reason for concern regarding sludge because he (Phillips) said so."
Katie Minear, a longtime activist regarding the sludge issue, also criticized the choice of Phillips.
"After Greg August came on the council, he wanted me to meet with Earl Phillips and (council member) John Denver, just to dissuade my opinion," she said. "Not one of them wanted to see the documents I brought.
"Earl Phillips claims to be an expert. If he was, he would've been at the city forum."
Interviewed after his appointment to the Planning Commission, Phillips said his intent is to help Menifee continue to grow, in whatever way is needed. He said he had hoped the sludge issue was in the past. But when asked for a reaction to Minear's allegations, he was firm in his beliefs.
First, he said, he was at the public forum, where an associate of his testified about the safety of soil in Menifee. Second, he said he tried to attend a community forum organized by the Committee Against Toxic Exposure in January -- only to be denied entrance.
"I was kicked out of their meeting," Phillips said. "That led me to believe that whatever information they had to present there was suspect.
"I'm not going to let this dissuade my personal agenda. I'm vitally interested in doing what I can to help get the city's general plan adopted. I'm not coming in here to deal with sludge. I'm confident there is no danger from sludge dumped 11 years ago."
After the council meeting, Phillips was welcomed to the Planning Commission by Matt Liesemeyer, chair of the commission, and commissioner Leesa Sobek.
"Over the last 2 1/2 weeks, I interviewed 22 people for this position," August said in making the appointment of Phillips. "Every applicant in my mind was well qualified for the position. But I have chosen Earl Phillips, whom I have known for more than a year and who has shown me not only his vast experience about environmental issues, but a phenomenal work ethic."
